Never there
Some are born captains, some achieve captaincy and some have
captaincy thrust upon them, writes Russell Balkind.
The captaincy (and the responsibility to write this long overdue
match report) were thrust upon me on a Friday afternoon, which gave
me a whole two days to perfect my "adjusting the field after every
ball" hand gestures. (In case you're wondering, turn your hands
skywards, raise your index and middle fingers as if beckoning a
small dog and then turn the palm to the fielder in question
indicating that he should stop).
Sunday duly arrived and the sleepless night I'd endured the night
before deciding whether I should bat or bowl was for naught as I
lost the toss and the Fallopians were asked to field.
I plumped for experience first up and John Shaw and Peter Frisby
opened the bowling in what were very sticky conditions. The ball
nipped around but the Wimbledonian batsmen remained unbeaten at
drinks on around 95-0 off 18 overs.
After drinks The Fallopians turned to spin with AK Southey bowling
very nicely if not taking a wicket. We needed a wicket and we needed
it badly. Roy found some swing and Tennant had two catches dropped
off his bowling. To counter the mixture of resolute defence and
massive hitting that the Wimbledonian openers were offering, I
decided to bring myself on to bowl and after beating Irvine with my
first bowl was promptly smashed round the park.
The first wicket eventually fell on 185 when Ungerer was bowled by
Frisby for 139. There was then a flurry of wickets as John Shaw
picked up a couple of wickets and the Old Wimbledonians closed for
226-3.
Despite my eternal optimism, the Fallopians weren't really in the
match. Though Jonny Hall batted very nicely on debut, the
Wimbledonian opening bowlers had the measure of the Fallopian top
order with Warwick taking 3-10 in his 7 overs in a supreme display
of old-fashioned seam bowling.
The only other resistance came from Southey and Roy with 29 and
13 respectively. Records show that nine of the Fallopian batsmen
departed bowled which leads the captain to question his team's
technique if not their dedication and enthusiasm.
P.S. There were 6 fours and 1 six in the Fallopian innings. I do
not have a detailed enough record of the OW innings to know about
sixes and fours. Suffice it to say that there were loads.
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