Ad Hoc v Dodgers - South Park
Another game, another last ball win, another hero - well umpired Zach!
Dodgers Innings
Winning the toss Adhoc put Dodgers in on what proved to be a bowler’s paradise. Zach and Andy were typically tight up front keeping them to just 13 off the first four. Andy cleaned up their No 2 but a certain M. Dollin was still hanging around at the other end until he skied the returning Sardar to Law Jnr at long on for steady 20. At the other end, Stephen (perhaps a sign of things to come) was having a bit of a mare going for 17 off his two overs. Overs 5 to 8 went for 31 but Ian and Matt pulled them back, going for a miserly 12 between them in the next four, with Terry taking a good catch off Matt to remove their No 4.
What followed were, perhaps, the four most devastating overs in Adhoc history. Jish, returning from a career threatening injury (OK don’t over do it Ed.), bowled some unplayable variations. First a half tracker hit something and shot along the floor trapping the hapless No. 3 in front of middle for 24. The next batsman middled his first ball straight down the ground only for Stephen to take a stunning one handed catch running back at long off.
Hat trick ball...
With new batsman (NJ) expecting him to go for the stumps, Jish cleverly bowled a waist high full toss that was edged straight to Law Snr at gully. The least said about his attempt at a catch the better but Jish was not finished, the next over again outthinking the batsman with a leg side full toss that was top edged straight to Andy at short fine leg. At the other end Law Snr got some turn and bounce (yes the pitch was that bad) tempting batsmen 6 & 7 into providing Zach and Andy with some catching practice.
With Dodgers struggling to post a decent total it was time to for Lewy’s loopers (don’t you mean flight and guile Ed.). “That length” the batsmen muttered ruefully in the pub afterwards, their hands still shaking from the trauma of not being able to get him away for any meaningful runs. Law Jnr finished of the innings with a caught and bowled, capping another fine all round performance in the field.
Adhoc Innings
Having batted at 11 & 10 last week, Andy and Law Snr boldly took up the option of opening. While Andy, with a spring in his step, hit a breezy 5, before getting caught, Law Snr played out 18 balls for 7 runs (back at 10 next week old man). Sardar also decided to drop anchor, somehow managing to bat even slower taking 13 balls for just 4 before getting run out. Zach (3) was unlucky to be run out after his bat got stuck in the ground going a quick single.
With 98 suddenly looking like a competitive score Ian Almond proved a tougher nut to crack hitting a quick 25, assisted by Jish (9) until he too was run out. Matt, having thought he wouldn’t get at a bat at No 7 (this is Adhoc Mash!), was caught for two ball duck. David (2) was caught shortly afterwards, leaving Stephen facing with two required from the last over. A gettable task you might think for one of Adhoc’s star players last season. But inexplicably Stephen suddenly became possessed by the spirit of Sunil Gavaskar on that fateful June day at Lord's in 1975.
Dot followed dot followed dot. Three balls. No runs. And no danger of the ball breaching the tight ring of fielders. Finally Stephen came close to timing one “Yes. No. Sorry” came the call as Law Snr trudged off the park, run out by a mile. Out strode Terry, the hero of last week. “Yes. No. Sorry” came the call and back strode Terry without facing a ball.
Ian, who was retired on 25 came in to the rather dangerous non-strikers end for the last ball. Two required off one.
NJ bowls a wide one, Lordy swings, misses, and the Dodges celebrate. But wait…
Zach sheepishly (but fairly) gives a wide much to the consternation of the Dodgers fielders. Now one required off the last. This time NJ bowls a quicker one beating both Stephen (no surprise there surely Ed.) and the keeper to go for four byes.
Man of the match: Ian A. for 25 off 24 balls and being the only player to get into double figures!
Fines paid:
Fines outstanding:
Dodgers Innings
Winning the toss Adhoc put Dodgers in on what proved to be a bowler’s paradise. Zach and Andy were typically tight up front keeping them to just 13 off the first four. Andy cleaned up their No 2 but a certain M. Dollin was still hanging around at the other end until he skied the returning Sardar to Law Jnr at long on for steady 20. At the other end, Stephen (perhaps a sign of things to come) was having a bit of a mare going for 17 off his two overs. Overs 5 to 8 went for 31 but Ian and Matt pulled them back, going for a miserly 12 between them in the next four, with Terry taking a good catch off Matt to remove their No 4.
What followed were, perhaps, the four most devastating overs in Adhoc history. Jish, returning from a career threatening injury (OK don’t over do it Ed.), bowled some unplayable variations. First a half tracker hit something and shot along the floor trapping the hapless No. 3 in front of middle for 24. The next batsman middled his first ball straight down the ground only for Stephen to take a stunning one handed catch running back at long off.
Hat trick ball...
With new batsman (NJ) expecting him to go for the stumps, Jish cleverly bowled a waist high full toss that was edged straight to Law Snr at gully. The least said about his attempt at a catch the better but Jish was not finished, the next over again outthinking the batsman with a leg side full toss that was top edged straight to Andy at short fine leg. At the other end Law Snr got some turn and bounce (yes the pitch was that bad) tempting batsmen 6 & 7 into providing Zach and Andy with some catching practice.
With Dodgers struggling to post a decent total it was time to for Lewy’s loopers (don’t you mean flight and guile Ed.). “That length” the batsmen muttered ruefully in the pub afterwards, their hands still shaking from the trauma of not being able to get him away for any meaningful runs. Law Jnr finished of the innings with a caught and bowled, capping another fine all round performance in the field.
Adhoc Innings
Having batted at 11 & 10 last week, Andy and Law Snr boldly took up the option of opening. While Andy, with a spring in his step, hit a breezy 5, before getting caught, Law Snr played out 18 balls for 7 runs (back at 10 next week old man). Sardar also decided to drop anchor, somehow managing to bat even slower taking 13 balls for just 4 before getting run out. Zach (3) was unlucky to be run out after his bat got stuck in the ground going a quick single.
With 98 suddenly looking like a competitive score Ian Almond proved a tougher nut to crack hitting a quick 25, assisted by Jish (9) until he too was run out. Matt, having thought he wouldn’t get at a bat at No 7 (this is Adhoc Mash!), was caught for two ball duck. David (2) was caught shortly afterwards, leaving Stephen facing with two required from the last over. A gettable task you might think for one of Adhoc’s star players last season. But inexplicably Stephen suddenly became possessed by the spirit of Sunil Gavaskar on that fateful June day at Lord's in 1975.
Dot followed dot followed dot. Three balls. No runs. And no danger of the ball breaching the tight ring of fielders. Finally Stephen came close to timing one “Yes. No. Sorry” came the call as Law Snr trudged off the park, run out by a mile. Out strode Terry, the hero of last week. “Yes. No. Sorry” came the call and back strode Terry without facing a ball.
Ian, who was retired on 25 came in to the rather dangerous non-strikers end for the last ball. Two required off one.
NJ bowls a wide one, Lordy swings, misses, and the Dodges celebrate. But wait…
Zach sheepishly (but fairly) gives a wide much to the consternation of the Dodgers fielders. Now one required off the last. This time NJ bowls a quicker one beating both Stephen (no surprise there surely Ed.) and the keeper to go for four byes.
Man of the match: Ian A. for 25 off 24 balls and being the only player to get into double figures!
Fines paid:
- S Lord, for a strike rate of less than 50%, £1
- Matt, for strike rate of less than 50%, £1
- Law Snr, catch avoidance, £1
Fines outstanding:
- Ian T, for dropping out on the day of the match: £5
- Sardar for a strike rate of less than 50%, £1
- ATOC CC vs Dodgers at South Park, Fulham