Warwickshire Bears V Metro

Warwickshire Bears V Metro, BCEW LEAAGUE

Saturday 12th May 2007

Report by Nathan Foy (Warwickshire)

After week long rain in the midlands, Friday night there was as close to mad panic as Warwickshire ever get, when trying to decide if the ground would be fit for a match. With more rain forecast on Saturday afternoon, it looked like any match that started would be interrupted. After talking to the groundsman, it was decided the match would go ahead, and after the damp end to last season, it was great to get a game on.

Saturday brought better weather than was forecast, however it did bring some devilishly strong winds which kept the clouds moving on before they could deposit much of their belly full of rain, the strong winds had ultimately a large say in the game too causing most of the wides.

The toss tactics were interesting, as the weather was fine to start with but if the heavy rains that were forecast came, it would be a lot harder to score runs later on. Ultimately though, the Bear's bowlers were confident of early success, and hoping to leave ourselves chasing only a low target which would still be gettable in wet weather and on a damp pitch and clammy outfield, so metro were asked to bat first.

Rory Field and Matt Dean came out to open, and Andy Powers marked out his run up, and the first ball nearly brought a wicket straight away, with the wind already playing a part and moving the ball from its off stump line forcing Rory into a shot with slip just unable to get something behind it giving the single to open the metro account. This event was to happen many many more times throughout the day with the busiest fielder on the park being slip, it was almost Test match cricket in certain spells.

In the 4th over, Rory's steady batting came to an end after Mike Harrison bowled a fast delivery that slowed up on the pitch throwing Rory off his timing, and pushing the ball straight to Foy close in on the off side after scoring 5 runs.

The next 10overs saw a lot of strong wind, a lot of great deliveries from the Bear's pace bowling, a lot of stern resistance from Metro's top order, as well as Matt Dean (44) shared partnerships of 30 with Dave Townley (8) and 36 with Andy McKeating (18). Once the top order was back on the sidelines, Metro did what they could to resist the good bowling and restrictive field settings, not to mention the damp weather.

After some more overs Luke and Andy were brought back into the attack and there was a passage of play where the only runs came from the batting of Mr. Extras. Finally though, with 5 wickets in his last 2 overs, Luke Sugg stuck a knife into the metro tail and left Dave Powers stranded on 5 not out after a 10 over vigil. Luke finished with 5 wickets for 25 runs off 7overs, so the 2006BCEW top wicket taker started 2007 looking to hold onto his crown, and with this return who would bet against it? To be fair to Andy, had we held our catches he would have had 5 wickets himself.

The tea break saw some surprising sunshine greet the players, unfortunately the strong wind then blew in some dark rain clouds and with the threat of heavy rain looking like it may end the match, the Bears batting line up was asked to get a shift on and win it before the rain came, and if we lost wickets there was still time to just sit in and let their bowlers struggle with the wind. The start went according to plan and after 3 overs the Bears had mashed up 33 runs without taking too many risks.

Rob Kershaw in the 4th over send down a slow low skiddy delivery that was smashed to the leg side for 6, while celebrating the 6 though the batsman learned that Hashmukh had actually taken the catch on the full, and the lack of ball barings rattling around was not because the ball was in the air sailing over the rope, but because it had come to a dead stop in Hashmuck's cuddly midriff. Nathan Foy out for 10. Then, despite batting out of his crease for the entire innings, Rory managed to get Andy Powers given LBW for 15 in the 5th over.

The scoring rate slowed as the wickets fell, and the next 6 overs saw Metro grab hold of the game, taking 4 wickets for the addition of 39runs (Sugg 14, Pickup 15, P.Powers 5, Lee 0). This brought together Gavin Griffiths 14* and Mike Harrison 12*, and the orders to just see us home. After some very steady batting by both, the last 10overs of the game brought up the largest partnership of the match and 52 unbeaten runs for the Bears.

A great game played hard between 2 teams in a friendly manner, with phases of the game that could have given the match to either side. The deciding factor was probably Luke Sugg's bowling, as when metro were 4 wickets down he was able to chop up the metro tail in a 2 over burst, when Warwickshire were 4 wickets down no one could really offer that same sustained pressure.

Warwickshire would like to thank Metro for such a great game played in the spirit that Colin Cowdrey would have been proud of, we wish you good luck for the remainder of the season.

Warwickshire won by 4 wickets.

Warwickshire 20 points
Metro 4 points.

	Bears V Metro Scorecard
	Warwickshire Bears V Metro, BCEW LEAAGUE Saturday 12th May 2007 Report by Nathan Foy (Warwickshire) After week long rain in the midlands, Friday night there was as close to mad panic as Warwickshire ever get, when trying to decide if the ground would be fit for a match. With more rain forecast on Saturday afternoon, it looked like any match that started would be interrupted. After talking to the groundsman, it was decided the match would go ahead, and after the damp end to last season, it was great to get a game on. Saturday brought better weather than was forecast, however it did bring some devilishly strong winds which kept the clouds moving on before they could deposit much of their belly full of rain, the strong winds had ultimately a large say in the game too causing most of the wides. The toss tactics were interesting, as the weather was fine to start with but if the heavy rains that were forecast came, it would be a lot harder to score runs later on. Ultimately though, the Bear's bowlers were confident of early success, and hoping to leave ourselves chasing only a low target which would still be gettable in wet weather and on a damp pitch and clammy outfield, so metro were asked to bat first. Rory Field and Matt Dean came out to open, and Andy Powers marked out his run up, and the first ball nearly brought a wicket straight away, with the wind already playing a part and moving the ball from its off stump line forcing Rory into a shot with slip just unable to get something behind it giving the single to open the metro account. This event was to happen many many more times throughout the day with the busiest fielder on the park being slip, it was almost Test match cricket in certain spells. In the 4th over, Rory's steady batting came to an end after Mike Harrison bowled a fast delivery that slowed up on the pitch throwing Rory off his timing, and pushing the ball straight to Foy close in on the off side after scoring 5 runs. The next 10overs saw a lot of strong wind, a lot of great deliveries from the Bear's pace bowling, a lot of stern resistance from Metro's top order, as well as Matt Dean (44) shared partnerships of 30 with Dave Townley (8) and 36 with Andy McKeating (18). Once the top order was back on the sidelines, Metro did what they could to resist the good bowling and restrictive field settings, not to mention the damp weather. After some more overs Luke and Andy were brought back into the attack and there was a passage of play where the only runs came from the batting of Mr. Extras. Finally though, with 5 wickets in his last 2 overs, Luke Sugg stuck a knife into the metro tail and left Dave Powers stranded on 5 not out after a 10 over vigil. Luke finished with 5 wickets for 25 runs off 7overs, so the 2006BCEW top wicket taker started 2007 looking to hold onto his crown, and with this return who would bet against it? To be fair to Andy, had we held our catches he would have had 5 wickets himself. The tea break saw some surprising sunshine greet the players, unfortunately the strong wind then blew in some dark rain clouds and with the threat of heavy rain looking like it may end the match, the Bears batting line up was asked to get a shift on and win it before the rain came, and if we lost wickets there was still time to just sit in and let their bowlers struggle with the wind. The start went according to plan and after 3 overs the Bears had mashed up 33 runs without taking too many risks. Rob Kershaw in the 4th over send down a slow low skiddy delivery that was smashed to the leg side for 6, while celebrating the 6 though the batsman learned that Hashmukh had actually taken the catch on the full, and the lack of ball barings rattling around was not because the ball was in the air sailing over the rope, but because it had come to a dead stop in Hashmuck's cuddly midriff. Nathan Foy out for 10. Then, despite batting out of his crease for the entire innings, Rory managed to get Andy Powers given LBW for 15 in the 5th over. The scoring rate slowed as the wickets fell, and the next 6 overs saw Metro grab hold of the game, taking 4 wickets for the addition of 39runs (Sugg 14, Pickup 15, P.Powers 5, Lee 0). This brought together Gavin Griffiths 14* and Mike Harrison 12, and the orders to just see us home. After some very steady batting by both, the last 10overs of the game brought up the largest partnership of the match and 52 unbeaten runs for the Bears. A great game played hard between 2 teams in a friendly manner, with phases of the game that could have given the match to either side. The deciding factor was probably Luke Sugg's bowling, as when metro were 4 wickets down he was able to chop up the metro tail in a 2 over burst, when Warwickshire were 4 wickets down no one could really offer that same sustained pressure. Warwickshire would like to thank Metro for such a great game played in the spirit that Colin Cowdrey would have been proud of, we wish you good luck for the remainder of the season.* Warwickshire won by 4 wickets. Warwickshire 20 points Metro 4 points.