09/08/2025
MIMCC 149ao (39 overs)
Bersham 2s 150/3 (30.3 overs)
Bersham win by 7 wickets
Scorecard: https://nwcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/6817718
A tough day for MIMCC at the Argoed on Saturday, somewhat overshadowed by some unpleasantness at the end.
After a run of 4 straight tosses won, the skipper reverted to type as a useless tosser and MIMCC were invited to have a bat under grey skies and a fresh breeze which looked good conditions for swing bowling. This proved to be the case pretty much from ball one as the Bersham’s bowlers were able to extract significant movement on a typical Argoed pitch which was also showing some uneven bounce.
This made batting a pretty difficult task, and wickets were falling at regular intervals. Abs was the first to go, bowled round his legs by one that started well outside leg stump for 4. Aryaman (6) and Umang (5) followed in relatively short order, both bowled. This brought Vinay to the crease alongside Deepak with the score at 18/3 and a rebuilding job needed.
Fresh from clubbing baby seals in the charity game the week before, Deepak was starting to build an innings at about a run a ball; and at the other end, Vinay was channelling his inner Pete Ford, playing watchfully and keeping his wicket at a premium. At one point he had the club dot record in his sights, but eventually got off the mark after 34 balls.
A 50 partnership saw us at 71/3 at drinks, but Deepak then departed for 35 to the second ball after the break, bowled by one that never got more than 3 inches off the ground. Saboor arrived, struck a couple of characteristic boundaries and was then bowled for 9, and Venkat made 6 before becoming the 6th bowled of the innings. This brought the skipper to the crease who shared a stand with Vinay before the latter’s long vigil eventually came to an end for 4 off a remarkable 78 balls.
Naseer struck a few blows before being caught at mid on for 13, and Z got a first baller lbw. Jonty and the skipper engaged in their customary comedy running between the wickets before yours truly was the last to go for 23. 149 felt a bit light, but under difficult conditions it still gave us something to bowl at.
By the time Bersham started their innings, the sun had come out and the wind had dropped making batting appreciably easier. Our bowlers we not able to extract the same levels of movement, but were still managing to keep the scoring rate under control. Jonty and Deepak picked up wickets to leave them about 50/2, and Z picked up the third wicket caught by Vinay at cover. Unfortunately this was the final entry in the wickets column for the day. The skipper rotated his bowling options, but 4th wicket partnership of about 70 saw them home fairly easily.
However this is not really the full story, as the innings was rather overshadowed by an unsavoury incident. Their no 5 batter edged a ball off Aryaman straight up in the air for an easy catch to the keeper. However before Venkat could run forward to take the catch, the batter stepped directly in front of him in an act of blatant obstruction. A textbook definition of obstructing the field if there ever was one, however the umpire refused to give the batter out, claiming not to have seen anything.
I usually make light of moments of controversy in these reports; however this one really sticks in the throat as an example of poor sportsmanship. Bersham were well ahead in the game at this point and there was absolutely no need for this. All it served to do was to sour the whole day. This is a recreational league, where we don’t benefit from standing umpires – we should play to win but with a respect for the spirit of cricket. This, unfortunately, was a long way from that.
On a lighter note, I’m sure everyone will be amused to hear that 2 days on from fielding a ball at slip with my nose (in the best traditions of Steve Pugh), I am still unable to put my glasses on without wincing.