Cymru Gurgitaters are into the fifth round of the Cup for the first time in their history, after smashing fellow Div IV side, Wideboys. In a much improved bowling performance from Friday, Bewers and Wilde knocked the top off their innings, removing the Rem and Exc batsmen who formed the spine of their line-up to leave them 26 for 3. Spinners Bridges M and Cash then strangled the middle overs, picking up two wickets a piece as the run-rate plummeted below three an over, before left arm seamer Carlton brought matters to an abrupt end with three wickets in two overs.
136 never looked like being enough for Wideboys to defend, but they briefly found heart when Greening, the diamond in the Gurs' crown, was cleaned up for just 10. But Patel and Noon snuffed out any hope of a home win as they amassed an unbeaten second wicket stand of 122 to see The Gurs home in 24.5 overs. Skipper Patel defied his critics, who argue that Strong/Resp isn't good enough to open, by top scoring with 64* (82), while Noon's 61* (59) was his fourth half century at better than a run a ball this season. It also took his average for the new term to a healthy 328.5, A fact which he celebrated with the only pop of the week.
Joe Noon (444923)
RH Batsman, RM Bowler, superb batting form, superb bowling form, energetic
A steady player with respectable leadership skills and feeble experience.
Plays For: Cymru Gurgitaters
Nationality: England
Age: 22 Years Old
Battrick Rating: 39,942 (+1877)
Wages: £6,709 p/w
*Stamina: respectable Wicket Keeping: *superb*
Batting: superb Concentration: remarkable
Bowling: worthless Consistency: competent
Fielding: worthless
Mahindinho, Scaly or Adam, or anyone else knowledgeable really, please would you mind taking a quick look at my fifth round opponents, Dobcross of III.11, and comparing them to my team? My first impression, after a glance at their ratings for their last league match, was that I don't stand a chance, and that I might as well TIE and take the fitness boost. They were Wond/Sup/Abs - Wond/Sup/Med, as opposed to mine, which are PAN: Sup/Resp/Abs - Strong/Prof/Feeb. However, on closer inspection of their squad, they don't seem to have much that's terribly scary. I think their gun ratings come from the fact that they just don't have any dross making up the numbers like I do, although I actually reckon my best players are better than their best.
I'm not saying I'd go into the match as favourite or anything, but if it was my day, and Greening/Staveley/Noon/Bewers had a blinder, then I might just nick it. My plan would be to change my pitch to H+F, to try and blunt their bowling attack a bit, then open the batting with a pair of V.Def sacrificial lambs to see off their best bowlers, with Greening, Noon and Staveley in reserve to try and make something of the change bowlers.
1. Patel - Strong/Resp - V.Def
2. Cash - Resp/Sup - V.Def
3. Noon - Sup/Rem - V.Def
4. Greening - Wond/Strong - Norm
5. Staveley - Qual/Strong (Virtually Rem) - Norm
6. Mohammed - Strong/Feeb - Def
7. Qureshi - Prof/Resp - V.Def
BOWLING:
Bewers - Rem/Strong Cau LM - Norm
Wilde - Sup/Comp Cau RM - V.def
Bridges M - Sup/Prof Def RHS - V.Def
Cash - Strong/Prof Dest LHS - V.Def
Carlton - Strong/Resp (Virtually Sup) Att LFM - V.def
I'd hope to win the toss and bowl, trying to restrict rather than take wickets, although I'd most likely be screwed if I had to bat first. I'd PAN, as I figure the Cup isn't important enough to GFI, but all the same I would still love to reach the round of 128 if I could!
What do you reckon? Would I stand a chance, or should I just chuck in the towel now and reap the benefits of TIEing?
Cheers, Trev