Sitting in a strong position, having them 9 down and 90 behind, a quiet confidence simmered under the surface of the Nadoes CC players on Saturday. The warm up went as usual and Tom even managed to hold onto a few catches.
We managed to get the final wicket after just 3.2 overs when their final Batsman was adjudged LBW, falling to a nic Pullen straight one. We began our second innings 88 ahead and looked promising. Our openers Great Dayne And Fadel Edwards put the Somerset Bowling attack to the sword posting yet another 50 run opening partnership, an occurence rendered impossible last year due to the erattic for m of Murray King, but the dead wood has been sawn off, and a streamlined opening pair remain, very much in form. Fadel was unluckily caught on the squareleg boundary for a well played 22. Great D followed soon afterwards, he was stumped down leg side (2nd only to timed out as the boggiest way to be dismissed) for 29.
Waz and Murray King put on a good few runs for the 3rd wicket until Waz departed for 21. This left the doors open for the Murray King show. In an innings that defied belief, he amased 61 runs at easily faster than a run a ball. The historical innings included 3 fours and 5 sixes and will go down as a close second to the best King innings to date. His best came 2 weeks before when he managed to down 19 beers(clicker to prove it.) and still come right.
Sibu predictably came and went, hardly troubling the scorers while bones smashed 17 off just 5 balls, managing to smash his first ball into the road. So, after declaring at 180/5, with a 261 run lead, we had 65 overs to bowl them out. Game on.
The defense of our total didnt get off to the best of starts with both our opening bowlers putting up arguable their worst performances of the season/lives. They were both lucky that they performed in the first innings otherwise they would have found themselves as real TFC contenders. But, slowly, the wickets began to tumble, first with Pullen grabbing a few and Tom picking up a stick. Then on came the spinners and they went throught the Somerset batting line up like a hot curry. Bones being the pick of the bowlers picking up 4 sticks, and he was ably supported by Jimmy Brown.
It must be said, that the catching was poor at best, with many chanes going down. Even the great Dayne Lapsed and was sconed on the head for his efforts. But finally, the Somerset resistance was ended when Nic Pullen grabbed the final stick of the day and Somerset were bowled out for 180, 80 runs short.
The Fines that folowed were epic. THe Kenny Kirkby 6's award for the biggest 6 went to Murray King, The Man of theMatch went to Dave Bones for his great all round effort, and the TFC was a tightly contested award, with the final decision revealing that Sibu walked away with the Prize. Pandemonium broke out, as wild celebrations from a Jubilant Ginny nearly brought the house down. Ginny was then ordered to down beers for his celebrations and the room lost control again.
3 hours later the participants emerged, plastered, singing and revved up. I am sure there were a few ladies who got a good seeing to that evening. All in all it was a successful day and fines, and a perfect way to end off the maiden win of the 2009/10 seaon, that saw WPCC to the top of the table.
Next week sees us play UNITED in the 2day game, revenge will be on the minds of the players.
We will be pushing off to clifton after the game on saturday so all are encouraged to come and watch and to join at Clifton.
See ya Sat...
