SUTTON VS HWRCC – Sunday June 15th

WICK – 209 for 9 (Matty D - 71, Whinney – 43)

Jimmy C, Sisso, MS, Matty D, Whinney, Copeland, Junaid, GT, Tommy R, Linter, Maloj,

Defeated

SUTTON – 150-odd (I think) all out

3 wickets each to Tommy R, GT and Jimmy C

Wick get back to winning ways with victory over Sutton

After the disappointment of pushing Teddington all the way the previous Sunday and failing to get over the line, it would be fair to say that the Wick Sunday XI (not XII – I’ll hold my hands up for being crap at roman numerals) were eager to make amends and ‘stuff’ someone with a smashing victory. And we did just that.

After finally managing to get to the ground, the Wick won the toss and decided to bat on a track that Harry “Heart throb” Copeland described, in a more private moment, as “good” – thanks Harry. Led by the new (but equally old) opening pair of Sisso and MS, the Wick got off to a perfect start. MS, who hadn’t picked up a bat in vain for over a year, unleashed a couple of beautiful slog shots down the ground for boundaries while sisso, was happy to play his shots through slips (unorthodox). After only 10 overs we had reach 50 runs.

Despite the good start, a few wickets were bound to fall. MS went for a cut shot that wasn’t there and got caught at first slip, while Sisso skied a shot that swung in too much to have been played in the first place.

Enter Matty D. It would be fair to say that every team needs a “go-to” man and there is no doubt that, in the short season so far, Matty D has been said person. Whether it be scoring a shed load of runs, taking sharp catches, or providing terrific captaincy advice to Jimmy C, the bloke is the guy you turn to when something needs to happen. He’s every captain’s dream (not in that way……)

And he didn’t disappoint on Sunday. After a disappointing Saturday, Matty D was bat to his ruthless best. Smashing three sixes (including one over the clubhouse) and a number of boundaries, Matty D was heading for a massive hundred to set the boys up for a big score. He reached a massive 71 runs before being caught at short fine leg after the slower bowler for Sutton (read: very slow), managed to drift one in and get up a bit. Top knock Matty.

Despite Matty returning to the bench, alongside side GT who failed to trouble the scorers much, Jimmy C and Whinney kept the pressure up on the bowling side. Whinny and Jimmy helped ticked the scoring at over 5 runs an over, with Whinney scoring an impressive 43 runs and Jimmy a solid 26. Harry “the heart throb” Copeland, who had scored a brilliant 91 runs in the under 15s match earlier in the day, then went in and smashed 18 runs from just a handful of balls, to push the Wick up to 209 at the break. Definitely a good score – FACT.

Teas – ats

Heading out to the field, the boys were in a buoyant mood. With Tommy Robinson and Junaid opening the bowling, Skipper Jimmy C wanted his colts to step up. Tommy bowled beautifully – FACT. Taking three wickets in an 8-over opening spell, he bowled line and length deliveries that eventually frustrated the batsmen into giving up their wickets (one LBW and two caught behind).

Despite these three wickets, Sutton’s run rate was still at over 6 an over and they looked like they would push our total. Enter Graham “Baywatch” Tong. Despite having his arm in a sling, the boy bowled beautifully, taking three wickets in just five overs, to leave Sutton reeling at 6 down for 100-odd.

With Whinney struggling to find his rhythm from the other end, Matty D advised Jimmy C to throw on the wildcard to try and get some more wickets: enter Maloj.

Maloj is a captain’s nightmare. He rarely has his head in the game and, on those occasions where he does, you wonder what game he is actually in. Having recovered from giving away 4 overthrows in the field and, quite literally, running into a hedge trying to save a boundary, he took the ball. However, with the ball in his hand, Maloj bowled well. With pace, nip, bounce and fitness, the kid helped to slow down Sutton’s run rate to such an extent that a win for them seemed almost out of the question.

Sensing the opportunity to get some cheap wickets, Skipper Jimmy C entered into the bowling attack. Taking 3 wickets for just a handful of runs, the game was all over. The Wick had won by around 50-odd runs, restoring their record to 5 – 1 (win / loss). But who’s counting? I am!

This weekend sees the boys travel to Hampton Hill in the Bushey Park league. Anyone wishing to get some valuable time out in the middle, should contact Wick Skipper Jimmy C on 0789 135 1404 for a match.

Wickman Junior