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Founded 1884

W.I. Cavaliers - Premier League 1st XI
24th April 2010

 

 

So, with months of indoor nets and a few pre-season friendlies out of the way, Saturday finally saw the start of the season proper. For what was surely the first time ever, this occasion was greeted not by biting wind, drizzling rain and grey skies, but as nice a day as could be asked for in the middle of April. A young Wollaton side (exemplified by your author’s presence in the “oldies” side for hand-hockey) were clearly so keen to get started that all warm-ups had been completed over half an hour before play was due to start. Our recently appointed social secretary attempted to fill this void by playing some music from his laptop through possibly the smallest, least powerful set of speakers ever seen. The general reaction to his efforts was summed up by Gerry, who claimed that in “his day” he would have returned a record player if it was producing such noises…

 

Having elected to field, Wollaton’s army of travelling fans (Fighter) were given their first glimpse in league cricket of new ball pair Dave Smith and Australian import (via Dubai and Barcelona, thanks to a certain Icelandic volcano) Phil Wells. Amid much playing and missing, the Cavaliers’ openers managed to string together a half decent opening partnership, before Phil picked up the first of what will surely be many wickets this season. This brought Notts’ Bilal Shafayat to the crease. He didn’t last long, taken by an airborne Gerry at slip, to provide Kingy with a maiden Premier League wicket. However, his brief stay was long enough to allow him to threaten to wrap his bat round Smudger’s head!... After this, the Cavaliers’ innings drifted along, with wickets falling at regular intervals to the spin of Kingy and Gerry. In fact, so slack were some of the shots from their lower order, that Phil declared they wouldn’t have looked out of place in “park cricket” in Australia. It required a late flurry for the last wicket to enable them to limp to 205 (ish…) for 9 in their allotted overs. Everyone was satisfied with a decent bowling and fielding effort, especially considering an un-April-like dry track, and fast outfield, and there was much hope that we could kick of the season with an upset victory.

 

However, we knew that it would be a tough chase against an accomplished attack. In fact, both opening bowlers had played test cricket, and would therefore provide out top order with a tough challenge. Although there was no dramatic collapse against the new ball, they were able to make regular inroads, with Tudor picking up Doddy and Suman, and Panyangara accounting for Ed and Phil, for a promising cameo, within the first 16 overs. However, having eventually having seen off the new ball bowlers, the middle order crumbled to the medium pace of Shafayat. Disappointingly the man with a first-class bowling average of 80 took 4-11, to bowl Wollaton out for a double figure total, leaving us to reflect on a job half-done.

 

The evening saw the first visit to Saveras of the season, with many of the side having to make their debut by sampling a famed hot meat starter. Whilst Phil failed to man up and accept the challenge, others had the decision made for them, as the skipper got the order in before they arrived. Smudger and our social sec in particular struggled to complete the task at hand, delivering performances that drama student Joe (“it’s a difficult subject”) Fish would have been proud off. A keen few then headed off to town, the skipper leading from the front in this regard at least. Unfortunately your author wasn’t present to report on the night’s events, but rest assured that in the unlikely event that any of them had any success, I’m sure we will be filled in at-length over the weeks to come…

 

AD