26/07/2025
MIMCC 279/6 (40 overs)
Ruthin 2s 101ao (31.5 overs)
MIMCC win by 178 runs
After last week’s concession by Pwllheli, MIMCC renewed acquaintances with Ruthin at the Argoed on Saturday for our second meeting with them in a fortnight. The skipper won a third (!!!) toss in a row and elected to bat first on a pitch he had spent hours several hours rolling on Thursday afternoon.
All this rolling had clearly done the trick as runs flowed from the very start with 17 coming off the first over alone. Abs and Aryaman put on an opening stand of 116, with Aryaman eventually falling caught in the leg side for 61 on the cusp of drinks. After drinks Abs also passed 50, for the 4th time this season. (He had in fact passed 50 before drinks, but an accounting error by our friends from Bank of America who were doing the scoring meant this had gone unnoticed at the time – investigation by the Financial Conduct Agency is pending). Abs made 54 in the end before nicking one behind. Deepak and Umang were now at the crease and both scoring at better than a run a ball in a stand of 70.
Umang was eventually bowled for 35, and Deepak was joined by Naseer who had been promoted up the order with the aim of matching his late innings hitting from our last encounter with Ruthin. However it was Deepak who ‘went berserk’ on this occasion, sending the ball to all corners of the ground for a stand of 50 in less than 5 overs. Heading into the last 2 overs, Deepak was informed somewhat cryptically by the skipper (who was standing as umpire) that he was ‘approaching a personal milestone’ but ‘needed to get on with it a bit’. He duly went for a for a big shot off Ruthin’s young pace bowler. Unfortunately he missed and was bowled for 87. A super knock – falling just short of the ton again – but as I have said before, it is definitely only a matter of time.
Deepak’s departure caused all hell to break loose as Saboor and Vinay were dismissed for ducks in short order. This resulted in a mad dash from the skipper from umpiring to throwing the pads on (much to the amusement of the rest of the side), but thankfully Naseer (14no) and Venkat (2no) were able to hold the fort. We finished with 279/6, our highest total of the season so far.
During the interval, some unexpected fielding drills broke out on the outfield – perhaps one of the most professional occurrences in recent MIMCC history. However, this would ultimately pay dividends (more of that later…..).
Although we had a big total on the board, Ruthin had 3 strong batters in their lineup who have given us plenty of pain over the years, so there was still lots of work to do with the ball.
Naseer took the new ball and was rewarded immediately with a wicket in his first over, snagging their dangerous opener caught at slip by the skipper. At the other end, Vinay soon had the other opener lbw to leave Ruthin 28/2. Venkat then began to further enhance his bid for an end of season meeting with Darren Gough by taking 2 catches (one off Naseer and one off first change bowler Umang).
By now Deepak had come into the attack and had begun removing Ruthin’s middle order, picking up two wickets bowled, and one caught at mid-off by Saboor (fresh off his lengthy fielding drills session). Deepak later confessed that he had considered running over to mid off himself and pushing Saboor out of the way to take the catch, but his worries were ultimately unfounded. The dawn of the era of ‘Safe Hands Saboor’ may now be upon us.
Z came into the attack and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket off 4 tight overs. Aryaman was denied his customary bunny hunt as the openers (Naseer 3/22 and Vinay 2/15) returned at the end to pick up the last 2 wickets and see Ruthin off for 101.
An excellent performance with both bat and ball for a 15-0 win. And nobody got told to keep the noise down.
After the close of play, a wedding party (some of whom were inexplicably dressed as Robin Hood and his merry men….) emerged onto the outfield from the Sports Club. The happy couple will doubtless look back on their wedding photos fondly in years to come – especially the one with Deepak driving through the back of the group shot on the John Deere Tractor…..
No league game next week, but a particularly special and poignant occasion as we host a charity match in memory of our dear departed friend and club legend Sanath Shetty. Please encourage your friends and family to come down to remember the great man and give generously in his memory to Young Lives vs Cancer, a charity chosen by his family. 1.30pm start at the Argoed – 30 overs a side – bar will be open for spectators. See you there.