February
Rygersdal (15 February 2003) - Lost
Score Card
Our first match on tour saw us get off to a great start with Shep taking a wicket with his first ball, the first ball of the second over! This was followed up with a further wicket from Micky and we thought we were in for a god result with the home
team being 13 for 2. However, their number four batsman looked a class act from ball one, he went on to retire with his score on 50. We kept chipping away at the other end but their number eight batsman hit an unbeaten 42. Rygersdal finish their 40
overs on 177 for 8 with Nudge taking three wickets, Micky and Shep taking two each and Ash (Hathersage) taking the remaining victim. Big Al also managed to hold onto three catches (nearly as many as he dropped!). Given the extreme heat this was a
good performance and certainly better than our first performance in Barbados!
A new opening partnership of Nudge and Richard (Hathersage)
didn't last long as Richard went with the score on 16. Nudge hung around for 39 and with help from John Nichol (14) and Dibber (20) the score moved onto 106 for 4 before we collapsed to 139 all out from 37 overs. Reece Needham coming on as
substitute for one of the home side’s players (barbecue duty) provided the highlight of the innings. Slight bending of the rules and the kindness of our hosts allowed Reece to bowl. He returned figures of 3 overs, 0 maidens, 17 runs and 1 wicket.
The wicket was R. Hibbert bowled! Well done Reece!
Although we lost our hosts were excellent in the bar afterward and a great
night was had by all.
Milnerton (16 February 2003) - Lost
Score Card
After the exhausting day at Rygersdal (and night) a few tired body's made it out to our next match the following day at Milnerton. We were met with a force 10 gale (normal apparently at this venue) and a wicket that looked like it had been made from
a slagheap. Once again we were in the field first and again got off to a reasonable start dismissing the first two batsmen with the score on 24. However, one of their batsmen chanced his arm and was lucky to survive several chances in making 87
before being well run out by John Nichol. Again we chipped away at the other end and probably relaxed a little too much when a young lad came in at the end. He hung around and the last pair put on a vital 15 runs or so to finish on 192 all out off
exactly 40 overs. Mick and Shep again both took two wickets with Nudge also taking another 'threefur'. Swifty and Dave Hadley also chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Our innings got off to a solid start with the familiar Needham/Hibbert combination
boring the crowd to tears. But with the score on 45 Nudge got a grubber and was plumb LBW. Steady progress was then made but with wickets falling regularly, although Roy was still there with the score on 179 for 8. Unfortunately Roy was then given
out LBW (64) and we lost the last wicket with our score on 188. So near and yet so far,
again!
Durbanville (19 February 2003) - Lost
Score Card
Unfortunately we do not have complete scorebook details for this match, only our performances. Driving to the ground it became apparent that this was a well to do area and the ground did not disappoint. We were met with tea/coffee and sandwiches
before the game commenced. Once the pleasantries were over with it was back to chasing leather as once again we toiled in the field. Once again we started okay but they had a star batsman that came in the middle order. That said he hit the ball in
the air and hit gaps more by luck than judgement. They ended on 220 for 7 with Shep claiming 3 wickets, Dave Hadley, Nudge and Bownsy one each. Due to illness we were without Dibber and Micky.
Our reply got off to a good start with Nudge and John
Nichol and the first five batsmen all got into the 20's or higher with Ash making 46. However, we couldn't keep it going and we ended on 180 for
7.
Fish Hoek (23 February 2003) - Won
Score Card
Another windy venue, but not as windy as Milnerton. For once the opposition looked older than we did and this gave us some heart. Further good news was that Roy had won the toss and we were to bat first! Nudge and John Nichol strode out to the
middle and the score progressed to 30 from around 7 overs before John was caught behind. Richard came in to join Nudge and they put on a partnership of 59 in around 10 overs before Richard was out stumped. Nudge reached his 50 just prior to the
drinks break and it was agreed between Dave and Roy that he should retire (a first for us). Dibber and Jake then proceeded to tuck into their bowlers with Jake matching Dave in making 58. After our allotted 35 overs we had made 224 for 6 with all
the batsmen making contributions.
Any thoughts of an easy win were soon dispelled as their apparent lack of bowling was obviously because their side was full of batsmen! Both openers looked capable with one in particular looking very good. Bownsy
took the first wicket with the help of a fine catch from Reece in the covers (his first) and Micky fooled the better of the opening batsmen with a full toss which Shep clung hold of. However, their number six had obviously played before at a good
level and although he was dropped twice in one over off the bowling of Reece (substituting for Ash) he went on to make a good 44. Our hosts eventually finished on 171 for 9 with Roy unable to bowl their substitute batswomen out! So we had achieved
our goal of winning at least one
match!
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