Saturday 30th June ~ Caribbean (Home)
Blown Away!
The loss of several first team players, because of dog bites and holidays, brought several Tongans into a game that they might well rather have avoided. Those missing included Chris Leathley, Paul Hudson, Steve Taylor, Steve Phillips and Dave Hornby, with Gareth Bottomley out with a long term injury. This depleted the Tong side by 3 inform batsmen and two front-line bowlers, not good at any time, but particularly difficult when you are facing the form side in the League.
Huddy
(laid up with Paddy's bite!) and Sarah lend their support
Thrown into the affray were Phil Taylor, Steve Tankard and Duncan Hawkins from the Tongans, and Steve Holmes was brought back from retirement for the fifth time this season.
The Caribbean side arrived full of smiles as usual, they like playing at Tong for some reason! Winning the toss and electing to bat they were obviously intent on posting a large target. Initially, Smiler and Pat were able to keep the Caribbean openers down to only 4 and over, and with the fall of two wickets approaching the half way stage things did not look too bad for the home side.
The arrival of a certain Mr. C. Davis to join the opener Yearwood at the crease was the signal for a change of attitude though, and the Tong side was soon chasing leather to the boundary. As the pace quickened it was soon the rest of the Caribbean team who were being kept busy, retrieving balls from all parts of the village.
Daz
congratulates Caribbeans G. Yearwood on his century
Smiler continued to bowl steadily throughout though, and the Tong support was somewhat bemused when he was taken off with only 8 overs to go, only to be brought back with 4 overs remaining. At the car park end Duncan's 'baptism of fire' was opened by his first and only over going for 19. It must be said though that his first ball should have brought a wicket when Smiler, attempting a runout, managed to miss wickets and keeper. The ball ending up over the boundary for a five.
The Tong players will be the first to admit that they did let themselves down somewhat in the field with a procession of dropped catches, the majority of them 'dollies'. Duncan, normally extremely safe, was obviously still suffering from shellshock as he was the last to bounce the ball off his chest instead of catching it. His return to the wicket was left by bowler Reg (hands on hips), and Reg was still in the same pose as the ball passed him again going in the opposite direction. Reg did though finish the game off with 3 wickets and a catch, and might well be asking why he didn't change the pace of the attack earlier.
Caribbeans
gather round to congratulate C. Davis after his sparkling undefeated 112
By the end of the Caribbean innings both Messrs. Yearwood and Davis had reached centuries, the latter having scored 112 in only 90 minutes, and the opposition had scored 203 runs off the final 20 overs. The total of 303 brought back memories to Bob of the last visiting team to exceed this score, apparently this was back in the late 1980's when Great Horton were the visitors in the Worthington Cup.
Another excellent tea was provided by the T.W.A.T.S., the mounds of sandwiches still being demolished well after the game had ended.
Tea over it was time for the Tong batsmen to face the best pace attack in the League, and we were only chasing 303! An early wicket put even more pressure on young Duncan, who should have been confident after his 96 of the previous week. Neil's chip to mid-on prompting the rest of us to ask just where the ball would go if he ever decided to actually clout the thing!
Duncan's
'baptism of fire'
There followed a prolonged period with Daz and Dunc just trying to hang in there. Duncan concluded his 'baptism of fire' after 25 minutes at the crease for just 2 runs. It is to be hoped that future selection is not based on this game - especially since the regular first team members also failed to perform on the day.
A steady fall of wickets, intermitted by an occasional boundary, finally brought the game to an end with the Tong score 3 runs short of a single batting point. Only young Neil Sowerby could perhaps be credited with maintaining his form against the Caribbean pace quartet, scoring a patient 25.
Never mind chaps, Leeds Police managed to get thrashed at home today, going down to Howden Clough!
Next Week ~ Walton (away) on Sunday, but remember to be up at Tong on Saturday to help erect the Western Terrace and support the Tongans against Graziers.