Evening Bears,

Apologies (not in advance!) for not getting a match report out last week, contrary to the belief that I was following GT's lead of not producing a match report when we lose, it was simply a case of no time to do it!!!!

Match Report vs Tourists

Sunday before last we took on the Tourists as they made a rare trip away from O'Connor and ventured to the south of Bonython. Spooner lost the toss (cue smart arse remark from GT) and we were in the field, not sure what HP was doing whilst putting the markers out, however, there were some extremely short boundaries!!!!

HP and DB got us off to a steady start with the ball (which Dropbear failed to keep off the ground), although one opener took a liking to HP and HP opted to drag himself out of the attack. Five-ball Flowers came on, why Five-ball? Well, he seemed to be producing 5 quality balls and one shocker each over (they must have been when Dropbear failed to keep the ball off the ground!!!). We asked for, and were granted, an additional drinks break and the Tourists were 0/84 after 15.
After DB finished his spell in which he was desperately unlucky not to nab a wicket, Spooner opted for a change in pace and brought himself on... 64466. later, Spooner dragged himself off and brought Ohms into the attack. Which proved to be a masterstroke as Ohms removed both openers in consecutive overs. At the other end, Howie replaced Flowers and grabbed a wicket when Armface held onto one. Even taking away Spooner's horror over, the Tourists had upped the run rate and were 3/221 after 30 overs.
In the last 10 overs, it was a real mixed bag, we had a handful of tidy overs and a handful go for 15 or so. HP nabbed a wicket while Ohms came back into the attack and claimed another 2 wickets to end up as the stand out bowler with 4/49. The Tourists ended up 6/316

Pope and DB opened things up and after Pope played out a maiden, DB hit a 6 first ball he faced, before falling for 11 not long after. Armface matched DB's 11 and was dismissed in the 10th over. Flowers came and went for a quick fire 19 and after seeing off the opening bowler, Pope and Dropbear started to get the scoreboard ticking and took us to 3/95 at drinks.
Pope continued to accelerate after drinks and it only took him 17 balls to go from 11 to 51. His 50 did come up after the fielder and deep square leg casually fielded the ball and threw back in, only for the sideline Bears to scream in disapproval that he was metres over the boundary - we held off acknowledging Pope's 50 until the next scoring shot. Pope eventually fell for 67 after an entertaining 88 run partnership with Dropbear. Pope's dismissal only spurred Dropbear on as he produced a maiden 50 of the highest quality. Dropbear was dismissed shortly after for 52, trying to hit a third six. With the exception of Spooner, who was kit packer, all of the other Bears came in, found the boundary a couple of times before being dismissed. The Bears all out for 218

In addition a maiden 50, Drop also reprised his role of Beer Baron and produced a quality porter and thanks to Reppo for coming down and supporting the Bears in the chase.

Match Report vs CBRMY

Sunday just gone, we once again headed to Bonython for a clash with CBRMY. Keen to avoid the previous week's short boundaries, Spooner took it upon himself to set them and strode out 60+ steps to set huge boundaries. There was controversy at the toss, with CBRMY demanding a re-toss, regardless of the result, the Bears got what they wanted and were batting first.

Radico and DB got us off to a brisk start putting on 49 in the opening 7 overs, before Radico missed a full toss and lost his castle for 30. The #3 specialist came out next and found the boundary on 3 occasions, giving a chance in the process. The next ball he was the first of 4 Bears to be consecutively dismissed caught in the point region. DB fell in the same region shortly after for 25. Dropbear looked like repeating his previous week's 50, before he holed out at point for 12. Ads mixed up a little holing out just forward of point and the Bears were 5 down for 103 with GT at the other end, struggling to get on strike. Debut Bear, Tijo, walked out and played a glorious shot getting off the mark with a boundary first bell. He was then questionably 'fired' (according to the non-striker) by DB without adding any more runs to his total. Drady, who earlier had the shortest umpiring stint of all time (2 balls), woke up from his nap and probably should have been fired first ball, DB held off firing him, but a couple of overs later had no choice and Drady was fired for 9. The Bears limped to drinks at 7/129 with GT and Ohms looking to rescue the innings.
8 balls later, both of them were gone and it was left to Damo and Spooner to try and restore some pride. CBRMY adopted some interesting tactics, claiming that Spooner was playing 'proper cricket shots' and shouldn't be at #11... The last pair hung around for 5 overs, getting the total to 144, before Spooner became Lee's (or melanoma as we call him) 4th wicket.

Defending the smallest total (by a long way) at Bonython this season was going to be a big task and despite wanting every over to end after 2 balls, Drady bowled like he'd never been away. At the other end, DB was adopting a tactic of bowl short, get the batter whinging about the pace and bounce and then produce a fall one to destroy the castle. In the fear that he would fall asleep if he stopped bowling, Drady bowled through as did DB from the other end. Although, DB was just trying to make sure that Drady didn't outdo him. Drady's 4 wickets included the plummest of LBs, a quality catch to Damo and a juggling grab from Ads on the boundary to claim the CBRMY skipper who had cleared the Spooner-set boundary on 3 occasions.
If CBRMY thought they were in for some respite after seeing that duo off, Ads came in and immediately had them swearing and jumping around. At the other end, Radico was brought on to change things up and that he did, bowling seamers, offies and a wicket-taking leggie in the same over. With Tijo claiming a fantastic juggling outfield catch on debut. Ads took the final wicket to give the Bears their first win of the season.

A big thanks to Buttsey for coming down to watch, for Gribbs for bringing the esky and also to Azz who had a bit of a sticky beak. Congratulations to Tijo on his debut for the Bears as well.

Availability
Make sure you update your availability for this weekend's game, the team will be named on Wednesday night. It will be a big occasion as Drady will become just the 2nd Bear to chalk up 50 outdoor appearances in the silver and cyan.

Spooner