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Sunday 03rd August 2008 Wes You Rock My World Starting off with a few Fosters and some Walkers Sweet Chilli Sensations, taking it easy on the Sensations got to get in shape (of sorts) for footy season. Where to start cricket wise, up until last week it has been a case of more starts than the olympic heats and no-one taking it on. Last week Wes takes it on to finish 98 not out in a total of 271 - 4, unfortunately we had conceded 304 prior to that. Little we were to know that the big man was merely whetting his appetite. I think i'm right in spelling that with an h. Not drunk enough to get too pofound just yet but I am tying to correct things in that department. I haven't had the time or the timing to write a meaningful blog this season, the Faly household is being run under a dictatorial regime led by a red-headed lady of 2yrs and 9months age. Also discovering the Railway has a licence till 1 o'clock has resulted in typing dexterity being very much beyond me. My inspiration tonight, a simply awesome display of clean hitting supported by the partial fulfillment of potential. Faly being out earlier in the piece had the good fortune to umpire the majority of We's innings and the whole of Wes/FAC partnership. Let me paint a picture of the build up. We arrive at Bridgend Recreation Centre between 1:45 and 2:00, that is 8 of us, the other Wes, Goughie, Gandalf The White & Chrissy Lew arriving about another ten minutes after. Their skipper Clive, a tidy guy tells me he's claiming the toss and he's putting us in. No complaints from me but personally i've never done it on the basis that we're diabolical time keepers so I've got sympathy for sides if they struggle to arrive on time. Though let me point out in case anyone is thinking of sending Clive hate mail he could have claimed overs if he'd wanted. Us batting first brought a couple of dilemmas regarding the batting order. FAC felt a little out of sorts and wanted to drop down the order (though he would have opened no probs), Gizzy only wanted to open if we'd batted second, Rossi only wanted 3 at the most. Skipper Faly likes to open it gives him more time to painfully grind out runs. Thus the completely out of form Chrissy Lew was told he was opening and true to form he just shrugged his shoulders and got on with it. My instructions/advice to Chrissy was simply go out and try and hit the ball and himself into a bit of form. Skipper Faly went for 9 the score on unlucky 13 deceived by a slower ball from Kevin Williams, lofting a fairly comfortable catch to mid on. Shame felt in good touch, creamed a ball through square leg two balls before and at that point thought here we go. Faly's demise brought Matty Ross to the crease and he continued where he left off last week, nothing spectacular but starting to play in the right areas. Meanwhile Chrissy Lew had departed for a 46 minute 3, missing an attempted pull to square the ball rolled off his pads and onto the stumps. When you're down this beautiful game just finds ways to kick you lower. The score 26 - 2, wickets falling ominously in multiples of 13's and the latest one in the 13th over. 6 runs and 3 overs later Rossi departs for 15 caught behind. Not monumental but hopefully he can appreciate what he can potentially achieve. Vice skipper Mark Seymour came to the middle to join Wesley Price and then after 18.2 overs with the score on 38 for 3, the batting monster that is Gareth Price came to life and hit four successive 6's. Things settled down for the next two overs and indeed looked even more ominous for ATCC when Giz was given out adjudged LBW by our very own Goughie (bowler's union). ATCC were now 74 for 4 in the 21st over. FAC Adam Poole strode to the crease, a little low on confidence with his skipper concerned he may be thinking more of the suntanned babes that await him on the beaches of Kavos. What ensued will live with me forever, two of the most genuine cricket lovers proceeded to put on a partnership of 174 runs for the fifth wicket. Wes gave a display of controlled and yet destructive hitting that the GW bowlers and fielders had no answer to. He also displayed patience, being content to pick up singles and wait for the bowler to stray ever so slightly on length or line and punish it mercilessly. Ironically he was dropped without scoring though it should be said he creamed it off the back foot through extra cover and it can only be justifiably be described as a half chance. Skipper Faly umpired throughout this partnership and did not dare allow himself the luxury of a smile until the big man had passed three figures which he did by launching the ball once again over the midwicket boundary. I could spend an eternity here trying to encapsulate what that knock meant to me and what I think it means for our club let alone what it meant to Wes, and I would not do it justice. A lot of sides have that one player who is a class apart, we have always had Wes the bowler, today he just proved he is a class all-rounder. Meanwhile another milestone was chalked off, another monkey was thrown off a player's back. FAC Poole got his first league fifty, contrasting in style to Wes but similar in that he play's shot's that the rest of us can only dream of. It's been a long time coming Pooley but what an innings. Sheer class. Finally out in the 44th over for 74 unselfishly looking to pile on even more runs. The sylph-like Gareth Tapnell came to the crease for the last over and a bit and could only watch as Wes continued the carnage to hit the first three balls of the last over for 6 runs each. ATCC eventually reaching 270 runs from their 45 overs and Mr Gareth Price remaining unbeaten on 155. Just stopped to replenish my Foster's and finish off a half eaten Kit Kat Senses. Unbelievably fine wafer, chocolate and fondant combination. I'm a bit tired now and want to go to bed so will not give detailed account of our bowling and fielding. Highlights - Aaron Cawley - just like having Ali with his wide count but what a bundle of enthusiasm. Goughie's catch at slip - tidy Granch. D's leg cutter. Rossi running back to his mark. Dam Gaille for being good looking and running 80 yards at the end of every over. Today's result leaves us still in the relegation zone with top dogs Newbridge next up. With Wes on fire, a couple of newer faces back next week, a couple of us not so newer due a good one, we've got to go in confident. We missed a big opportunity down there to knock em over, let's go one better. We committed Hari-Kari last week against Pencoed in what was as today's game was, effectively a 50 pointer. I can easily recall instances that cost us 50 runs and no doubt that figure actually was nearer 100!!! We need two more wins to ensure safety but, if potential is realised across the board, four from four is not unrealistic. My last but one note is of course to the big man. Mr Price - awesome. ATCC - "because we're keeping the dream alive" Cadillac, cadillac, long and dark, shiny and black Open up them engines let em roar Tearing up the highway like a big old dinosaur Sunday 20th July 2008 Just A Couple Of Reality Checks John D came in and played with no baggage. Had a swipe (sometimes cultured sometimes agricultural) at the bad ball but ultimately with no fear of failure. He didn't take it on to a big fifty, nor did the skip, so there continues the pattern for the season but it should have been a good enough start to launch an assault for a 200+ total even given the unfavourable wicket. We are not a bad side but cannot put it together collectively to get us through a day like today. They were low on confidence and when we were 100 for 1 they were very quiet. We finished up with 175 for 8 off our 45 and didn't start too well. I've had enpouggh i'm drunk it's hard correcting all my typing rrrors so ggoodnight we lost but we could haver won Older log >> |