"WICK HAVING A SMASHING TIME AT STOKE..."
Saturday afternoon brought about the much anticipated top of the table clash between Stoke D’abernon and the Wick. Stoke had remained undefeated since their opening game defeat to the Wick and would have been confident on continuing in the same form. What unfolded turned out to be more one sided than Golby’s wagon wheel.
The pitch looked flat and the outfield fast so a high scoring game looked on the cards. Fudgey took the boys for a light warm up to which Stoke responded “ it’s too hot for that” and at least one player opted for a one to one with Mr B.ecks. Advantage Wick.
Fudgey won the toss and elected to bowl on the hottest day of the year and battle commenced.
Leggsy and Webbo opened up and immediately were on the money. With both opening batsmen struggling to get the ball to leave the square. It was not long before Leggsy got an edge which went safely to first slip only for the umps to rule a no ball. No matter, only an over later he got the same batsmen caught and bowled. Webbo was generating some decent pace and bounce which proved far too much for McMillan who edged straight to the waiting gloves of Harry behind the sticks. Stoke were struggling at 25-2.
It was not long before they were 3 down with Webbo removing Watson with the easiest LBW decision umpires have to make. On the full in front of all 3, job done. Webbo bowled a superb spell of 11 over’s for 12 runs with 2 wickets for good measure. Superb effort of a flat deck.
Leggsy was replaced by Breakwell who was greeted by a smash through mid wicket by Bradford-Smith from his first ball. Interesting. A few over’s later he was on his way back to the pavilion having edged again through to Harry. Stoke were now 59-4.
Whilst the wickets were falling at the other end Tufts was slowly compiling a nice start for himself. He and Gottschalk put on 40 before Breakwell removed Gottschalk’s middle stump (99-5). He was joined at the wicket by Crisp and they took the score along nicely to 133-5 before Tufts who had batted so nicely for his 50 hit Leggsy straight to Coley at cover (133-6).
Wick could sense that now was the time to really ram home the advantage. The last 4 wickets fell for just 9 runs as Breakwell opted for the you miss I hit policy and cleaned up the tail with 3 wickets in an over. His hat trick ball being defended stoutly by Parrett. He finished with 6-35 and Stoke had been dismissed for just 142 on a pitch that resembled the Oval on a flat day.
Tea was taken with varying degrees of satisfaction. It appeared that either a barbecue had happened the night before or an Iceland lorry had shed it load nearby and its contents made their way into the stoke freezer. Either way an award of 5/10 is about right.
Down to the run chase.
Coley and Golby opened up and safely negotiated the first few over’s where Bond was generating a lively pace. Golby got the scoring started with two lovely shots for four off Parrett, one through his traditional alley the other through the covers. Coley was more circumspect to start but took a liking to a quick bouncer from Bond and lofted it over the slips where third man could only palm it for a maximum. Both batsmen were under way.
Parrett was removed from the attack quicker than you can say “hey you guys” after an expensive 3 over’s and replaced by Harkett. Golby continued to score at a healthy rate (29 from 30) until he tried to cut one which was a bit too full and straight and got an under edge to be bowled (47-1)
This brought Fudgey (and quite a lot of form) to the crease. He and Coley were happy to pat back all Harketts offerings, as the runs were coming quicker than if you opted for one of the prawn skewers at lunch from the other end. Neither batsmen was in any trouble as they progressed the score onto 100 with ease,dispatching boundaries off Crisp and Gottschalk almost at will.
Harkett continued to keep one end tight but he could do nothing to stop the haemorrhaging of runs from the other end. McMillan was brought into the attack and after being put into the fence (Fudgey), almost impaling Parrett in the process for six and then into the polo windscreen (Coley) for the same outcome was asked to take a blow.
Fudgey brought up his fourth 50 of the season with a nice drive into the off side. All that was left to complete a great day was to see if Coley could do the same. Stoke brought back the lively Bond who opted to bowl round the wicket to Coley, dot, four, four, game over. Wick win by 9 wickets. Coley 51* Fudgey 60* . As emphatic as you can get. As a team we played superbly and got our rewards.
Onwards to Mitcham at home next week and without the distraction of England in the football, Wick will be looking to get another maximum return.
MOM - Breakwell
WICK
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