After much consultation with weather apps and the ever-reliable and never wrong BBC, we expected to go down to Dolgellau in the belief that rain would be the winner on the day. Nonetheless as no draw was offered and MIMCC don’t concede, the game was on. So began the opening hand of tactical gamesmanship we were to see unfold during the day.
We lost the toss and were put into bat, which was generous considering we had 5 there at the time. The reliable openers of Apples and Siv faced a couple of youngsters who were expensive and we got off to a good start. Apples rattled off a few boundaries before inexplicably hitting across the line and was bowled for 17.
44-1. Siv was making good progress too and when Abs joined continued to tick over nicely. Abs too perfected a flicky leg boundary shot that he repeated several times and saw him get to 15 before being undone by a floaty full toss that died on him for lbw. 97-2. Siv carried on and Tom joined but the run rate slowed a little with some more controlled bowling from the second change pair. After drinks Siv was bowled having made his second 50 (51) for MIMCC and a really good knock.
Siv was congratulated by the team twice on his 50 after our scorer found the basics of adding up rather difficult. Like any second-rate person in authority, he immediately blamed Sanath, who somehow was now responsible for the pencil marks in the book?!!
Rain was starting to become a bigger scorer than extras, with a hokey-cokey covers on, then off, which seemed to coincide with MIMCC not doing the decent thing and making a fist of batting. Uncle Monty in Withnail quotes: the skies are beginning to bruise, we must make camp.
Sanath joined Tom, matchsticks in his eyes after a night-shift. He took a while to open his eyes, but once the pro-plus kicked in made a quick 24 before going lbw in a very similar fashion to Abs.
Skip then added 15 (new glasses please scorer) with Tom hitting a great 6 in his 30 for both to finish not out. Rain had brought us off again at 32 overs on 190. Mr Maths was once again called upon to opine on the over recalibrations. Luckily a small child spectator helped him out and we agreed with the opposition we would limit overs to 32 each. But not before their skipper offered me a draw to take 3 points each….
Fielding was again a barren affair for the openers. Tom and Dave Markey had 4 overs each going for 9 and 7 respectively. Lively and difficult to handle, but no wicket. Dolgellau’s run rate was crawling along – after Venkat and Prashad took over they were only 25 after 10.
Their openers were a left/right combo. Every change saw the side screens moved, new guards being taken….at one point one batsman just walked off claiming it was raining before skippers even consulted. Meanwhile a game of silent poker was being played out between skippers. Draws were still on the table. I countered with a 10-5 result. Rainclouds hovered over mountain tops. Thankfully everyone at MIMCC waited this out with good grace and a knowing eye. At 5pm the weather lifted and we got out again. Tom and Prasad raced through another 8 overs and we got to 20, despite more screen shifts, guards, clarifications etc.
Obviously having got to 20 its a time-honoured thing to take drinks. We took drinks. 46-0-20.
A revised bowling strategy then took place with Tom all used up, but Tom got a wicket, caught by Sanath. Our scorer came on to see if he could do any better with his figures. Prasad continued from his end, with some great variety and tight bowling. We started to get wickets, but also got more expensive. When their skipper came in with 8 to go, he fancied launching a few and was a real threat. Siv had a couple of overs after Prasad, with Dave Markey replacing him. Readers may note there has been no mention of cover movements after 20 overs and surprisingly Dolgellau were not keen to insist. Screen movements remarkably were no longer an issue and batsmen seemed to remember where the stumps were.
Jonty took 3 wickets, a couple getting a primal scream which reflected the tensions at the time as it has to be said Dolgellau were closing in. But once Dave Markey caught their skipper with 2 to go, the game was over. They finished on 176 off 32.
We finished at 6.45 and hoofed it back to watch the footy.
Their skipper texted me afterwards and said we were very sporting and what a good bunch of lads we were – and that the right team had won. Can’t thank enough the patience for all of you who helped wait out the showdown in the shower.
Andy Meakin, MIMCC Skipper 4th July 2021.