13/05/2023
GPCC – 121/8 (40)
MIMCC – 117ao (40)
GWERSYLLT WON BY 4 RUNS – Skipper’s match day report
Full scores here: https://mynyddisamaeshafn.play-cricket.com/website/results/5710999
On the same day that the Eurovision Song Contest rolled into the land of Steve Pugh’s birth; MCC rolled into Gwersyllt hoping to get some cricket in at last following issues with a Waterloo-gged ground the last two weeks. Maeshafn were looking to Rise Like a Phoenix, following defeat at Caernarfon last time out.
With the skipper held up by road closures on the M56, VC Apples won the toss, and was Making his Mind Up quickly to field first on a pitch that still looked a bit damp. The skipper, however, was not the last to arrive as Venkat managed to miss the first two overs, having gone to the wrong ground [that has to be a contender for Wally of the Season – all players please make a careful note].
Yash and Euan opened the bowling, and while Euan wasn’t quite able to find his range, Yash kept things tight at the other end. Umang, on as first change also kept the pressure on, and the slow scoring rate eventually forced a run out as the Gwersyllt batsmen tried to push on. Replacing Yash, the returning Stu Oxton looked like he’d never been away, finding a testing line and length straightaway and picking up a wicket in his second over caught by Abs. Umang also got one in the wickets column, bowling Graeme Bell off an inside edge. The next Gwersyllt batter launched a huge six first ball which may have posed a danger to any passing Spaceman or Satellite. He then attempted the same feat next ball and promptly had his stumps rearranged. Umang then picked up a third, caught behind by Apples.
Scoring runs continued to be tricky after drinks due to a combination of a slow outfield and some very tight bowling from Prasad (taking over from Umang) and Dillon (replacing the Ox). Both picked up wickets to ensure we kept the pressure on. Venkat also joined the wickets club following a skyed catch taken by Yash at point. This catch had several fielders converging on it, with echoes of Webster vs Clinton c. 2012; but thankfully there was no Boom-Bang-a-Bang this time and a collision was averted.
A partnership at the end eventually got Gwersyllt up to 121. It would have been nice to keep them around the 100 mark; but considering some of the scores we have conceded here in previous years it wasn’t a bad total to be chasing.
A gang of hecklers and golfers then showed up at tea to sit in folding chairs, offer constructive criticism, and refuse to do the scorebook.
Apples and Siv got our response off to a quick start (or as quick as the jungle outfield would allow) with Apples striking a few blows before falling to their opener. This started a bit of a procession as Abs, Yash, and Umang fell fairly quickly thereafter. The skipper then joined Siv and departed almost as soon as he had arrived for a duck [quack!], storming off like a Diva to sit in the changing room and Think About Things. Venkat and Siv then put on a good partnership, and it looked like they may well be the Heroes, getting us well in sight of the total, before Siv eventually went for a well-made 34. Dillon joined his skipper in the duck club; as subsequently did Euan; but Venkat’s 12 and Prasad’s 12no got us very close. Needing 7 off the last over, Prasad and Ox got 3 of them before Ox was run out following a mix up which was both batters wound up at the same end. Was he out of his ground? Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit…..
So unfortunately there was to be no Fairytale, and no Euphoria on this occasion. But ultimately it was a very tight game that came down to the very last ball. A very good effort considering some of the pastings we’ve been on the end of at Gwersyllt in the past. Congratulations to all.
Many thanks also to the good people at Smooth Radio for their list of Eurovision song titles. Got most of them in…..
https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/eurovision/best-songs-ever-list/