Anyone seen Noah? - Week 14 Frickley 2 (h)
Nostell St Oswalds V Frickley 2nds 18th July 2009 Match Gallery
After 2 days and more of tropical style rain, a call was sent out by Jimbob for “help mopping up” in order to get the game on. I arrived with a bag full of towels to see a very old bearded man (surrounded by hundreds of animals ) building what looked to be a very large boat. Undaunted I joined Jim bare foot to empty the equivalent of Lake Windermere off the outfield using a bucket, a wheelie bin and a barrow. Dale arrived to help and after spending 25 minutes “thinking time” decided there had to be an easier way. I politely pointed out that the “easier way” was for all 3 of us to do it, rather than one of us watch the other 2.
The umpires arrived and all credit to Peter and Jim for allowing us the time to get the field ready for an 82 over game. Boundaries were brought in square of both sides of the wicket but still left an outfield as big as most in the league. Umpire Jim did point out a small damp area half way down, and on the very edge of the track, but qualified it by saying that if any bowler actually pitched the ball there., not only would it be 2 wides but they should never be allowed to bowl again for the rest of their career.
The toss was duly lost and we were sent in to bat and in our 41 overs mustered a highly respectable and challenging target of 201 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Innings highlights were Wayne short arm jabbing 5 straight boundary fours back past the opening bowler on his way to another valuable contribution before departing run out for 43. Any body needing wood chopping; Wayne is your man. Leroy worked his way to another 50 plus; after desperately trying to get himself out without scoring. A feat which Mally achieved with consummate ease later on. Useful runs from the Ginger, the Skipper and the Rockstar were added, before we witnessed the shot of the day when the Kiwi Hobbit smashed the final ball of the innings for a HUGE six which cleared the boundary by all of 16 millimetres.
The Frickley reply began with myself and Lee sharing a nearly new ball. In fact it was the one that Lee had used to such good effect against Ryhill. My first 4 overs were maidens as I tried to “contain” and Lee was bowling with his usually accuracy and hostility. After my 5th over had gone for 10 runs some wise guy in the field commented that I was becoming a liability and should improve or else. Back to business with the odd maiden and a couple of wickets for Lee as we began to strangle the life out of the reply. Dale appeared at Garmil Lane end and generated immediate pace although for a few deliveries he kept Jason , slips and gulley on their toes. He was eventually rewarded with a wicket whilst I continued to beat the bat and the stumps. Cue my 10th over and skip told me he would give me one more to see if I could at last get a wicket. The over came and went and Jim announced he’d give me one more seeing as I had REALLY TRIED in over 11. A comment not unnoticed by the umpire who suggested I had in fact bowled my b*ll*cks off ! For those familiar with Nostell dressing room banter that would be no mean feat indeed. Over 12 came and delivery number 72 produced a fine catch by Jimbob and my first victim. I completed my spell with an LBW and a 2 for not many from 14 overs. Lee returned, Jim came on at the John Cooling end and the rest is history. Jim immediately produced good outswing and the inevitable was only a matter of time. With Lee dislodging number 7 and Jim knocking over number 8’s leg stump all resistance was ended. Lee mopped up the last 2 with classic Slick deliveries giving Lee exceptional figures again of 6 for 13 , and 10 points were in the bag. The Nostell band wagon rolls on.
