One Tonne Dream: 95 (all out), V Robinson 2-14, W Herbert 2-15
Karori Wildcats: 97/2, H Cameron 39* (37), T Westaway 37 (37)
And welcome back to the Wildcats match reports, this week vs Collegians “One Tonne Dream”. Debate raged pre-game about whether Collegians aspired to score 100 runs, or collectively weigh 1000 kilograms. What was not in doubt was the Wildcats were bowling first.
After shifting over to Liardet 3, the supposedly more sheltered pitch on the ground, Nando chugged up into the gale to get us started. After early wide trouble coming from outrageous swing, Dan grabbed a skier to get things back on track. Big V meanwhile had taken off downwind and grabbed a couple - Collegians were 3 down for not many after 6.
Will “Iain O’Brien” Herbert then came on and gave a clinic on into-the-wind bowling, snaring two wickets. Highlighting the lack of depth in the Wildcats bowling attack Hamish was brought on who, due to a lack of pace, could only bowl downwind. He also took two wickets thanks to Vaughan’s safe hands and some scratchy middle order batting.
Dan and especially Neil brought a bit of excitement to the game towards the end of the innings. Neil certainly lived up to his surname, bowling a diverse and unexpected portfolio of deliveries that led to the batsman giving away his wicket at the end of his over.
Nando finished off the innings first ball back, and Collegians were all out for 95 – that one ton(ne?) remaining a dream. The top order then queued up behind the toilet tree for a well-earned wee, before setting out to chase down 95.
Hamo and Teddy Westside began the innings with quite obviously different mindsets from the previous week, seeing as they were chasing half the score. However, it appeared they were taking the piss, batting out 14 consecutive dots at one stage. The Collegians openers were very tidy though, and the Liardet deck was not easy to get started on.
With the ship so steady it was actually becalmed, Tom suddenly walked the plank by carving a long hop straight to point. Tim replaced him, and was shown no quarter receiving a number of shorter pitched deliveries. However the mainsail was finally hoisted and Tim and Hamish steadily progressed towards the total in an uneventful fashion until Tim met a watery grave when he chipped to cover four short of the total. This ends the section of the match report dedicated to nautical references.
Vaughan came out to finish things off in a ridiculous fashion. Wearing wicket-keeping pads like they were shin guards, presumably because his knees are made of steel, he launched the first ball he faced for six over mid-off to finish the game with a strike rate of 600.
Grade: A-. A big effort from the Wildcats in the field, followed up with a restrained run chase that got the job done. Notable mentions to the fill-ins George and Steve, who worked hard in the field.
Wildcats, It's a Way of Life.
