Whalers C.C. versus Not Quite XI.
Not Quite XI – 173 all out
Whalers C.C. 177 for 7
Whalers won by 4 wkts
After
a convincing win against long-time opposition Salix the previous week, the
Whalers faced an unknown quantity in the never before faced Not Quite XI. We were (unreliably) informed prior to the
match that the team we were facing were a “shambolic
operation” who could only field 10 players, so confidence before the toss was
high. Spirits were dampened somewhat
though when late arriving captain, Ad contrived to lose the toss on a scorching
hot day – vicious rumours that he had won the toss and chosen to field first
were later proved to be unfounded.
The
Whalers took to the field with 10 players as Australian ringer Wazza had fallen foul of the
Khalil
and Rich opened the bowling with some very tight overs
to provide a promising start for the home team, however the Not Quite openers
soon found their feet and looked well set until Khalil
trapped Benbow lbw.
The
Whalers improved fielding showed with debutant Wozza
taking a fantastic diving catch off the bowling of Clippy. Soon however, the Not Quite middle order
started to notch up a few runs before Ads brought himself on to bowl, taking
four wickets from five overs, standout wickets
included a typically nonchalant catch by Khalil taken
off a rasping cover drive, and a beautifully disguised slower full toss which
hit half way up middle stump.
The
pick of the bowlers though was Khalil who kept the
run rate down and mopped up the Not Quite tail with some fantastic swing
bowling, finishing up with a caught and bowled to leave the Whalers chasing a
target of 173.
Having
been told by the oppo that their team consisted of
eight batsmen and only two bowlers the Whalers felt that they could comfortably
reach their target within the forty overs. Al and Will strode out to open and were both
looking in good touch until Al was bowled by a beauty. After Duncs fell
without troubling the scorers and Ad was bowled for 7 the Whalers looked in
trouble and a lot depended on Khalil, promoted up the
order to number five, performing as well with the bat as he did with the ball. The task was made even more difficult after
Will’s innings was cut short by a muscle strain , and
some over enthusiastic running by Phil.
Khalil
was unfazed though and went on to make a Whalers career best 63 with some
powerful hitting. When Khalil was finally dismissed Rich and Wazza
came together at the crease with some work still to do, but between them they
racked up the remaining runs in quick time to give the Whalers a well deserved
4 wicket win.
Man of the match – Khalil for his three
wickets, three catches and 63 runs
Champagne moment – Wazza’s diving, over the
shoulder catch
Muppet moment – Phil’s overly enthusiastic running between the
wickets