info@wollatoncc.co.uk

Founded 1884

Wollaton II C.C.

v

Long Whatton I C.C.

 

South Notts Division C

 

Saturday 14 August 2010

 

 

The start of the relegation dog fight began as Wollaton, now 3rd from bottom and due to the likely relegation candidates from the Premier League, this was now a relegation spot, met bottom side Long Whatton.  The rain in the week meant a damp outfield but there was nothing wrong with the wicket, although whether we would get a full game in was questionable due to the weather forecast.  For the 5th game in a row and 10th time this season Crossers lost the toss (yes we all know the usual wisecracks) and Wollaton were inserted.

 

Jawaid and Crossers got Wollaton off to a decent start, Jawaid was looking something like his old self as they put on 32 in 8 overs, before Crossers was caught behind trying to leave it and the ball never actually hit the keepers’ gloves!  Jawaid and an initial subdued Big Sunil  took the score to 60 after 18 overs before Jawaid went for a well played 39 and Sunil 2 went without scoring straight after.  However with Bayles settling in and Sunil gradually coming out of his shell and with 103 on the board after 30 overs, well over 200 appeared on the cards if these two could get going.  Not for the first time this season saw the traditional Wollaton collapse occur.

 

Bayles went for 13 and Bill and Joe “taxi to Magaluf” Fish went shortly after and the 2nds were in potential crisis at 115 – 6.  By this time the showers had occurred causing 2 stoppages, 1 the inevitable as we got the covers on it stopped raining.  This caused must amusement to Saq who instead of pushing the covers on, stood under a true recording events on his phone.  Back to the action and 3rd team leader Leaky joined Sunil and put on the largest stand of the day, 60, to get the 2nds out of trouble.  Sunil was out of his shell in typical belligerent mood, Leaky in typical accumulate mode, playing the innings that Crossers was doing earlier in the season down the order.  Sunil passed 50, and a score of up to 220 may be on if he could last the innings.  It was not to be as Sunil went for an excellent 73, stumped off the spinner even though the keeper was standing 2 feet back.  Paddle tried to up the scoring rate but in the end Wollaton finished on a competitive 197 – 8, Pootle unbeaten on 30.

 

Saq going into a more Colin Elliott like mode, whipped out both openers inside his first 2 overs, and probably should have had another as Bayles appeared to have a leg side stumping but may have been too quick for the square leg umpire.  Paddle bowled 6 overs but kept bowling high full tosses, apparently worried he may slip over!  An eye brow or two was raised as he was replaced by Leaky, who promptly went for 9 in his first over.  There after Leaky shut down one end, bowling the gentlest of outswingers, and ripped out the middle order.  Due to solid catchers from Jawaid, Big Sunil and himself, he would take 3 – 20 in his 9 overs, and after 32 overs Long Whatton were 109 – 5.

 

Kieran had replaced Saq and initially things looked promising, producing the odd jaffer, and when he got rid of their number 3 for a sedate 41 thanks to another solid catch this time by Saq, it seemed it was only a question of winning draw or victory for the 2nds.  Leaky having complained off “bowlers calf” was replaced by Crossers, who promptly gave a demonstration of Dr Death at his best as Long Whatton’s tail decided to go down fighting.  Kieran took his 2nd thanks to a brilliant one hander by Big Sunil at slip but the burliest of number 9s was “swinging from the ring” and at one stage Crossers had 4 men on the leg side boundary.  After a change of field putting Leaky at square paid off as he ran out their number 7 for 45, and when Saq bowled their number 9 at the start of the 45th, the only issue was could Wollaton turn a winning draw into 20 points with the last wicket.

 

At the start of the last over all Wollaton’s fielders were in a catching position, as Dr Death tried to conjure up the 10th wicket.  Finally with his 4th ball he hit the number 11 full on the boot, and as far as he was concerned in front of middle, which the umpire agreed.

 

A full 20 points, lifted Wollaton to 4th bottom and coupled with the 1sts victory at Welbeck a quality day all round.

 

The Sage