Happy Birthday Troy

Landmark for Mr B!

After a win against Binsted last time out, the Wave were looking to put together back to back wins. The select XI were James Wright (Jim Jam), Adrian Day (Mog), Chris Beanland (Beanie), Marcus Carmichael (MC), Simon Brewer (KV), Jamie Harris (Teabag), Sam Tempest (Troy), Kyle Moxham (Hollywood), Will Knox (Ewok), Matt du Gay (Doogs) and Peter Brewer (Mr B).

Having won the toss, Doogs elected to bat on what looked to be a firm track. This looked to be the right decision in the early goings, as Jim and Mog kept things ticking along nicely. Some good shots and excellent running saw the pair rack up a big opening stand, the Wave reaching 90 without loss, Jim Jam passing his 50 mark along the way. However, he was eventually back in the hutch after a sharp return catch was held by Jasenthuliyana (more on him later...) The next man in the middle was Beanie, but he too fell to a sharp chance soon after, Cooper holding on to a diving chance at short fine leg. KV joined Mog in the middle, and proceeded to bludgeon a few shots to the boundary, keeping the score board ticking along nicely. At this point it looked like the Wave were set to kick on, with time and wickets in hand. However, a canny bowling change from the home side saw wickets start to tumble. KV was bowled fo 23 by Mickelwright, before he added the scalps of MC (LBW), Teabag (bowled), Birthday Boy Troy (bowled) and Hollywood (Bowled). Ewok was in at 9 and added a classy 16 before he forgot to leave his back foot down and was stumped, and when Doogs was bowled the very next ball the Waverley Wobble had turned into a full collapse. Throughout all the carnage at the other end, Mog was keeping a calm head and adding to his total. When time came for tea, he was left undefeated on 39, with Mr B also making a not out 0 cameo. The Wave ended on 173-9, which looked a defendable total.

After an excellent tea, Doogs and Birthday Boy Troy looked to make some early in roads and restrict the scoring. Jasenthuliyana (remember him from earlier?) had other ideas. The opener punished anything remotely short and played some classy shots, the scoring rate racing along. After 10 overs, it looked like the game might be over soon. Doogs shuffled his pack and introduced Mr B, who needed just one more wicket to reach 1000 for the club. He duly obliged, trapping I Mair LBW. A fantastic milestone, one which was celebrated enthusiastically by everyone at Waverley. With Jasenthuliyana at the other end though, there was still a chance that the game would get away from the Wave. However, after toiling away Doogs eventually induced an edge, KV gobbling up the chance behind the stumps. Having removed the danger man, the Wave looked to kick on and take more wickets. Mr B did just that, with help from a catch from Doogs at mid on, and a stumping from KV. Another wicket fell in slightly comical circumstances, a chance straight at Teabag being put down, but in his rage at dropping the chance, he threw down the stumps for a direct hit run out. Sensing that the home side were having a wobble of their own, Hollywood and Ewok were also brought on to try and wrap up the tail. Both bowled well and were rewarded with wickets of their own, Hollywood producing a beauty to clean up the stumps, and Ewok tempting the batsman into a big shot which was edged to KV. However, despite their best efforts, the Wave were unable to pick up the remaining wickets, the earlier onslaught from Jasenthuliyana being the difference maker.

The post match awards saw Hollywood collect the wAnchor hat, for punching the ground in frustration at missing a chance, then having to run his hand under water because it hurt. The Pink T-shirt went to Teabag, for wearing an extra layer of Bournemouth gear under his whites "because it was cold". The man of the match hat went to Mr B, for picking up his 1000th wicket for the club, a fantastic achievement, and one which everyone was incredibly pleased that he reached.

The main theme of the day seemed to revolve around Hollywood's prom, and questions about how it went. "I can't wait until I'm not the youngest in the team any more" he said, clearly not realising that being teased within the Waverley ranks has absolutely nothing to do with age or experience. Just ask Pete, who despite having just claimed 1000 wickets was still reminded that the left-hander was out when he put a ball down the leg side...