Another season another green soft April wicket but not another same team of athletes, what could go wrong?

After last weeks disappointment Wendover came forward to fill in for Little Marlow and become the Pelicans first game of this season. The weather was fine and the wicket rather soft, to be expected after all the rain we have had.

Making their club debuts we welcomed Alex from Australia, Nixon and Julian from St Vincents, Julian standing in for Niron who was experiencing some lower body problems due to his medication (possibly prune based).

Clutching Nico’s lucky coin, the outcome was never in doubt and the Skip elected to bat, new season same decisions.

Opening then bowling from the Railway End was Tooby whose last outing ended with a trip to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, home of the Para Olympics and Jimmy Savill, the former was very apt and the later thankfully not around any longer.

Running in from the Nags End was the usual suspect Josh, bowling as fast as he could and watching the ball slow to a slow glide after hitting the wicket.

After a lengthy spell of 3 overs Tooby was removed from the attack for fear of another visit to SM Hospital, the batsmen look relieved as he was getting somewhat confused as Tooby was reaching him before the ball. Josh meanwhile soon back into the groove bowled the opening batsman in his opening over. After 8 overs bowled between the two openers Skip decided to mix it up and brought in Nixon from the Railway End and Alex from the Nags End.

It is fair to say that St Vincents and Australia possibly do not produce wickets similar to the Meadow in spring which no doubt accounted for Nixon’s opening 13 run over, his second over though proved far trickier for the Wendover batsmen as length was lengthened and line was lined and soon he took his first wicket caught by his brother no less, being related to Niron it is clear that the apple did indeed fall far from the tree. Nixon finished his spell with 5 overs 1 wicket for 30 runs, an excellent debut.

Alex meanwhile at the Nags End saw a beautiful green wicket that looked like it may take a turn and bowled a spell of leg spin which looked at times rather unplayable, this still didn’t mean that the odd wicket wasn’t captured by a bad un, a proper Peli wicket dare I say, to which Alex duly served up as he captured his first Pelican’s wicket.

With a maximum of 8 overs per bowler Alex continued to make inroads into the Wendover batsmen, unfortunately their opener was still there and Skips orders were finally relayed, get him out within his 8 overs, before the quality bowlers came in and finished them all off.

Alex duly noted his task and after 7.4 overs delivered the Wendover opener, a great bowling effort that yielded in total 4 wickets for only 26 runs.

From the Railway End Julian took over from brother Nixon, more medium pace rather than the fast of both Nixon and obviously Toobes, Julian was immediately on the button and delivered 7 overs for a miserly 10 runs and 1 wicket, a fantastic effort in overs cricket.

With the end of Alex’s spell, the cavalry of Adam came in from the Nags End and Waz steaming in from the Railway End. Waz has now taken to a new form of bowling whereby the run-up length is totally random no doubt a cunning ploy to confuse the batsmen, and if I’m honest the rest of the team. Adam meanwhile did what Adam does best, 5 overs of snow-capped loopers yielding only 21 runs and taking 2 wickets. With the Wendover batters digging in against this ferocity a change of bowling was required, enter the Dragon…..Nico our resident Antipodean slightly put out by our new Australian and with a point to prove. 2 overs for only 18 runs put any questions firmly to bed whilst Josh finished the Wendover innings and returned figures of 6.4 overs for 13 runs and 2 wickets.

Throughout this batting display which culminated on 138 runs Yusuf was in fantastic form behind the stumps and produced a great display of athletic stops and stumpings.

With a tea disaster (Soup) narrowly averted Mr and Mrs Nico served up a sausage smorgasbord followed by cake and another ginger crunch which was so full of sugar it would have kept a hive of bees going for 13 years.

Opening for the Pelis we had Raheel and Aleks. The batting conditions it must be said were taxing but our two openers went about their task with patience and skill, chances were offered but Wendover were unable to capitalise on them, the score consequently ticked over nicely.

With two openers looking comfortable Wendover made the change and brought in Jonathan who we all know will bowl on a length slow and up in the air. Even with this knowledge it didn’t take Raheel long to go for the cross batted slap which duly went up into the air and was pocketed by the Wendover mid-wicket.

Alex meanwhile settling in with Yusuf (the better Khan) continued with his quick singles, well placed 4s and full bloodied 6s, Yusuf duly held his own and contributed with singles less 4s but fuller bloodied 6s. These two made the difficult batting conditions look rather tame and both saw the game out with fine knocks of 52 and 53. A brilliant performance from both.

Special thoughts go out to Amit, batting number 4 who observed the batting display only. Most amusing moment of the day was not cricket orientated, instead it was watching Niron run to the toilet at the Nags Head, I swear he looked like he was holding a pencil in his butt cheeks.

It’s a run of one, lets make it two against Little Missenden

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Reports are intended to convey an entertaining picture of the day’s play. No disrespect is meant, but if on occasion we misjudge matters, please take it in the friendly and humorous spirit in which it is intended.