Monthly Archives: June 2016

Stu leads the way in another 40 over chasedown

Whalers vs Hounslow Hurricanes; Kings House Sports Ground

Sunday 5th June 2016

“I lost the toss, we are fielding – it’s 40 overs and me and Luckett are opening” was skipper Dan’s update to the assembled Whalers as they surveyed the flat track, our ‘good on paper’ batting line-up and applied suncream. “That’s the worst paragraph I’ve ever heard” was one of the more printable responses.

New opposition Hounslow Hurricanes made a solid start with Dan engendering several play and misses while a mixed bag from the ‘approaching cricketing retirement’ Lucky kept things interesting. The opening pair couldn’t make a breakthrough though and 41-0 off 8 looked ominous until Gilo recently moved to the backward square leg just in front of the umpire bordering on leg slip position scored a direct hit to run out Hurricanes non-striker as he turned just too slowly after a refused single. Thereafter the Whalers chipped away with wickets for Matt and Geoff. The introduction of Kamal bewitched the batsmen and he also took a wicket courtesy of a sharp catch in the gully by Pete and Whalers had kept the Hurricanes in check at 88-5 when drinks came.

With another direct hit run out from Matt just after the resumption the Whalers were hoping for a rapid conclusion to the innings, but Suni and Raj had other ideas developing a solid seventh wicket partnership amongst increasing frustration as catches went down including one for Dan off Paul Clappinson that earned muppet moment. The breakthrough finally came with Stu catching Raj off Matt for 38. The tail wagged further though and Hurricanes ended https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/achat-viagra-en-ligne-belgique/ on 201-8 off the 40 overs with Matt taking 3-40 and Sunil reaching his 50 off the last ball of the innings thanks to a Whalers overthrow. A gettable total though on a good track, and certainly kept lower than it might have been with some excellent out-fielding from Stu in particular.

The Whalers reply got off to the worst possible start with Al yorked first ball and Pete didn’t last much longer lbw for 2 accruing fines later for the subsequent throwing toys out of the pram. Paul C was looking good driving strongly and had scored 31 before being caught. When Kev  got a thin edge off a very wide one Whalers were 82-4 at drinks and the game was in the balance.

After drinks Stu and Gilo batted very well together with Stu punishing anything short and Gilo’s pace between the wickets increasingly fractionally once unburdened of his sweat-drenched thigh pad. Stu passed his 50 and the Whalers looked to be coasting at 176-4 amidst regular Hurricanes bowling changes and a sluggish over-rate. However cometh most days cometh the Whalers collapse and with Stu out for 69 the Whalers lost 4 wickets for 7 runs. Gilo perished to a casually taken skier, Dan was run out without scoring and Luckett bowled with his head in the clouds. Kamal’s relaxed demeanour diminished slightly as he reluctantly donned his pads ready for the next wicket, but ultimately it was not required and the in-form Matt and Geoff knocked off the remaining runs with relatively little fuss culminating in an upper cut from Geoff to win the match.

Another excellent performance from the Whalers with two successive 200+ chases – who fancies the final part of a fielding first 40 over trilogy next week, or more to the point who can still stand up without aching?

 

Hounslow Hurricanes 201-8 (40), Whalers 203-8 (36.5); Whalers win by 2 wickets

MOM: Stu 69 and great fielding

Champagne: Gilo’s run out

Muppet: Dan’s dropped catch