Barry Wanderers XI vs Cardiff Casuals XI

Wanderers Off To Winning Ways!

With usual Sunday skipper Andy Fenton on the sidelines with new eyes, it was Ben Collins turn to debut as skipper for Barry Wanderers against local friendly rivals the Cardiff Casuals. Losing the toss, he was invited to bowl on a damp but hard wicket. Young starlets Krunal Patel and Luke Denning opened the attack, with the latter enjoying more success taking 3 for 34 off his allotted 8 overs. Patel did bowl beautifully with just 15 coming from his 5 overs. The evergreen Mike Ashton was first change and he made Jamie Keir work hard down the leg side in his first few deliveries – the WD40 was slow to take it’s effect! Debutant Evan Jones changed at the tree end and enjoyed 5 good overs conceding 28 runs. By now the Casuals had raced to 125 for 1 with a big score looking likely. However, old faithful – the drinks break – had other ideas, as did skipper Collins by introducing himself into the attack. In his first over he got the crucial breakthrough, that of Smith who scored a marvelous 77 in quick time. With the dramatically improved Rob Tucker bowling superbly at the other end, wickets started to tumble and Tucker finished with 3 for 22 from 7, and Collins1 for 18. Wrapping up the tail, Chris Sanders took 2 for 12 with his inswingers. The Casuals closed their innings at 182 all out.

After a tidy tea prepared by Fenton and ‘no-game’ Hassett, the Wanderers set off chasing the 183 needed for victory. Peter ‘Sooty’ Coleman and Kyle Offer started in style with the latter playing some cracking cover drives in his 14. Coleman went for 18 and long term absentee Alan Hopes returned trying to find the middle of his bat. Finally he did with a stunning straight drive – but it was too straight and proceeded to take middle stump out of the ground at the bowlers’ end. Soon after, a massive 6 was plundered by Hopes as the class returned. Sanders was harshly adjudged LBW for 2, and Jamie Keir not harshly adjudged LBW for 14. With skipper Collins getting a cameo 18, it was Hopes who dominated the attack. The only blemish was being caught off a quietly announced no-ball, but he was there at the end with a cracking 77 not out. The Wanderers winning by 5 wickets

The league season commences in earnest on May 3rd 2008 and this win has boosted the confidence in the camp.

Barry Wanderers XI vs Cardiff Casuals XI Summary

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