Plain Speaking

I like plain speaking. I've got all those books lined up on a bookshelf which have been written by people who adore the English language when it is used properly and abhor its misuse.

I'm not sure if the following is a misuse of the English language but I certainly can't understand it. It comes from a commentary of the second Ashes test at Edgbaston:

Clarke works a straight Onions delivery off his pads into the gap at midwicket for a single. At the 15th time of asking, Marcus North gets off the doughnut with a little leg-side tickle as Onions bowls a remarkable snake-like delivery to Clarke which shapes in then swings alarmingly away from Matt Prior.

Now, I recognise those words but could someone please tell me what it all means?