CQCC – 79ao (19.1)
MIMCC – 81/4 (21.1)
MIMCC WON BY 6 WICKETS
Full scorecard here: https://mynyddisamaeshafn.play-cricket.com/website/results/5710959
After a narrow loss to Gwersyllt last week, MIMCC were looking to bounce back away at Connah’s Quay. Historically the Quay is a good batting deck so it was little surprise that, having won the toss, the home team elected to bat.
Yash and Jonty opened the bowling, the latter renewing his acquaintance with Phil Keidel, who made clear his intention to deposit every ball the Hon. Sec. sent down into the next postcode. This tactic failed to bear fruit however as a big slog was snaffled by Prasad at long on. I say ‘snaffled’; but ‘juggled’ is perhaps more accurate as it was on at least the third attempt that the ball was eventually settled in the hands. But it was obviously never in doubt.
At the other end, Yash was bowling very tidily, and had soon sent their no. 3 back to the pavilion clean bowled. Jonty also picked up his second wicket, extracting a caught and bowled chance which had lodged somewhere in his ribcage.
Dillon replaced Yash as first change and started taking wickets for fun as a succession of Quay batsmen tried to go for big shots only to find fielders. Abs (2), Apples, and Euan all took good catches as Dillon finished with 4-24. Their skipper offered a bit of resistance, whacking a few boundaries. He was also given a life when Abs and Euan executed a textbook Webster vs Clinton manoeuvre while both going for a chance in the covers. Had VAR been in operation, Abs may have received a straight red, as evidence from Euan’s shin suggested studs up.
After drinks, Prasad replaced Jonty and proceeded to take 2 wickets in his first over – one an absolute beauty that turned sharply and left the batter wondering where his stumps went, and one to an excellent catch taken bit Jit at square leg. This was a classic ‘catch or die’ moment as the ball was travelling at considerable speed and was either going into Jit’s hands or into his face. Fortunately for Jit, but unfortunately for his dentist’s profit and loss account, it went straight into the hands. Prasad then took the last wicket to finish with remarkable figures of 1.1 overs and 3 for 5.
79ao in less than 20 overs. An excellent bowling performance and hopes were high that we could back it up with the bat.
Having been offered the opportunity by the opposition to go straight back out rather than take tea, MIMCC’s openers indicated that they would much rather have a sandwich thankyou very much.
Sandwiches consumed, Apples and Abs walked out to open the batting. Apples hit the second ball of the innings for a majestic 4 into the leg side. High on confidence, he then proceeded to nick the next ball to keeper Keidel. Good for the strike rate, if not the average. This brought Siv to the crease. With lots of overs in hand Siv adopted a more circumspect approach than normal, but the score kept ticking over.
Having relived the skipper of umpiring duties, Apples gave Abs lbw first ball. Accounts of this event differ. Depending upon who you ask, it was either the most stone-dead lbw you’ve ever seen; or off the middle of the bat prior to hitting the pad….
This brought Yash to the crease, who was in the mood to finish the game off quickly. An excellent knock of 37no off 32 balls will do that. He was ably supported by Siv (23) and Jit (3), before a somewhat inexplicable series of run outs brought the skipper to the crease with 4 needed for victory. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, as yours truly did absolutely nothing as Yash duly hit the winning runs. A great victory, and an ideal innings from my point of view (you can’t get out if you don’t face a ball…….).
Well done to all. A superb performance with both bat and ball and great to register our first win of the season. Denbigh at home next time out (in 2 weeks).