It's a great game, isn't it?Firstly, thanks to every one of the SIXTEEN people who came out to enjoy the cricket on such an excellent day. It's really great to play the game with all 11 fielders in place and a couple umpires to boot! It's an experience rarely had in Vermont, let alone Bennington, but I hope to make it quite regular for a long time to come. Hats off to you!
Secondly, what a game!
The Blades started of by winning the toss, and thanks to a handy partnership between Joe and Tony, it was 4 or 5 overs before the loss of the first wicket. (My apologies on the lack of detail, but I left the bags on the field Sunday, and THANKS to Tony for picking them up for me! I'll update this post with some numbers once I get them..)
Coming in at number three, I had the distinct pleasure of being humbled by one very excellent ball from Zak. Having pasted him for a couple twos and one MON - wait for it - STER six, I played a textbook, vanilla forward defensive on a ball that was pitched right at the stumps. But alas, we do not play on rolled, mirror-flat pitches, and weird bounces happen. The next thing I know, my bails are doing cartwheels through the air...
Well done, mate.
That just goes to show you the value of bowling relatively straight. There are too many demons in the pitch (and not enough top-rated batsmen) to worry about getting extra pace on the ball. Just bowl straight and good things will happen!
Anyway, the Blades ended up with 55 runs in 10 overs - not bad (almost a run a ball) but not unattainable. Woodford needed 56 runs to win. and this is where the lessons started...
Lesson #1 - Catches win matches.
So I was guilty myself - a little caught and bowled chance that hit the ground. A 'dolly' as it's called in cricket. Got excited, panicked, bungled it. Perhaps we should practice them a bit, as I can think of 4 drops that benefitted Woodford alone! Had those wickets been taken, the match never would have gotten so close at the end. Which brings me to...
Lesson #2 - When the ball is hit in the air.... RUN!!!
This isn't baseball. There's no chance of being thrown out for leaving the crease too early.If each of the 4 dropped catches had runners in motion during them, it's a one-run game. Every run counts! So next time, RUN! :)
Lesson #3 - Beware the karmakazes
Just because you bowl me out doesn't mean you're top dog (or even middle rooster). Cricket's a funny game, and one must be wary at all times. Especially when you're batting. Especially first ball. Zak, this Golden Duck's for you!
Lesson #4 - Newbies make a difference.
Bhima's awesome bowling and terrific run-out. Dan showing up to line a soccor field, staying for cricket and learning firsthand the definition of "slip catch". Matt bowling his first over ever, and experiencing the joy of sending the batsman's stumps cartwheeling through the air. You don't have to be an expret to get great joy out of the game. That's why I hope you all come out to play on Sunday. It'll be worth it!
:)
