26/04/2025
MIMCC – 229ao (40 overs)
Halkyn 2s – 179/6 (40 overs)
MIMCC win by 50 runs
Back-to-back home games to start the season. Could MIMCC make it back-to-back wins? The skipper, of course, could not manage back-to-back successes at the toss, and MIMCC were invited to have a bat on another green top at the Argoed. The decision by the Halkyn skipper to field first with only 9 men was a bold one, and one which, surprisingly, did not inspire revolt amongst his teammates. That said, they were a very young side and have perhaps not had much experience of long days in the field without the requisite number of fielders. MIMCC, on the other hand, have had a fair few of these over the years, so it was bit of a surprise to find ourselves donning the pads.
Apples and Aryaman opened, against a pair of youthful opening bowlers who were keeping things tight. The openers added 37 before Aryaman was bowled by their strike bowler. This brought Deepak to the crease, and as the change bowlers came into the attack, the runs started to flow much more freely. Both batters notched half centuries in an innings defining partnership of 150, with Deepak eventually departing for 63, and Apples following shortly afterwards bowled by Phil Hamilton (an old foe from Northop Irregs) for 84. This left us in an enviable position at 182-3. The rest of the batters pushed us over 200, with wickets falling at regular intervals, for a total of 229 all out. Saboor made 11, and X. Tras had an excellent day finishing with 43 not out.
Karma also came looking for one J Fagan after his malicious attempt to run out the skipper last week, as he was run out [Ed. deliberately to ruin his average carefully cultivated over the last 18 months] off the last ball of the innings having apparently been unaware that you don’t have to run 10 yards past the stumps for the first run to count. Oh well……
After tea, Naseer and Deepak opened the bowling. Both bowled tightly to keep the opposition well behind the required rate, however the pitch had flattened out a bit, and with a very capable pair of batters at the crease it was not immediately obvious where the breakthrough was coming from. Cue debutant Ziaur coming into the attack. After a couple of looseners he was straight into his work and picked up the breakthrough caught by the skipper at cover. This was the first act in the Ziaur show as he went on to rattle through the Halkyn middle order to finish with debut figures of 4-38. Another debutant also got his first scalp for MIMCC as Jon claimed a wicket caught by Aryaman. The Hon Sec also took a wicket caught by Deepak and, for once, wasn’t warned for running on the pitch. Maybe the umpire was asleep.
Halkyn’s innings was defined by two things. Firstly by their young opener’s unbeaten century – which was an excellent knock of which he can be rightly proud. And secondly by the dereliction of duty demonstrated Vice Captain Applewhite in abandoning his post to prostrate himself at the feet of a mediocre Canadian actor. Fortunately, the vacancy behind the stumps was more than competently filled by Venkat, who conceded precisely zero byes. Granted, he did (for reasons best known to himself) wear a helmet at all times, even when standing back; but unconventional attire aside this was a wicketkeeping performance worthy of 2023 Wicketkeeper of the year winner Pete Ford.
Ultimately the result was never in doubt as Halkyn couldn’t get anywhere near the required run rate, but they deserve a lot of credit for persevering with a youthful line up and down two players.
2 from 2 and a chance to double that next weekend in the bank holiday double header.
