Cardiff Cavaliers Cricket Club

Match Report

Highways Hurricanes (C&H Trophy), Monday 28 June 2010

Cavaliers 180/7 (20ovs, McVeigh 57, Steadman 43). HH 129ao (18ovs, Chapman 1/9, M Thomas 1/11, Fraser 1/11. Won by 51 runs. Series level at 1-1

Scorecard

Newcomers amongst the Cavaliers team had received clear instruction from the club hierarchy. Taking the wind out of the Hurricane’s sails was non-negotiable.

Decision making quality would be vital. Captain Marchant took a straw-poll of the team prior to the toss to decide whether to bat or bowl first. Rabbit emphatically stated that we should bowl. Marchant won the toss and elected to bat.

Creating pressure through putting runs on the board was the plan. Getting us off to a good start was in the hands of Irish Mike and Steaders. It has been previously observed that when one of them gets in the runs we tend to win and when both of them get in the runs we tend to win comfortably.

Irish Mike had already informed his teammates that the Ulster marching season is quickly approaching. With ferocious sectarian zeal he set about marching down the wicket to bludgeon 30 runs from the first over. With two extras from the over, and allowing for some acceleration at the end of the innings, 700 suddenly seemed gettable.

Another gettable target was the five day old Cavaliers fastest-fifty record. Needing 20 more runs from 14 balls to take the record Irish Mike seemed well-placed (though the umpiring Graveson, with his increasingly itchy index finger, remained well-placed for sabotage if required).

The bowling tightened up however allowing only good steady progress from the opening pair. Mike was to complete his 50 in a superb 24 deliveries and went on to score 57. Steaders meanwhile put 43 on the board to once again get the Cavaliers off to a great start.

Runs became harder to get from this point with contributions of 15 from Marchant, 14 from Graveson and 7 not out from Duffy helping to take us to a final tally of 180. Gareth Payne, a man who had announced his need for a good steady innings to find his form, was unlucky to be caught out attacking the first delivery he faced. The decision to hold this catch was to be sorely regretted by the Hurricanes later.

Taking to the field the Cavaliers were looking for a true team effort to restrict the run-rate and do some damage. In common with the Hurricanes it was decided that everyone should bowl and play their significant part in getting a result.

Al opened the attack with a crafty plan put together with keeper Parsons during the break. He was going to bowl the first ball wide... really wide. Parsons behind the stumps was in on the ruse and took the ball brilliantly, threw at the stumps, and dismissed the wandering batsman. A superb start.

Throughout the innings the still-fuming Gareth sought bloody vengeance for his earlier dismissal. A wicket, a catch and an excellent run-out was the penalty the Hurricanes had to pay for unsportingly ruining his plans for “a bit of a knock”.    

Cavaliers bowling was decent throughout. The main resistance to us was put up by Newell who batted in turns sensibly and aggressively and who was enormously unlucky to be left stranded just short of a well-deserved 50.

While scoring consistently the Hurricanes were never quite up with the required run-rate which put further pressure on the incoming batsmen. Decent bowling from the whole Cavaliers team was complimented by some excellent fielding resulting in a series of catches and run-outs.

Steaders sportingly put down a couple of chances to keep the game interesting. A trip to Champagne Al’s Catching Masterclass has been booked for Andrew though to be fair he undid much of the damage later in his specialised role of “death bowler”.

The Hurricanes finished up 129 all-out at the end of an enjoyable and competitive match. Credit for the win must be shared around the whole team for collectively and effectively defending our total with good  bowling and fielding all around.

Champagne moment: Keeper Parsons taking a wide and calming throwing down the stumps for a wicket. It set the tone for the second innings

Team: Jimmy Marchant (capt), Jason Duffy (vice capt), Dave Parsons (wkt), Andrew Steadman, Michael McVeigh, Andrew Graveson, Alasdair Fraser, Gareth Payne, Bill Ward, Glenn Chapman, Matt Thomas