20/08/2023
MIMCC 89ao (28.1)
Bethesda 87ao (29.4)
MIMCC win by 2 runs (!!!!)
Scorecard here: https://mynyddisamaeshafn.play-cricket.com/website/results/5711010
After a tough day away at Denbigh last week (for which the skipper completely forgot to produce a match report), MIMCC were looking to bounce back in a crucial encounter with VC Applewhite’s good friends from Bethesda.
Rain on Friday, in conjunction with saboteurs interfering with the hoses on the covers, had resulted in a pitch which could only be described as an Argoed Special.
For the 745th time in a row, the skipper lost the toss, and it was little surprise that the visitors invited us to have a bat.
Siv and Venkat went out to open and straightway it became evident that batting would not be easy on the ArgoedTerrorTrackTM. Siv fell for 2, caught and bowled to one that stuck in the pitch. Umang and Venkat then started to accumulate a few runs and saw off the openers. The change bowling eventually did for Venkat, falling lbw to their spinner. This brought Agilan to the crease on debut who managed to strike a few blows for a quick fire 8. Meanwhile at the other end Umang was patiently putting together a crucial knock of 46 as wickets started to fall around him (Deepak for 1, Lalit for 6, Leighton for 1). Ultimately Umang fell just short of the half century to a ball that turned a long way before clipping the off bail. In came Matt who made a quick 12, but ultimately ran out of partners as the last three wickets (Skip, Euan, Jonathan) all went without troubling the scorers. Keeps the duck race interesting if nothing else.
89 all out looked low, even on a difficult pitch. And seemed even more so when the first over of Bethesda’s reply went for 12. A very early finish indeed seemed to be on the cards. However a breakthrough came in the third over as Umang took the first wicket, with Euan (who had volunteered for close fielding duty under the helmet) taking a looping catch on the move. It was a start, but there was still a long way to go even for a share of the points. The score moved into the 30s with no further breakthrough. But then Venkat replaced Jonty at the far end and things started to happen. Jonathan took a sharp catch at point to dismiss their other opener, yours truly took a loopy one close in on the off side, and Agilan took an absolute belter in the leg side running backwards. 38-4, which then became 46-5 as Venkat removed their skipper lbw for his 4th victim.
5 wickets down at drinks with Bethesda about halfway to the target. Game in the balance and everything to play for.
After drinks momentum began to swing back towards the visitors as their no 7 started to attack. A few boundaries including a huge 6 over the clubhouse put them in the box seat for victory, with 5 wickets in hand and only 10 needed. Cue another twist. Their no 3, who had hung around a long while was bowled by Matt for 20, and Leighton then picked up 2 in 2 balls including the crucial wicket of their big hitter caught behind.
80-5 had become 80-8. Drama.
The 9th wicket partnership added 7, and it looked like we were dead and buried. In a last throw of the dice, Umang came back at the clubhouse end and managed to break the partnership with Matt taking the catch.
3 to win. 1 wicket remaining. The definition of squeaky bum time.
Off the 4th ball of Matt’s next over, their no 10 went for a big shot into the leg side to win the game. Straight to Umang at square leg!!! Cue bedlam. There was interpretive dancing. Someone nearly got slapped round the head. Surprisingly nobody got poked in the eye.
What a day. A victory for the ages. An absolute classic.
Keeps us alive in Div 3 with 2 games to play.
p.s. For the benefit of Apprentice Groundsman Euan, I include the following diagram. Of particular interest is the location of the stumps……..
