Thursday 3 September 2002
Dodgers batted first. Ringer Conway opened with Westhead and took advantage of the pace of Towers to score 8 from the first over. Westhead was then left to face the swing and accuracy of Malik. Fortunately he only had to do this for one ball as he was comprehensively bowled by the second (he then proceeded to moan on for an eternity to the hapless scorer that he couldnt see the point and was seriously considering giving up the game we live in hope!). Priest then joined Conway and the score briskly moved to 45 before Conway also deceived by swing, became Maliks 2nd victim in the 10th over with the score on 65. Ringer Whitrod strode to the crease promising to end his recent crap run by smiting the ball to all parts of the ground. Unfortunately he only managed to smite 1 in a stand of 25 with Priest before being stumped. Benn, not bothering to trouble the scorer, fell to the impressive Malik and Cooper, caught for 2 off Palao, soon followed.
At this stage the score in the 17th over stood at 71 for 5 with Priest on 37 and, given the perceived quality of the tail, it was generally feared (not least by the tail itself) that Dodgers would be lucky to scrape to 100 in 40 overs. All was not lost however as Ringer Block, whilst only scoring 4 before being stumped, managed to occupy the crease long enough to share in a stand of 40 with Priest. Matthews then strode to the wicket with the score on 111 and Priest on 67. Taking Benns advice not to get out (and also taking advantage of Whitrod not giving him out caught off the toe of his boot) Matthews miraculously shared in a stand of 52 with Priest; during the course of which Priest, having being dropped by Malik on 98, became the first real Dodger to score a century. Overcome with emotion he was of course promptly caught without addition but who cares - with the score on 163. An excellent innings highlighted by 15 boundaries (all 4s). Hawton was then bowled for a 1 and Pope and Matthews remained undefeated. Final score was 168 for 8 from 40 overs.
Dodgers were reasonably optimistic that theyd be able to protect this score. Especially when Malik was out early caught by the sprightly Matthews off Benn for 4. He was soon followed by Scott caught and bowled Block for 0; Vine bowled Hawton for 5, and the helmeted (fearful of Popes pace) Robson, caught Block bowled Cooper for 8, with the score on 50. Dodgers had however been unable to remove opener Cove and this coupled with the arrival of Towers at the wicket and Pedestrian McBarron in the field proved to be the turning point. McBarron announced his arrival by throwing the ball over his head whilst attempting a return to the bowlers end. Cove and Towers then proceeded to tonk the ball all over the place until McBarron, managing to get one ball to pitch in line and on the right length, bowled Towers for 31 with the score on 122. Unfortunately with Palao now joining Cove, this didnt provide the opening that Dodgers had been hoping for and the quick scoring continued. DCMS finally reached their target in the 36th over and Dodgers had lost. Priest reflected that this was the first time hed scored a hundred and been on the losing team but failed to mention how many times hed been on the winning team.
The evening was rounded off by Priest buying jug(s) in the bar and smoking cigars (I dont remember him doing that when he became a father!!) and Terry Hawton having his bag nicked - Ill let him tell you about it. Have they got the Armani thieves yet Terry?
Man of the match (obviously) Neil Priest
Dodgers batted first. Ringer Conway opened with Westhead and took advantage of the pace of Towers to score 8 from the first over. Westhead was then left to face the swing and accuracy of Malik. Fortunately he only had to do this for one ball as he was comprehensively bowled by the second (he then proceeded to moan on for an eternity to the hapless scorer that he couldnt see the point and was seriously considering giving up the game we live in hope!). Priest then joined Conway and the score briskly moved to 45 before Conway also deceived by swing, became Maliks 2nd victim in the 10th over with the score on 65. Ringer Whitrod strode to the crease promising to end his recent crap run by smiting the ball to all parts of the ground. Unfortunately he only managed to smite 1 in a stand of 25 with Priest before being stumped. Benn, not bothering to trouble the scorer, fell to the impressive Malik and Cooper, caught for 2 off Palao, soon followed.
At this stage the score in the 17th over stood at 71 for 5 with Priest on 37 and, given the perceived quality of the tail, it was generally feared (not least by the tail itself) that Dodgers would be lucky to scrape to 100 in 40 overs. All was not lost however as Ringer Block, whilst only scoring 4 before being stumped, managed to occupy the crease long enough to share in a stand of 40 with Priest. Matthews then strode to the wicket with the score on 111 and Priest on 67. Taking Benns advice not to get out (and also taking advantage of Whitrod not giving him out caught off the toe of his boot) Matthews miraculously shared in a stand of 52 with Priest; during the course of which Priest, having being dropped by Malik on 98, became the first real Dodger to score a century. Overcome with emotion he was of course promptly caught without addition but who cares - with the score on 163. An excellent innings highlighted by 15 boundaries (all 4s). Hawton was then bowled for a 1 and Pope and Matthews remained undefeated. Final score was 168 for 8 from 40 overs.
Dodgers were reasonably optimistic that theyd be able to protect this score. Especially when Malik was out early caught by the sprightly Matthews off Benn for 4. He was soon followed by Scott caught and bowled Block for 0; Vine bowled Hawton for 5, and the helmeted (fearful of Popes pace) Robson, caught Block bowled Cooper for 8, with the score on 50. Dodgers had however been unable to remove opener Cove and this coupled with the arrival of Towers at the wicket and Pedestrian McBarron in the field proved to be the turning point. McBarron announced his arrival by throwing the ball over his head whilst attempting a return to the bowlers end. Cove and Towers then proceeded to tonk the ball all over the place until McBarron, managing to get one ball to pitch in line and on the right length, bowled Towers for 31 with the score on 122. Unfortunately with Palao now joining Cove, this didnt provide the opening that Dodgers had been hoping for and the quick scoring continued. DCMS finally reached their target in the 36th over and Dodgers had lost. Priest reflected that this was the first time hed scored a hundred and been on the losing team but failed to mention how many times hed been on the winning team.
The evening was rounded off by Priest buying jug(s) in the bar and smoking cigars (I dont remember him doing that when he became a father!!) and Terry Hawton having his bag nicked - Ill let him tell you about it. Have they got the Armani thieves yet Terry?
Dodgers Innings
Conway Bowled Malik 24
Westhead Bowled Malik 0
Priest Caught Cove Bowled ? 100
Whitrod Stumped ? Bowled Palao 1
Benn Bowled Malik 0
Cooper Caught ? Bowled Palao 2
Block Stumped ? Bowled Palao 4
Matthews not out 15
Hawton Bowled ? 1
Pope not out 0
McBarron did not bat
Extras (7b,6lb,7w, 2nb) 22
Total (40 overs) 168
DCMS bowling
Towers 8-1-39-0
Malik 8-2-17-3
Palao 8-2-19-3
Fitzgerald 8-0-45-0
Vine 7-0-32-1
Scott 1-0-2-1
DCMS Innings
Cove not out 74
Malik c Matthews b Benn 4
Scott c&b Block 0
Vine b Hawton 5
Robson c Block b Cooper 8
Towers b McBarron 31
Palao not out 28
Extras (1b,1lb,19w) 21
Total (of 35.3 overs) 172
Dodgers bowling
Benn 8-1-17-1
Block 7-1-26-1
Hawton 4-0-20-1
Cooper 3-0-16-1
Pope 3-0-21-0
McBarron 6-0-43-1
Whitrod 4-0-16-0
Conway .3-0-2-0
Man of the match (obviously) Neil Priest
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