Whalers Defeat Journeymen To Extend Unbeaten Run

Whalers CC vs Journeymen CC; 23rd August 2020, King’s House Sports Ground

After a washout the previous week, 11 Whalers gathered at Kings House for the final home game of the season against new opponents The Journeymen. Captain Dean won the toss and elected to bat with a keen eye on a very short boundary on one side of the ground. 

Dean and Al started the innings at a rapid rate raising 50 within 5 overs, Dean in particular taking a liking to some short-pitched bowling. Having motored past his own 50 in only the 8th over, Dean was eventually bowled by their opening bowler for 61, bringing Fraser to the crease. 
A partnership of 38 runs followed, the highlight being a couple of lovely straight drives from Fraser, who unfortunately departed for 14 after hitting one straight to cover to leave the Whalers 115-2 after 20 overs. 

Channa was in no mood to hang around, hitting a couple of boundaries in his first few balls, completing an all-run four, and to much amusement, vaulting the opposing wicketkeeper in an attempt to complete a quick single. At the other end Al was beginning to find his range with a couple of nice drives to keep the scoreboard ticking. The Whalers were well set at 143-2 after 24 overs. 

Then the inevitable collapse. Channa was well caught by Hayes off his own bowling for 10 (although he claims it was 12), a skittish innings from Will was ended by a tumbling one handed catch and then Al was bowled having just raised a 50 of his own. A comedic run out of Roland followed by much chuntering, left the Whalers 162-6 after 29 overs. 
Some measured lower order biffing, coupled with some good running from a combination of Amit, Dan and Matt saw the Whalers finish on 203-9 off their 35 overs. 

A circumspect start from the Journeymen openers was ended by the in-form “I’ve recently-retired from bowling” Amit Kumar getting one to shoot low and pin Dixon for 4. He soon struck again, bowling the other opener for 10 to put the Whalers in a good position after the first 10 overs. 
Jounerymen’s No.3 Turner looked in good order, hitting a couple of lovely drives and with their skipper started eating into the total. Step up first change bowler Matt to dismiss their skipper on the stroke of drinks, caught by Fraser at mid-on. 

The drinks break magic helped the Whalers again with Suhaib dismissing the No.5 batsman for a duck almost immediately after the restart. Soon after Matt produced a beauty to dismiss the No.6 batsman. The Whalers were well on top. 
Turner passed 50 but was cleaned up by Amit Kushwaha with the first ball of his spell. No Whaler was more relieved to see the back of him than Channa who had put him down earlier in his innings. 

The Journeymen’s No’s 7 and 8 struck a few lusty blows to keep things interesting, before Amit took 3 quick-fire wickets including a good catch from Matt and a couple of yorkers to leave him on a hat-trick to end the game. Needless to say, neither the hat trick or the 5-fer were achieved and the Journeymen finishing their 35 overs 163-9. 

So another win for the Whalers and the unbeaten run extends to September. 

Whalers 203-9 (Dean 61, Al 50) Journeymen 163-9 (Amit Kushwaha 4-18). Whalers win by 40 runs


Man of the Match: Amit Kushwaha for his 4-18 

Champagne: Amit Kushwaha’s delivery to dismiss their N0.3 from the first ball of his spell

Muppet: Channa’s Steeplechase vault of their wicketkeeper attempting to complete a run 

Winning team in the evening sunshine