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
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