Stonor
CC (23/04/2017)
Result: Lost by
8 wickets
WCC 125 for 5
(42 overs)
Lee 10, Wahi
77, Husaini 0, R.Black 1,
Lloyd 1, R.Smee 13n.o.
DNB - Dunne, Orwell, Dibley, DÕinverno, A.Smee
O.Kavanagh
1-17, J. Powell 0-16, Austin 1-41, Swinburne 2-22, Maidlow
0-20
Stonor
CC 127 for 2 (23.1 overs)
J.Mayo
46, Farr 52, Williams 0 n.o.,
Lovatt 18n.o. (from 6
balls)
Orwell 6-0-25-0, Dunne 9.1-1-32-0, Dibley 5-0-40-1, Husaini 2-0-26-1
Catches: D'inverno,
Husaini
Rheumatism and
thermal undergarments are usually associated with the WeekendersÕ opening match
of the season. Instead, we got balmy climes, soaring blue skies and tea-time grass you could sit on without getting your arse wet. Stonor Park was heart-burstingly beautiful as ever - with the added bonus of feeling
like June.
Stonor
CC's stalwart groundsman warned that the pitch was
already bone-dry when first rolled, so ÒWatch out for some variable bounce..Ó Boy was he right.
Skipper
lost the toss and the oppo opted for a bowl. And so
began an hour-long passage of play where Wahi and Lee
struggled to survive balls that reared up off a length;
tenderising ribs and fingers. One ball pitched on a
decent length, bounced over batsmen Lee and the wicketkeeper, and soared
towards the boundary for a near six. Both played patiently, until Pete Lee
succumbed to a filthy grubber. The ÔEnders middle order didnÕt fire, with only
one run from three batters; leaving our PresidentÕs son Ralph to brandish his
scimitar shot at the wonky deliveries. Wahi was the
unabashed hero of the day, facing 135 balls, barely giving a chance. And at the
death, he even unfurled a few lofted on-drives that Virat
Kohli would probably re-watch as GIFs on his IPL
Twitter feed.
125
didnÕt feel enough despite the eccentric pitch. After much deliberation, Skip
opted for tricky trundlemeister Steve Dunne at one
end, with fast medium at the other. Sadly the ball had softened, and the pitch
had calmed down and agreed to behave itself. There were almost chances, and
some credible LBW shouts, but in truth the Stonor
openers proceeded towards the target relatively untroubled. All hell-broke
loose with the bowling changes, but we did snag a couple of poles, before the
inevitable six into the grounds of Stonor Park sealed
our defeat.
April
fooling us in the Chilterns. (pic: M.Orwell)