WYVERNS WALLOP WOMBATS

by Andrew Baines

With the Wombats losing the last game to Sano a win over the Wyverns was important to secure a place in the semi-final. This was not the case however.

Confusion started the day. Alex’s advice of meeting at the end of the train for an easy change at Kuki meant being far from the stairs and missing the train. After boarding the second train (Dino leaving his shirt on the platform for the Japanese to walk on) the wommies arrived at Sano ground #1. The Wyverns only had 10 players and asked if they could delay the start for the rest of their players to arrive. Our captain Gavin however was not very British and refused this request, and after winning the toss, put the Wyverns into bat.

Things started well for the wommies with opener Yanai departing for a duck off Gavin’s bowling. There would be no more female troubles this week as the other opener Yamamoto went not long after for 14 caught in the slips off Alex’s bowling. It would be some time until the next scalp although not before the Herschelle Gibbs drop of the year appeared. Wyverns batsmen Chino on 5 attempted a pull shot only to sky the ball which was subsequently dropped by…ummm, yours truly.

After a 51 run stand, Hagihara would play the ball into Ben’s juggling hands at mid on to depart for 25 off Andy’s spin. A suicidal single would see the end of hard hitting Ogawa, run out by bowler Andy. This would be the last wicket to fall as Chino and Masubuchi would take the Wyverns to 191-5 by the end of the innings. Chino was wyvern’s top scorer with a respectable 92.

With the wombat’s turn to chase down the competitive total it started badly and only got worse. Dino went for just 5 caught behind off Ogawa, leaving us in trouble straight away (much swearing and shouting followed after by Dino). Following this, 2 quick wickets fell with Nick and Moriaty going for a duck each off Hagihara’s bowling. 3-18 turned to 7-32 with a middle order collapse. With the exception of skipper Gavin, the top and middle order made just 7 runs. It appeared that extras would be our top scorer for this innings.

With the wommies in dire trouble the Wyverns decided it prudent to place pie chuckers at each end. Skipper Gavin and Reggie would share a 51 run parterneship before patient Gavin edged to the keeper off Ogawa back into the attack. Gavin was top score in the innings with 32 off 69 deliveries. The 10th wicket followed quickly in what looked like Alex’s big chance to bat, but it only lasted 4 deliveries. The wombats were all out for 97, Reggie not out on 29 with 2 sixes.

Reggie was the Wombat’s man of the match from a tight spell with the ball and being only one of two players to outscore the extras column.