Wanderers completed back-to back wins at Ford on Sunday with an emphatic 9-wicket victory that was never seriously in doubt. Played on a glorious day with temperatures in the 80’s and on a pitch that was geared for runs, the Prison made a solid start and had 50 on the board for the loss of one wicket. In the past this could have been the platform for the opposition to build a big score. But not for the first time this season Wanderers managed, due to unerring accuracy and a fine team effort in the field, to create the right level of pressure to induce inappropriate shots from the home batsmen.

In a spell of play that almost mirrored the earlier game at Salthill, Wanderers reduced the home side to 74 all out. Chris Staight returned excellent figures of 3-23 and put the brakes on the Ford innings. Monty came on with the home side seeking to hit him out of the ground and they paid a heavy price for poor shot selection. Monty returned career best figures of 6 for 18 off 5 overs. He was ably supported by some fine fielding that has put the Washington debacle to rest.

In reply to the modest target, and following an early loss of a wicket Chris Staight (41 no) and Neil Lightfoot (21 no) put together an unbroken stand that saw the side comfortably. The skipper’s call for better shot selection and more patience was answered in the best possible way, with loose deliveries being stroked to all points of the ground and with 12 boundaries helping the game to an early conclusion.


Monty’s Man of the Match
Chris Staight for his 10 over spell that provided the opportunity for Monty to achieve his career best figures and for leading from the front with the bat.


Catch of the Day
Keeper Steve West for taking a sharp chance from Monty’s delivery. Never the easiest ones to take, and capped a good keeping display.


Bowling of the Day
I make no apologies for this as the figures speak for themselves. But you don’t get wickets unless you can rely on the team around you, and I always felt that the team would take any chances offered. Good takes by Steve and Dave Stapley. Also it epitomised the theory of bowl straight and wickets will come.


Encouraging sign of the day for me was in the beer match, with Dan West debuting with the ball. Never an easy thing to do, I was impressed by Dan not allowing himself to become down hearted when conceding runs. Believe me Dan you bowled more good balls in those two overs than I did in my debut. And their batsman Eric had only one word for one particular delivery mate, ‘Respect’. And you have mine, well done…  Monty