An autumnal day at Hedders - with the threat of rain later in the afternoon - saw the Wanderers choose to bat in a 35-overs match against the might of Gullivers. Would they prove to be Lilliputian or Brobdingnagian? Kicking off, in what can only be described as an idiosyncratic batting order, were Wuff and Sothers. Against a tight opening attack, the latter fell early but battle was joined by Murdo - the highlight of whose innings was a classic all-along-the-ground square leg drive for 4. When he departed with the score on 45 in the 12th over, BYU came to the crease to anchor three consecutive partnerships, with Wuff, Wozi and Smithers (all of whom contributed mightily) which took the total along to 162 for 4 in the 30th over. A quick bash at the end with wickets in hand and surely 200 was on the cards. But no... disaster struck - more of which later.
In the middle of these partnerships, the sun came out and it felt more like early June, which - on checking the calendar - it actually was. The unusually slow outfield contributed a new factor into Wanderers cricket - the concept of the all-run three. Apparently no fewer then eight of these were recorded - most of these with BYU at the crease - testifying to the success of his 'Why walk when you can take a bus?' exercise regime.
The collapse. Not quite of Oz Twenty20 proportions, but spectacular nevertheless. With BYU departing from the 5th ball of the over to Gulliver's answer to Steve Harmison, Cat fell to the sixth and then Smithers to the 1st ball of the same bowler's next over. We gasped - a hat-trick, surely not. Worse was to follow and 162 for 4 became 173 for 9 - for the numerically challenged that's 5 wickets for 11 runs. A brief flurry by Jonny M was followed by the untimely demise of Tjazz with 4 balls left. All out for 184.
After the usual magnificent Headstone Lane tea, Gullivers commenced their innings against the frightening opening attack of Messrs Tjazz and Roon, the former putting in 6 overs at a rapid rate and claiming two early wickets. Cat's attempt to become the first Wanderer to be stretchered off two games in a row was thwarted when the bang on her wrist from the afore-mentioned Tjazz when fielding at slip was diagnosed be but a flesh wound - and she quickly returned to the fray accompanied by a large quantity of ice in a Sainsbury's bag.
Although slumping to 31 for 3, the runs kept coming at around the asking rate, and Gullivers always seemed to be slightly ahead in the chase. Even a change of wicket-keepers - with Wuff claiming two memorable stumpings - and Jonny M claiming a wicket in his bowling spell, Gullivers moved inexorably towards victory with an over an a bit to spare. There is room for optimism, however, with the number of wides considerably lower than against Salix and some great fielding, particularly by Sothers and Wildman, whose floor work was worthy of perhaps a 5.9 in gymnastics terms. We'll get them next time!
In a match where no Wanderer attained the dizzy heights of scoring 40 runs nor exceeded 2 wickets, the Man of the Match award was bound to be a close-run thing. In the event this glorious honour was shared by an unprecendented trio - Wuff for his batting and keeping skills, BYU for crease occupation and a wicket first ball and Sothers for both his magnificent fielding at square leg and support of the dry-cleaning industry. Regrettably, this moment was lost to posterity due to a failure of technology (perhaps time for a new digital camera?).
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