Match report - overs 6-10
(Sorry, I just realised it was Miles, Ranu, Miles, Greg, Miles. That's 5 overs. Edited my previous match report to fix this. Again, I'm literally writing as I type into the reply box and I hate proofreading, so these things happen.)
After 5 overs, the Marauders were 31 for 2, and if they wanted to take advantage of the fielding restrictions, this would have to be the over.
Greg might have had other plans in mind, however. Sean Simpson, the captain, Michael the vice captain, and his fellow seamer Miles all surrounded him as he was at the top of his mark. He shrugged all of them off, however, except his brother Sean. One must remember that these two young players represented their school in an intra-Scots tournament. Sean told him a few further words, and his brother Greg nodded.
Still, there could only be two players outside of the circle. Those two were deep fine leg and deep square leg. Surely Greg would not try to bounce the batsman? He did not have that sort of pace.
But as he ran in, nobody knew. He did about the best thing though, a leg cutter on off stump that went right to that deep square for a single. For a moment they contemplated the second, but Jason in the deep fired the ball to Eliza, who had run from midwicket to be over the non-striker's stumps.
Greg called the deep fine leg into the circle and put third man back for the next ball. And, as cricket has always shown every individual who ever existed, the ball went past the now-short fine leg. But, again, Jason did well and put his body on the line to limit the batsmen to just two. 34 for 2 now.
No doubt about the next ball though. Greg tried a fuller one, but got it all wrong and it just was too slow, too full, and too straight. The Marauders batsman took it over the cones for the second KillToxin Kill of the match. He ended up finishing well enough, though, only one further run. After 6 overs and at the end of the PowerPlay, the Marauders were 41 for 2.
"Sh*t," I said, "That's about 7ish an over. HEY SEAN! PUT IN A SPINNER!"
Didn't seem as if Sean had heard me. I saw Miles going to his mark, but then Sean stopped him. Maybe he had heard me? He talked to Miles for a long time before he called Wil in. Okay, now would be Wil's time.
At the end of the PowerPlay, the ThunderDogs decided to use their defensive spinner, Wilburforce. And with the field spread and his accuracy, he did well. Only 8 runs came from his first over, but it could have been less if not for a couple of fumbles in the field. At the other end, Greg was swapped with Vishan, who decided to bowl around the wicket with his off spin. That confused the batsmen a little, and they could only take 6 runs off of his over. After 8 the score was only 55 for 2. The Marauders would definitely have liked the run rate to be higher than it was, but as it stood, it was not terrible.
Wil bowled the next over. And after being hit for a single down to Eliza at deep midwicket, he bowled an arm ball that just kept going in. The batsman was hit directly in front of the stumps. Everyone appealed. But the finger stayed down. Sean Simpson asked the question of the batsman, "Dude, you edged that or something?" The batsman shook his head. The core trio of the team, ie masters Qpee, Ross, and Saunders, were about ready to make idiots of themselves.
"That was out!" Jaime yelled.
"OUT!" I yelled.
"Umpire!" Scott yelled.
To no avail. Next season I was going to get Scott to integrate Hawkeye or Scott-eye or something.
The batsman definitely had a chance, and he took advantage of it by cutting the next ball powerfully for four. Wil attempted the arm ball next up, only to see it sail over everyone's head for the third KillToxin Kill of the match. By the time he had finished his over, the score was 66 for 2 at 9.
Sean kept up with Vishan, and this time he started over the wicket. But he was met with the same aggression, and it was only a diving stop by Alex at deep backward point that saved the four. They ran two, though. He did not bowl that badly, and by the end of 10 overs, the score was 72 for 2.
"Wil..." I said, "He needs a couple overs rest. Jason?"
Scott nodded. "If Sean is as good as I've always been telling you, then he'll give Jason an over."
Jaime, deep in thought, remained silent.
"Hey Jim-a-ling-a-ding-dong...you know the kids love calling you that these days, so ding-dong, what's your opinion?"
Jaime looked at us. "I've got an idea, it can probably be gold. But it can backfire on us."
"Well, don't just sit there and not say a word, tell us."
(EDIT: Again, there is a very slight change in the font between the match report and the characters. If it's not showing up that well, I can probably adjust.)
(Double EDIT:
@Yash. @Parth D @NePtuNe Gaming @Pinch hitter )
