Friday July 02, 2010

Saturday 20th June 2010 v Widmer End (Home)

Fulmer 217-9 bt Widmer End 103 by 114 runs 

Welcome visitors to a sun-drenched KGF on Sunday June 20^th were the always sociable Widmer End for what proved to be a comfortable home win, Fulmer’s 4^th on the trot in June. 

There was plenty of devil in the pitch from the off. Inability to get new grass seed to take in the spring continues to turn each batting strip quickly to a barren dust bowl. After two balls from over one had scuttled past the batsmen’s ankles for byes, with another rearing to head height – this off the most gentle of medium pace – the visitor’s captain was heard to wonder why Fulmer had elected to bat first. 

That sentiment was reinforced when Nick Box failed to get bat on another low one from their more speedy skipper, to be comprehensibly castled for just three.  

Mark Denness showed tremendous patience in just occupying the crease for the best part of an hour, as he was joined by Uzair. The conditions caused even our aggressive-minded number three to curb his instincts, but such is his form at present, plus the ability to see the ball so early, Uzair made the most of every hittable ball sent down. His first six scoring strokes were all boundaries and there was one almighty six before Uzair departed for 50 well-crafted runs. And, at 73-2 Fulmer had laid the foundations for a decent score. 

As Widmer End reverted to their second string bowlers there were runs to be plundered from our lower order, with everybody chipping in. Danny Randall was the pick with an agricultural but highly effective spell of slogging in reaching 40. A whopping 43 in byes and wides saw Fulmer up to a decent 200 + total by tea. 

In the evening Widmer End never recovered  from seeing both openers depart early to simple catches down the ground to mid-on and mid-off, while Mark Denness claimed a wicket first ball, and, much to his own surprise – and delight after taking a bit of ‘tap’, Phil Mison nailed the oppo’s attack-minded skipper with a hummer that had him caught behind.  With his fall Widmer End’s resistance crumbled as Fulmer ran out comfortable winners. There were three wickets each for Dave and Mark, while new boy Hamza showed he too could be a handful with the ball, claiming 2-10 from 4 overs. 

A perfect afternoon of cricket ended, as it should, with a few beers being downed by both sides at the bar.