VECC v Wallsend game washed out with Wallsend on the rack in season opener

Written by Neil Best VECC Reds player

REDS REPORT
GAME ONE 11/10/08
VS WALLSEND RSL

While the team was fairly confident about continuing their dominance over the Wallsend team, who had also been moved back to D6s for the 2008/09 season, there was some concern when experienced batsmen Paul D’Elboux (17) and Mark Stiller (13) were back in the shade reasonably early. Paul had been scratchy, working out cobwebs from a long off season, but had just let loose with three boundaries in a row; two powerful shots off his pads (one which went for six) and a powerful on drive which left the opposition with their mouths open, and it was a surprise when his stumps were rattle in the next over. Mark’s 15 year set of cobwebs was blown away early with a towering on drive out of the ground, but he yorked himself while trying to look for another juicy half volley and the Reds were two down for 61. This soon became 3 for 61 (2 balls later actually) when Dave Lowry went for his favourite pull shot, but missed, to a ball which hit half way up middle stump.

Meanwhile, the other veteran in the team, Neil Best, was snicking and edging his way to a team top score of 40, aided by some diabolical fielding from the opposition, who put him down three times, all extremely gettable. Scott Gustard (19) showed how it should be played, smacking his first ball over mid wicket for six, and then repeating the shot the following over, but Matt Barker failed to follow his example, losing his stumps to an inglorious swipe. Rohan Kennedy (18) and Matt Keast (19) hit out powerfully, Matt’s 19 being his top score for the Club since moving to the senior division. Elliot Best (3) played one drive over mid-off, and Michael Taylor (5) crunched one four, leaving Matt Hardaker unbeaten on eight, having held his end up while 57 runs were scored at the other end.

With Wallsend facing the target of 170, new captain Rohan Kennedy elected to stack the area behind the stumps, with ‘keeper Neil Best and slips Paul D’Elboux and Mark Stiller possessing a combined total of approximately150 years of wisdom and experience. Rohan didn’t need any of them for his first dismissal, his yorker too quick for the Wallsend opener. But he did need the assistance of the ‘keeper for his second wicket courtesy of a fine snick behind to wider delivery. At the other end, Matt Keast opened with two maidens before collecting a wicket via a well judged catch by Michael Taylor at deep square leg. Matt could have had two more, Matt Barker dropping a sitter at mid-off and Rohan Kennedy sportingly admitting that he was centimetres over the boundary at deep square leg when he too took a difficult one. All this action took place under darkening skies, inevitably leading from a few spots of rain to a steady drizzle.

With the ball becoming a piece of soap, Matt Hardaker and Dave Lowry accepted invitations to the bowling crease, and both overcome the difficulties to record wickets, Matt’s via a slash to Scott Gustard at point and Dave’s via a drive to Matt Barker in the covers, who did his usual trick of hitting the ball in the air before nonchalantly catching it as it returned to earth. By this stage, with Wallsend floundering at 5 for 36 off 11 overs, and the Reds floundering in the steady downpour, the game was abandoned, both sides retiring to the shelter, where other members of the team and supporters were shaking their heads – thanks to Justin Dunne, Tony Farnham and the Steele family for supporting the team despite their inability to play on the day.