Match Report - ANZA1 v Marina (Return)

ANZA1 v Marina Desi Boyz at Turf City B, Sunday 24 August 08

Scorecard

We arrived to find Tuff City damp, but surprisingly un-waterlogged after the torrential rains on Saturday that had ruined games for both the 2s and the 3s. After a delayed start (reduced to 48 overs a side) we went into the field with hopes of keeping it tight early on against the aggressive Marina top order. Jye Hearps and Tim "I wasn’t mentioned in last week’s match report enough" May opened up for us and kept a lid on the openers for the first ten overs after some brainless across the line heaves from the batsmen proved fruitless. After a few frustrating drop catches at gully and mid off, the world’s most irate sheep-toucher bagged the wickets of batsmen numbers one and two in the 11th and 14th overs after they succumbed to the superb pressure created early on. Renato and Matt replaced the opening bowlers but were unable to shift the strong third wicket stand which was worth 81, where again our inconsistent fielding cost us runs. A mention must be credited to Venkat ‘ball magnet’ Mandadi, who moved like a whippet in the field. Ben and Kevin then created more good pressure with the ball, Kev causing batsmen three and four to heave and get themselves out for 55 and 17 respectively in the space of four overs, which seemed to set us back on track with the score at 141/4 after 36.3 overs. With Ben bowling particularly excellently what followed was some shocking fielding from myself, after dropping the number five bat three effing times in the space of about six overs (those unaccountable hands), which caused heads to drop and stares to empoison. Ben secured a deserved wicket after having the number six bat plumb in front in the 40th over, and Jye soon had the number seven bat slice one to me a point, which I surprisingly held, allowing me to roll a partial turd of embarrassment under the bed. With the opening bowlers coming back for their second spells the lucky number five continued to play aggressively, while eight and nine fell victim to some well taken run outs in the 46th and 48th overs. A frantic last over saw 16 runs smashed, that last run out and a downed catch, leaving Marina 233-8 off their 48 overs, with lucky unbeaten on 67 (all of those runs were my fault).

A disappointing performance in the field left us relatively muted at half time, but soon after our Subway sandwiches came the rain, which ended up in the whole event being called off at quarter past three. The torrential downpour drowned the City under an inch of finest aqua, and left us with many undrunk beers, for which a half-naked Gavin made an unsurprising beeline.

Final bowling figures were…
Jye: 10-2-48-1
Renato: 9-0-52-0
Matt Brownchest: 3-0-22-0
Ben: 10-1-28-1
Kevin: 6-0-43-2
And Tim bowled as well.

(written by Butterfingers Seabright)