Pines cut down by Cavaliers in the field
Cavaliers v Rhiwbina, 11th June 2009, Willows Cup Quarter Final
If you think cricket is just about batting and bowling, watching Rhiwbina play on Thursday night (11th June) would have disabused you of that particular notion. The Pines committed cricketing suicide in the field, collectively putting in a sloppy performance that wiped out the strong position that had been created by both bat and ball.
On a bright and blustery evening, Cavaliers won the toss and decided to insert the visitors. Dan Clayton got the Pines off to flying start, using his feet to stroke some delightful boundaries on both sides of the wicket. Gareth Davies struggled to find the fluency he exhibited in the first round and was stumped for 5 while on the charge.
In the shadow of Llandaff Cathedral, Clayton quickly moved to 25 and was retired, leaving the middle order of Ash Crowter (9), Matt Todd (10) and Phil Holt (16) to build some useful parnerships and keep the scoring rate above a run-a-ball. But the real impetus came from left-hander Steve Lewis who stuck the ball powerfully to race to 25 in double-quick time.
The tail also chipped in some useful runs to maintain the scoring rate, until Ted Pilling’s dismissal from the penultimate ball, saw Dan Clayton return to the crease to add another single to his total. The Pines closed on 129 for 8 from 18 overs – tellingly the Cavaliers had bowled 23 wides.
Rhiwbina’s collective bowling was good. Steve Lewis (0 for 10) set the tone of discipline for others to follow, which by and large they did. There were only a handful of wides bowled by the Pines. Ted Pilling, returning to the Rhiwbina ranks for the first time this season, lived up to his reputation as a ‘golden arm’ by striking twice in his first over, aided by the captain who plucked a full-blooded pull out of the air at midwicket, much to his own surprise. Pilling finished with superb figures of 2 for 6.
The Cavaliers top six were good players (three retired on 25) and managed to score occasional boundaries but, on too many occasions, shots for one or two turned into fours as fielders let the ball slide between their legs or through grasping fingers. The long barrier may not be in vogue but Rhiwbina’s fielders, on this evidence, need to relearn some lessons from the old school. First topic on the syllabus: get some part of your body behind the ball.
The mistakes led to tension in the field, which briefly spread to the batsmen. Barny Evans and Matt Todd’s sharp throws ran out two batsmen late on and with four overs to bowl, Rhiwbina seemed to be in the box seat. But when the Cavaliers’ tail-enders did connect with big swings, the Pines’ deep fielders were unable to protect the rope. The final blow was struck from the final ball of the 17th over and Rhiwbina lost by six wickets.
PINE-OF-THE-MATCH: Steve Lewis – unbeaten knock and tidy first-up bowling. A rare genuine athlete.
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT: Ted Pilling rips one past the opener’s blade and clips the top of off. It’s always a good huddle when EP is at the centre.
TEFLON FIELDERS AWARD: let’s spread the love around.
NO CUDDLY TOY AT THE COCONUT SHY: Ashleigh Crowter shies at the bowler’s stumps from square-leg, and nearly decapitates the fielder at extra-cover.
DIRTY TROUSERS AWARD: Matt Todd for a fine sliding stop. His wife has got her work cut out with that grass stain.
