Waverley Wobble leads to Vagabonds Victory

Batting collapse sets up win for the home side.

After a disappointing defeat last time out at Oakley, the Wave were looking to bounce back against Vagabonds. Despite some overnight rain and some poor forecasts, the game went ahead as scheduled, and saw James Wright (Jim Jam), Adrian Day (Mog), Chris Beanland (Beanie), James Adams (Jimmy), Simon Brewer (KV), Warren Vass (Woz), Will Knox (Ewok), Matt du Gay (Doogs), Sam Tempest (Troy), Peter Brewer (Mr B) and Matt Pride (Pridey) take to the field for the visitors.

After Doogs lost the toss again (5 in a row now) Waverley were invited to bat first on what looked like a slightly tricky wicket. Jim Jam and Mog got proceedings under way, ticking the run rate along without incident in the early goings. However, their partnership was broken in the 11th over, Jim adjudged to have nicked behind to the keeper, heading back to the pavilion for 31. Mog was joined in the middle by Beanie and they looked to keep the scoring moving along. However, Mog was soon back in the hutch, caught deep behind square on the leg side looking to push on. Beanie was castled soon after, leaving new batsmen KV and Jimmy in the middle. Despite some lusty blows from the pair, the Wave were struggling to really score freely, and the home side picked up another wicket soon after, when KV was caught behind. Jimmy followed him a few balls later, caught at mid on. Woz and Will both came and without causing the scorers too much trouble, and were soon joined back in the pavilion by Doogs, who decided to go for a walk down the track and was stumped. The patented Waverley Wobble was in full swing, the visitors having gone from 36/1 to 79/8 and it looked like they might struggle to pass the 100 mark. But the Waverley tail wagged well, with Troy bludgeoning 17, including his first ever 6 for the club, and Mr B also tucking into the bowling. When Troy was eventually deceived by the ball that turned, Pridey strode out to the middle keen to show that anything Sam can do, he can do better. He duly obliged, launching a monstrous 6 which flew over the boundary – his first for the club as well. However, that was as good as it got for Pridey and he was soon out, leaving Mr B on a timely 17*.

After an excellent tea, the Wave looked to defend their total of 119. Doogs and Troy got the bowling under way for the visitors, and a mixed bag of an opening over from Doogs saw a couple of very wide looseners, and a wicket, the skipper taking a return catch. With the pitch posing a few problems for the batsmen, both Waverley’s openers looked to put the ball in the right area and restrict the scoring. It worked for the most part, and the run rate was kept in check well in the early goings. When Doogs picked up another wicket, Jim Jam holding on to the catch at mid-off, it looked like the home side might be in a spot of bother. Changes in the attack saw Mr B and Pridey come on, but half chances were falling short or not sticking for the fielding side. As the Vagabonds moved closer to their target, Doogs shuffled his pack again to introduce Will and Jimmy. It was the latter who struck to give the visitors a sniff, clean bowling the batsmen with one which nipped back in. However, the home side had wickets and overs in hand and a few big heaves saw them cruise to victory in the end, winning by 7 wickets.

The post match awards saw Mr B pick up the pink t-shirt, having shied away from a catch earlier in the week at Lords. Jim Jam was awarded the wAnchor hat for diving past/rolling over a ball on the boundary which went for 4. However, he also collected the man of the match hat for his good opening knock with the bat.

The main debate of the day was centred very much on whose was bigger - Troy or Pridey. Of course this being Waverley, the skipper couldn't possibly comment on if they were arguing about their sixes or something else…