Match report – Wolverote 2nds away at Deddington 2nds, 21st May 2011

Wolvercote 2nds showed their battling spirit to win a tight game against Deddington and so maintain their 100% league record. Wolvercote fielded first and skipper Quinn made up for another lost toss by bowling a spell of metronomic accuracy (12-3-34-3), trapping Webb in front early doors. This brought to the crease a young South African (every club needs one…or two!) by the name of Prinsloo. Thereafter it was clear that Wolvercote had two matches to play – one against Deddington and one against Prinsloo.

Whilst Quinn was putting it on a sixpence from one end, Luke ‘the Murgatron’ Murgatroyd took some punishment from his fellow African at the other. Slower balls and bouncers were smote with equal measure. Observers wondered what exactly our favourite hirsute Zimbo had been drinking pre-match. He came back strongly, however, finishing with 1-44 from 9.

A pivotal moment came when Emperor Quinn got one to nip back and bowl Prinsloo for 42. The lads were happy to see the back of him…albeit temporarily. Behind the stumps Will Humphreys put in a classy display of glovemanship. But for the hesitant decision of a myopic umpire, he would have added a clever stumping.

Owen ‘he makes things happen’ Gallagher then came on to devastating effect. He snatched three wickets in his first over and ended up with 5-16. This young builder/vicar is laying solid foundations in his debut season and gave a lesson to the Deddington team – all out for 107. He was supported at the other end by big Antipodean, Andrew Dodd who hit the deck hard with 1-4.

With tea put back, Wolvercote had a quick turnaround and Rawstorne and Godsal faced a miserly opening pair of Buckingham (11.4-5-19-1) and Prinsloo (12-5-14-5). The top order found it difficult to score against such adept bowling. DTB was removed early and whilst Godsal, Humphreys and Forrester got their heads down either side of tea, runs were at a premium and they too perished. Tipler and Beard were also cleaned up and Wolvercote found themselves perilously placed at 19-6.

Graham Livingstone and Luke Mugatroyd showed great application and once they had seen off the opening bowlers, they were able to open up. Graham brought his total runs for the season to 100 with an attractive 26 before picking out that man Prinsloo in the deep. Murgatroyd was in uncompromising mood and flayed the ball to all quarters – his back foot drives with front leg raised have become a trademark. Owen was unlucky to be dismissed from one of several seven ball overs. Luke was in free flow, however, and he was backed up admirably by Quinn whose deft ‘querdles’ and ‘quaddles’ were most entertaining.

Hence victory was achieved in a game where it could have easily eluded Wolvercote. The side move on to play crunch back to back fixtures against Radley.

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