Venturers vs South Wraxall, Sunday June 29th

Venturers 231-6 South Wraxall 149-8

When batting first it helps to get off to a good start. Roger and Richard looked cautious early on, and the first 8 overs found us still in single figures on the scoreboard. However, this had set a platform and both batsmen now had their eye in. The next 8 overs went for 59 and we never looked back. The top 4 contributed some 198 runs, and even though almost all of them were then run out we had a very strong base to attack throughout. Ahmad and Roger both got fifties, while Richard was unlucky not to record a third fifty for the season after being run out on 49. Chris Middup batting at 4 also produced a fine innings – his best of the season - before falling victim to the spate of run outs. He finished with 40 and gave few chances throughout his knock.

Several other batsmen got the chance to hit some runs, and all tried to take the chance with limited success. Ian got one that forgot to bounce, hitting the pad just above the ankle off a fullish length leaving Roger with a very clear-cut LBW decision that he was reluctant but compelled to give. Kevin got one that moved back into him off the pitch enough to pass the bat. It didn't pass the off stump though, and Andy Y was cleaned up after adding some rapid runs. Fluffy was not out after a quick single, and we had scored 231. Only the opening bowler up the hill could look back on his figures with satisfaction having bowled a full spell and taken 2 for 14. All the others got clobbered.

In reply their left-handed opener was robust and indeed their opening partnership took a little while to break. It was broken by Kevin, who bowled a really tidy spell and dismissed the number 2. Actually the bowling was really good from both ends, with Matt, Gregory and Andy Y all showing how well they can bowl. Andy Y's spell was the pick of the match – 4 overs, 3 maidens, 1 wicket for 2 runs. There was a wide in this total, so 23 of the 24 balls were dots. One of these dots was the wicket of the number 4, but before that Gregory had removed the dangerous wicket keeper, batting at 3. Hamish rather axed himself taking an absolutely enormous swing at the first ball of Gregory's fourth over, even though his previous 3 overs together had gone for 3 runs. The bowling was good and the delivery in question was in keeping with the others and bowled him. Thereafter only one batsman got going and he was run out by Stephen Dent collecting a throw a few yards from the stumps and calmly placing the throw.

Fluffy bowled a couple of really good overs amidst some less good ones, and Ian G, after his usual ropy first over, was pretty quick and bowled the left-handed opener on 49. A spate of dropped catches prevented a more penetrating spell, but Matt bowled his spin in the last over and wickets went flying. First went the number 7 bowled, followed by the next man in who was caught, before Roger stumped their top bowler first ball. No hat trick sadly, but Matt's figures for the season took a substantial boost taking 3 for 10 off 5 overs. The really good batting from the top order and really good bowling from everyone else meant any chance of defeat had long-since gone, but this all gave the score a properly impressive feel and we won by a huge margin.

Fixtures & Results 2008