Game 4

Thurs 23rd June 2011

The Greasby Roaders v The SCC

First of all, our thoughts go out to the skipper Paul - last week's unfortunate blow right on the apex of his kneecap whilst keeping wicket (you know, the one that resulted in a unison of team laughter) is apparently a little more serious than we initially thought - so much so that a trip to the Arrowe Park Xray department was required over the weekend. I am pleased to report no breaks or cracks but he is in a lot of pain still. Mate, you are sorely missed (pardon the pun), especially at the crease where the 4 deliveries you have so far faced in total during the 3 innings you have batted in have resulted in 1 golden duck stumping, 1 near torn anterior cruciate knee ligament injury from a mis-timed dive, 1 brand new pad ripped down one side and 1 hit wicket due to inability to move leg out of the way because of a ruptured hamstring - priceless! We wish you well in your recovery and a speedy return to the team - the laughs just haven't been the same without you there mate!

Back to the cricket and last weeks postponed game against The Philarmonic had given us a chance for a practice session on the village green in Thornton Hough to 'hone' our batting, bowling and fielding skills and this was followed up by a team tactics talk over a couple of beers in the Seven Stars - both highly enjoyable and rewarding endeavours!

Thus, as we arrived for our match against The SCC, spirits and confidence where probably slightly higher than expected considering our 0 out of 3 opening losing streak.

The SCC had arrived early to the ground and were practicing feverishly in the nets - not a good sign - and they decided to bat 1st on a beautiful summer's evening. They will have seen our stats on the LMS webiste and no doubt were all geared up for a big total against the league's whipping boys...

...but little did they know about Rob and Nick's secret meeting the previous night in the Greave Dunning - armed with beer mats for wickets, bits of crisps for players and the back of a couple of losing raffle tickets for note-taking, the final plans for fielding placings, bowling changes and batting line-ups were being drawn up... and to some success as a pumped up Greasby Roaders side made early inroads as a thickish outside edge squirted off towards Stephen in the gully position for a good catch and an early wicket. What followed next was a bit of a mixed bag - at one end, their other opening batsman was thumping the ball all over the place and making his way to a well deserved 50, but at the other end a succesion of batsman came to the crease and were quickly dispatched back to the clubhouse by an inspired spell of bowling by Rob - it seems that being given the captaincy for the evening had transcended Rob to a higher level as he bowled superbly for his 4 overs, taking 4 wickets and conceding only 10 runs! With our tails up, the fielding was sharper as well, and with only a few overs remaining and their last 2 batsmen at the crease, a shot was hoisted into the air towards the mid-off area. In steamed the fielder, shielding his eyes from the glare of the lowering sun... but hang-on, their opening batsman who automatically retired when he reached 50 is waiting to return to the crease if need be... do we really want to take this final wicket and allow said batsman back to the crease to belt the ball around some more??... Phil - a magnet in previous matches for difficult catching chances - is the man standing at mid-off... it's ok Phil, you don't need to catch it, you don't need to catch it, you don't need to catc... and he's CAUGHT IT, typical! It's high fives all round as Phil's demons from previous weeks are vanquished and he stuggles to hide his emotions. Even better for Phil - his wife and kids have come to watch the game, they are stood at the boundary and YES THEY SAW IT - instant hero status, well played fella!

A late flurry of runs from the The SCC but at 20 overs, after a fine bowling and fielding display, they were 110-7 with 4 wickets for Rob, and a wicket apiece for James, Charles and Stephen.

A quick change round and our opening batsmen are making their way to the crease. Fresh from his 4 wicket haul, Rob is thinking of a quick 50 and the man of the match award is surely his?... but no, bowled for 3 runs. Bryan comes in to join Charles at the other end and the 2 of them score quickly. Alas, too quickly and a classic example of the double play rule - ball turned round the corner from Bry, a shout of yes from somewhere, batsmen cross as the catch is taken and its too late, the ball is already heading towards the non-striking end and the bails are whipped off - both of them goners. Nick is already padded up, but Peter is suddenly scrambling around for gear - he's dug out the old school pads from the loft but they are circa 1980's, hence pre-velcro, and so its a labourious task to buckle up all 6 ties! But, eventually Nick and Peter make it to the crease. The score is 19-3. Not a time to panic though , there are plenty of overs and we only need 111 in total to win. Thus ensues about 10 overs of exceptionally risk-free batting and much of the scoring is done from wides, 1 run for the 1st in each over, and 3 for each subsequent wide in the same over! Hardly rivetting stuff to watch but effective nonetheless and after 12 overs the score had moved on to 68-3. But a rush of blood to Nick's head as he pulls a full toss towards the mid wicket boundary for a rare boundary?.. only for the ball to be plucked out of the air with a cool 1 handed catch. Believe it or not, it was actually filmed on video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRMbbyFEwPU

(I'd like to think it was the catch @ 0:15 but in reality it was more like the one @ 0:21)

Peter carried on accumulating runs and for a moment it looked like he and Stephen might carry us over before Stephen was himself caught and the odds shifted back towards the SCC, escpecially with a tricky batting strip where the ball just wasn't coming on to the bat very well coupled with some tighter bowling towards the end of the innings making it difficult for the lower order batsmen to polish off those final runs and eventually we were all out for 103. 7 runs short, but ever improving and surely not too far off our 1st victory!

Spirits undampened, it was a couple of beers at the bar before retiring to the Irby Mill for a few more outdoor beers and a cheeseboard - not a bad way to spend a Thursday evening

The Greasby Roaders vs The SCC

Date: Thu 23 Jun 2011

Batted First: The SCC

The SCC Score: 110 for 7 after 20.0

The Greasby Roaders Score: 103 for 8 after 20.0

The SCC won by 7 runs

Game stats:-

http://lastmanstands.spawtz.com/SpawtzSkin/Fixtures/GameDetails.aspx?FixtureId=27014&LeagueId=354&SeasonId=36

Game 3

Thursday 9th June 2011

The Greasby Roaders v WK Willows

2 games played, 2 losses and bottom of the league 2 table... What would this evening hold?

WK Willows won the toss, elected to bat and quickly started working the ball around and accumulating runs, oh dear - ominous signs..

...but wait there, only a few overs down and a mis-timed hit towards the long-off boundary and Rob's under it, Rob's under it, "He's caught it!" shouts the skipper prematurely (the ball is still 25 meters above the ground), Rob steadies himself, beads of sweat forming, OMG OMG.... annnnnd THAT'S OUT! Well done Rob

...and with that catch the tone was set. The run rate eased a little as the new batsman struggled to put bat on ball and it wasn't too long until another chance spooned into the air - alas, Stephen was just a little too close in and the ball cleared his head. But failure is not an option for these Bank of America employees and with a last minute leap up and back with an extended outstretched arm and the fingers just managed to reach the ball as his body slammed into the ground.. surely it hasn't stuck?? but it has and THAT'S OUT - blimey, an early contender for catch of the season! (more of that in a moment)

With our tails up, catches started sticking like glue - Rich with a fine caught and bowled, Nick with a straight-forward one at point and then the 2nd contender for catch of the season, although, if truth be known, probably more for comical value rather than true skill, sorry Rob - the ball had been belted into the atmosphere and Rob was steadying himself once more on the deep mid micket boundary - wide balanced stance, hands cupped with the palms facing upwards at chest level, looking good, soft hands Rob, soft hands.. annnnd SMACK (hands a little tense perhaps) and the ball has immediately popped out. SMACK again, popped out ball has gone on to hit the top of the nose/forehead area, loud scream and resultant headed ball heading for the boundary for a probable 4, but no - one hand clutching the face, the other wafting thin air, an instinctive lunging dive and plop - THAT'S OUT! Great catch and laugh of the evening so far

Further heroic efforts in the field ensued - Mark's boundary slides and textbook flick backs have within a week become legendary! But the real hero award probably has to go to Paul - an awkward turn and chase for a potential catch at long on and it's clutch the back of the leg time - the hamstring has gone, ouch. But, this ex-military man knows not the meaning of pain and, despite being hardly able to walk, it's a quick change into the wicket-keeper gloves and pads to spend the remainder of the innings in the 'safety' of being behind the stumps. However "Paul" and "cricket pads" don't mix well. Granted, Paul had done a good job to surgically repair his brand new pads that had ripped the previous week, but they were located on the boundary, some 70 yards away - a long way to walk for someone who's just ruptured their hamstring. And so it was easier for him to don the wicket-keeping pads that James had been wearing. Loaned to us from a local school's kit bag, these pads I think had been designed for under 15's team and were lacking a little in length. Not a major problem behind the wickets though. Alas, a few overs into his stint behind the wickets and CRACK - the ball had kept a little low, batsman had missed, wicket-keeping gloves had missed, U15's pads had missed, and it was left to that small area of exposed knee-cap to kop the brunt of the full force of the leather ball - ouch! (cue more sniggers from the field as Paul writhed in agony on the floor, hehheh, sorry mate)

Anyway, a fine bowling and fielding display and despite getting off to a fast start, the WK Willows were restricted to 127-7 off their 20 overs. All 5 bowlers got wickets with the pick of the figures going to James and his leg-spinners with an excellent 2-15 off his 4 overs.

And so to our innings, Rob and Nick rehearsing textbook shotmaking skills as they made their way to the middle, the scent of possible victory in the air.

3 balls later and Nick was making his way back to the clubhouse - a clobbered drive that could not have picked out the bowlers hand out any better for an easy caught and bowled. Hmm, 0-1, but on the bright side, only 1 run off our highest 1st wicket opening partnership!

And to the crease, Rich, looking a little anxious but with no good reason as he and Rob started stroking the ball around and building a score. A potential difficult moment however as Rob had to dive in for a close run out call, over to the square leg umpire... in this case the next batsman, Stephen, it's a shake of his head though and "not out" - hmm, close one but the opposition accept the decision. Some enthusiastic appealing follows in the next few overs as Rob and Rich ride their luck and the runs keep coming. As Rich's score increases, his running speed correspondingly decreases - lack of match fitness apparent from the sidelines, but still, some expert strokes to the boundary and that's 50 - super effort!

Rob and Stephen both had good knocks into the 20's, but as the overs left reduced, the run rate required increased and it was a tall order for the the lower order batsman to come in and try to immediately make runs quickly - especially against some decent opposition bowling. Batsmen came and wickets fell and with just a couple of overs remaining and 20+ runs still required, Phil, our number 8 for the day, made his way gingerly to the crease.. and immediately smacked one past the bowler for 4! Could it be?? But with just 1 over remaining and still needing 14 runs, it wasn't to be our week

Still, a great effort all round and excellent game against decent opposition - well done fellas. I might be wrong but I think the WK Willows were expecting an easy win - whilst fielding on the square leg boundary earlier on I had overheard one of the opposition team chatting to one of his teammates - "what's going on, their bowling figures are supposed to be ******* ****"

Haha, it's an area we seem to be improving in! and to end on a positive, because we lost by less than 20%, we got an extra 2 bonus points to take our season total to 5 points (1 point for each game all wearing the same kit = the other 3 points!)... and have therefore moved up a place from bottom to 2nd from bottom, 1 point ahead of "Philarmonic"

.. who just so happen to be our opponents for next week - Game on!

WK Willows CC vs The Greasby Roaders

Date: Thu 09 Jun 2011

Batted First: WK Willows CC

WK Willows CC Score: 127 for 7 after 20.0

The Greasby Roaders Score: 114 for 8 after 19.3

WK Willows CC won by 13 runs

Game stats:-

http://lastmanstands.spawtz.com/SpawtzSkin/Fixtures/GameDetails.aspx?FixtureId=27007&LeagueId=354&SeasonId=36&DivisionId=0

Game 2

Thurs 2nd June 2011

The Greasby Roaders v The Googlies

Unlike last week, sunshine and warmth were both in abundance as we arrived for our 2nd match in the Last Man Stands Wirral division 2 league. Spirits were also raised following our respectable 1st showing - we may have been beaten in that 1st game, but we did score the highest number of runs of any of the losing teams from all the 1st round matches in our league!? (tenuous I know but hey..)

Following a winning toss, we decided to bat 1st with the hope of piling on some runs. The Googlies had other ideas though and bowled a very tight line with good length deliveries. Strategic fielding placings coupled with this very disciplined opening spell of bowling meant that scoring runs was difficult. The Googlies continued to rotate through their bowlers and there was no real weakness in their attack. As the overs passed, we started to take a few more chances but as the risk taking increased, so did the fall of wickets. Big-hitting-Bry, fresh from an unbeaten 50 the previous week, came to the crease down the order and clobbered his 1st ball almost for 6 - could he do it again? - but his rich vein of form stopped there as an unlucky inside edge onto pads ricocheted into the wickets.

Enter Rob, and with 2 balls remaining (despite wearing his brand new rather small looking "size - youth" box) a well hit slog skyed up and was caught at mid-wicket whereupon the fielder, realising that the 2 batsmen had gone for the run, quickly threw the ball to the non strikers end and Mark was also run out - the so called "double play" bringing an end to his innings of 41. This brought Paul to the crease for the final delivery of the innings as the "Last Man Standing". With a maximum 12 runs available off the last ball of the innings (if a 6 were to be hit) Paul swung hard and fast and semi-connected with a pull over mid wicket. The ball was never going to reach the boundary though, so Paul set off knowing that he would have to make it there and back and complete 2 runs in order to not be run out. A quickish 1st run culminated with a slide into the crease at the bowler's end. However, lacking the necessary speed on the bone dry surface, the pads (brand new the previous week) immediately snagged on the abrasive surface and even from 70yards away it was apparent to the viewing gallery that all was not well. Paul stumbled to his feet to turn and start the 2nd run. But it had been all too much for the new pads - at £19.99 for the pair they just weren't designed to survive 16.5 stone of awkward slide and the strapping had exploded at the seams. With the pad hanging off like a severed limb, Paul shuffled his way as fast as he could in an ungainly fashion, pad dragging along the floor behing him, and fair-dos he completed his 2nd run to the delight of the laughing masses and our innings completed with a score of 91 runs!

With memories of the Sri Lankans capitulating to England only a few days earlier for just 82 runs, there was a feint glimmer of hope that we may be able to do something similar to the Googlies...

..and a chance in the 1st over as a pulled hook honed in to the fielder on the deep mid-wicket boundary for a possible catch. However white cricket balls and a setting sun directly in line with low fast exorcet trajectory don't mix and it was only some fast thinking and athletically evasive action that prevented the need to call an ambulance! There were a handful of other catching chances, but all were tricky with the low sun and The Googlies never looked in any trouble as they polished off the run chase with overs to spare. Another enjoyable game against good spirited opponents

The Greasby Roaders vs Googlies
Date: Thu 02 Jun 2011
Batted First: The Greasby Roaders
The Greasby Roaders Score: 91 for 7 after 20.0
Googlies Score: 94 for 1 after 12.2
Googlies won by 7 wickets

Game stats:-

http://lastmanstands.spawtz.com/SpawtzSkin/Fixtures/GameDetails.aspx?FixtureId=27003&LeagueId=354&SeasonId=36