Isambard vs. Meonstoke (A) - Friendly
Windscreens O'Brien sparkles on Sunny afternoon
Isambard
201-3 dec. (40 overs) (S.Munn 95 not out, R.Gardiner 44, M.Wembridge
22). Meonstoke 43 all out (21.3 overs) (S.O'Brien 6-13, N.Tuohy 2-0).
For the attention of Dermot Steedman:
Mr
Steedman, on the afternoon of Sunday, June 10, strike opening bowler
Scott "Windscreens" O'Brien returned match figures of 11 overs, 7
maidens, 6 wickets for 13 runs. Clearly, this is superior to your
club-record figures of 6-36. Sorry Skip, but someone had to break it to
you. Presumably Scott will be enjoying bowling sixth change from now
on?
On a track that was a bit like a 35-stone man on Viagra - soft, yet hard in parts - O'Brien's bowling was nothing short of spectacular, with the big man whipping down quick, accurate and wickedly devious deliveries. Being deprived of the vocal and rather horny WAGS to heckle his every delivery (see the Wimbledon United match report), O'Brien sprung to life when thrown the new ball, and did not disappoint his skipper, who was on time for once.
His appealing was also firm, yet angry, especially when the umpire failed to raise his finger for a caught behind (O'Brien hadn't noticed the batsman was walking). "What? But he hit that!" he whined in a manner reminiscent of a five-year-old complaining to Mum when their sibling takes the final packet of salt and vinegar crisps in the multi-pack, leaving them with nothing but the regular salted variety. Riveting stuff.
Livewire Sunny Munn was electric at short leg, taking what has to be one of the finest reflex catches ever grasped by an Isambard player. Even he looked incredulous when it stuck.
O'Brien's stellar effort was the driving force behind Meonstoke being bowled out for a meagre 43 off 21.3 overs. Their total included six ducks, one of who was Isambard's own Paul Bailey, who was temped into a false pull shot off Nic Tuohy. For the record, Tuohy's solitary over was a double wicket maiden.
Meonstoke were set a huge total of 202 to chase thanks to a swashbuckling 95* from the livewire that is Munn. The lanky bloke hit eight fours and two sixes on a truly massive ground with grass long enough to lose an airport in. When attempting to smack a six off the final ball to reach a deserved century, Munn could only drive the ball through the covers for a single. The resulting "FAAAAARK!!!!!" echoed through the surrounding valleys, causing Keefy to quickly cover the ears of Williams Jnr, who was attending his first Isambard match at the ripe old age of nine weeks.
Munn was ably supported by Rich Gardiner whose dismissal was, putting it quite simply, bloody hilarious. When Sir Rich asked the scorers what he was on (44) he then turned to Munn and said, "I'll get my fifty, then hit out." The very next ball he skied a slow pie of a delivery, causing onlookers to invoke the superstition that you never asks what score you are on unless you want to get out shortly afterwards.
Simon Codling also batted well for his 12, however the length of his innings can only be described as mediocre. Very mediocre, Simon. Very mediocre indeed.
Other highlights included Paul Bailey's Richie Richardson hat, Keefy's single-ball 0 not out for Meonstoke, the home side's 70-year-old opening bowler with no teeth bowling ten overs on the trot (and taking 1-28), and a three-foot kid smacking Disco Dave through midwicket for a single.
With a new bowling record set on the Sunday, and the batting record being threatened on the Saturday, Isambard's players can only be commended on their high-class standard of cricket over the weekend.
On a track that was a bit like a 35-stone man on Viagra - soft, yet hard in parts - O'Brien's bowling was nothing short of spectacular, with the big man whipping down quick, accurate and wickedly devious deliveries. Being deprived of the vocal and rather horny WAGS to heckle his every delivery (see the Wimbledon United match report), O'Brien sprung to life when thrown the new ball, and did not disappoint his skipper, who was on time for once.
His appealing was also firm, yet angry, especially when the umpire failed to raise his finger for a caught behind (O'Brien hadn't noticed the batsman was walking). "What? But he hit that!" he whined in a manner reminiscent of a five-year-old complaining to Mum when their sibling takes the final packet of salt and vinegar crisps in the multi-pack, leaving them with nothing but the regular salted variety. Riveting stuff.
Livewire Sunny Munn was electric at short leg, taking what has to be one of the finest reflex catches ever grasped by an Isambard player. Even he looked incredulous when it stuck.
O'Brien's stellar effort was the driving force behind Meonstoke being bowled out for a meagre 43 off 21.3 overs. Their total included six ducks, one of who was Isambard's own Paul Bailey, who was temped into a false pull shot off Nic Tuohy. For the record, Tuohy's solitary over was a double wicket maiden.
Meonstoke were set a huge total of 202 to chase thanks to a swashbuckling 95* from the livewire that is Munn. The lanky bloke hit eight fours and two sixes on a truly massive ground with grass long enough to lose an airport in. When attempting to smack a six off the final ball to reach a deserved century, Munn could only drive the ball through the covers for a single. The resulting "FAAAAARK!!!!!" echoed through the surrounding valleys, causing Keefy to quickly cover the ears of Williams Jnr, who was attending his first Isambard match at the ripe old age of nine weeks.
Munn was ably supported by Rich Gardiner whose dismissal was, putting it quite simply, bloody hilarious. When Sir Rich asked the scorers what he was on (44) he then turned to Munn and said, "I'll get my fifty, then hit out." The very next ball he skied a slow pie of a delivery, causing onlookers to invoke the superstition that you never asks what score you are on unless you want to get out shortly afterwards.
Simon Codling also batted well for his 12, however the length of his innings can only be described as mediocre. Very mediocre, Simon. Very mediocre indeed.
Other highlights included Paul Bailey's Richie Richardson hat, Keefy's single-ball 0 not out for Meonstoke, the home side's 70-year-old opening bowler with no teeth bowling ten overs on the trot (and taking 1-28), and a three-foot kid smacking Disco Dave through midwicket for a single.
With a new bowling record set on the Sunday, and the batting record being threatened on the Saturday, Isambard's players can only be commended on their high-class standard of cricket over the weekend.
Report by Kim-Meg Breward
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