Wanderers v Clermont
Wanderers Tour 2020
Clermont RL Ground 19/8/2020
Tour game six
Skies were blue, about 32 degrees, some wind.... a gorgeous day for a day/night fixture.
Wanderers surrendered the customary “bat first” position to allow for some coaching of about 50 youngsters later in the afternoon.
Harry Carroll, batting for the opposition, was aggressive early, but got one that popped and was caught by Tim Agapow off the bowling of Thomas Morris; the fourth chance of the day that had gone to hand.
Matt Hicks who batted well for Clermont, received a brute of a ball from Frederick Lee Watts which flicked his glove, the Keeper’s glove and was well caught by Leigh Drennan at slip.
Tyran Eggmolesse’s introduction produced a wicket a couple of overs before drinks and when a rising delivery from Tyran had the batsman fending the ball away, a mix-up led to a simple run out by Thomas Morris sending the locals to he break at 4/70.
Immediately after the break it was Tyran again enticing a lifted shot into the hands of Rick Jones; 5/70.
From there, it was the Robert O'Keeffe massacre! An excellent 8 over spell, with a wicket from the first delivery and 4/16 overall. Tim Agapow grabbing his second catch and Christian Murphy a couple of stumpings including the key wicket of Ryan Nunan who provided some fireworks in a well made 41. A couple of cameo appearances with the ball from Leigh Drennan and Chris Agapow both produces wickets; Clermont making 136 from their 40 overs.
MJ Toolis and Christian Murphy powered their way to a 50 partnership from 57 balls to set the platform in the chase. Clermont fought back to have the tourists 4/84 at the dinner break.
Resuming under lights Tim Agapow and Rick Jones added 46 in a partnership taking Wanderers to within 7 runs of victory. The winning runs came from the bat of the mercurial Matt Williamson.
The target was reset to 200; a further 63 from the remaining 67 overs.
Clermont top scorers Hicks and Nunan came on to bowl and restricted The scoring. Nonetheless, Jones did manage a towering maximum into the grandstand off Hicks much to the delight of th crowd. The chase ended on 188, 12 runs short of the revised target.
The Clermont hospitality was nothing short of superb. Well done to all for their contributions
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