Over-cricket-itis!!

I'm starting to get to a stage where I can't remember details about individual matches anymore! I'm glad I have the blog to remind me of stuff. One of the 1st teamers asked me yesterday who had taken wickets the previous day in the game I played - and I flat out couldn't remember. I couldn't even really remember who had played - or if I'd bowled my self!!!!

Bizarre!

Anyway after thinking about it, it wasn't too surprising that I was confused as frequent bowling changes were the order of the day, and no-one had taken more than a 3-for.

So on friday, I was looking forward to a busy weekend of cricket - with a cup game for the 3rds on Saturday and a league fixture for the 4ths on Sunday. But at lunchtime on Friday I got a text from the 2nds captain asking me to shift up to their team on Saturday. 2nds is a bit above my standard - but as he was stuck, I had no problem travelling. But then a half hour later I got a call from him saying that he'd got someone else and didn't need me any more! And by then the 3rds was full again - so I'd no game! A while later though our 3rds skipper said he needed me - only for the 2nds captain to call me again looking for me to play! At this stage I just said "the pair of you can sort it out and when you know where and if I'm needed - let me know".

View from edge of Mullingar cricket pitch

So eventually I ended up going to Mullingar to play for the 2s (3->2->no-one->3->2 in 4 hours ... phew). It was a good game, which we won well - defending 140 on a damp track relatively comfortably. I was batting at 11, and faced 2 balls before the other man got bowled - so 0* (much better than a duck ). I didn't get a bowl, but managed to take a sharp catch at square leg - one of those reaction catches that you take about once every 10 tries. Apparently after taking it I still had a look of terror on my face for a few seconds before I realised I'd actually caught it. I wasn't great in the field for the first while of the game - mis-fielding 3 due to a lack of concentration and a wet ball. Got away with it though for the most part - only costing us one run ... but boy was I glad that it wasn't a much tighter game!

We'd our annual club mid-season drinks that night too - wasn't a great turnout though. And I was fairly tired after travelling and a long game - meaning I was glad to get home before 3 and get to sleep.

Sunday then I was playing 4ths - and it was a bit of a nightmare game! We got off to a very poor start with both openers getting 3 a piece - and it pretty much went downhill from there! Only 2 of our guys made double figures, with one getting 30-odd and another 14 - with the rest of the team pitching in to get us to just 60 all out! I got a 0 not out without facing a ball. Once I came in the other batsman decided to hit out and got caught in the deep. On reflection though, it would have made much more sense if he'd kept playing sensibly and I tried to block up an end. Chances are I would have been bowled cheaply anyway - but if we'd managed to stick on another 20 runs who knows what would have happened.

We didn't do too badly in the field considering - taking 4 wickets before they managed to make the total. Even with this though, we never completely looked like pulling it off. We gave a good attempt though - with some pressure fielding and opening with a spinner to try and put some pressure on. I was fielding at silly mid off and also quite close in on the leg side. I managed to stop a few balls, and managed to avoid being decapitated by one that was cracked at me. I got a hand to it ... but only to stop it hitting me in the face. I've got a nice little bruise on the side of my hand and my ikkle finger doesn't like me much - but it saved a run or two so no complaints here.

I did get to bowl three overs in this match, taking 2 for 16. So a bit expensive again, but at least I'm taking wickets. My major problem is that my first over is usually too loose (unless I get a wicket with the first ball). Yesterday it went for 10, before clawing back the rate for the next two. I still think that I need to groove my action for a few hours a week until I'm able to ramp up faster in games - but it's been difficult to find time.

Also - one of our thirds players pulled a ball into his face yesterday and broke his nose - nasty. Funny enough I'm seriously considering purchasing a helmet now.