Good morning everyone. First match report of the season for MIMCC, sponsored by Applewhite Business Consultants, for all your business consultancy needs.
Skipper’s report below for the win yesterday 23rd April 2022 v Buckley 2nds. Our first game in Division 3.
NB if anyone is looking to play games this season for us but is not yet on Spond or our whatsapp group please get in touch.
A new season, a new league, but a home game in April is old news for track yack – Buckley 2nds 53 all out, Maeshafn 54 for 7.
Thanks to Jonty’s many trips to the Argoed in recent weeks, with Fordy & Gray in strong support, ground prep had started well. A few mechanical challenges already don’t augur well, but no need to panic as Jonty produced a belter. Some sections looked dry.
Another reassuring event – last man Abs breezes in with two minutes to go !
We won the toss and decided to field.
Tom opened the bowling with a maiden, and Jonty the same at the other end. Next over no score and Tom got one to sit up in the next over – caught by Siv, followed the next ball by a wild cow shot failing to stop the top of middle getting clattered. 0-2. Another maiden for Jonty. MWDM in the book. Starting to look like a dodgy dossier.
Next over Tom rudely hit for a four and a two. Jonty replied with a Double wicket maiden of his own. A catch and then a beauty to bowl their captain taking a massive heave.
After 10 overs Tom 12-2-5-2; Jonty 11-2-5-3. How Pughy & Gray must rue not being pitch-side for that bowling card.
The track was already cutting up and Tom was in danger of disappearing from view if he fell in a foot-hole.
Over 11; 24 runs on the board, here comes Prashad. Hard to spot him under 4 layers, a hat and ear muffs, but after a couple of loose ones, no mistaking he struck first over bowling their no. 5 with a beauty. At the other end skip struck with a first baller caught by Venkat at mid-wicket, followed 2 balls later by another wicket – bowled. Next over Prashad struck again bowled by another peach. 35-8. Not much noise from Buckley, until skip gifted 11 runs the next over and it felt like they were running away with it! Sensibly deciding to take himself off, after a quiet over from Prashad, Venkat came on and (although not in the book) got a caught wicket.
Prashad had seen enough by now and got two wickets back to back to close out Buckley on 53.
6 batsmen failed to score, highest 19.
A short stop for drinks and a quick trip to the comedy club for reminders about timing and then, like a moist-eyed convention centre with red and white flag waving Knights charging onto the main stage with land of hope and glory blaring to multiple brass bands, Apples and Siv walked out to bat to open their accounts.
One ball later, Apples has seen enough and spoons up a tame shot to silly short mid-off. Is that a diamond duck?
Next up Abs – the master of delayed timing – two balls later decides to walk off to ask Apples for batting tips. Like Buckley we were 0-2. To be fair their opening bowler looked quick and was getting late swing.
At the other end Alex their skipper started up, but clearly was a little rusty with a host of no balls and wides to keep Siv from flinging himself down the other end.
Third over, Will in and after a few testers, wheels round but top edges a skier to their keeper. Three ducks in the hutch.
Skip follows and for a few overs its relative calm, but soon bowled off his pads for 1. 14-4. Jit goes in to steady the ship and keep Siv company, who is starting to get his eye in. While their opening bowler keeps bowling through, at the other end its somewhat easier and boundaries start to flow. The outfield all game has been low cut and pacy once through the ring. Bowlers change, but our batsman of the season despite a few flashing blades, is building a score. Jit plays a good support role with some confident shots, but eventually fell to a too good ball. In goes Fordy with a game made for this pitch – out goes Fordy. Venkat follows, but by now Siv is ramping up the boundaries to get within 8, then 3 of the finishing line. With a 4 to finish, Siv carries his bat on 38 out of the 44 runs scored.
Within minutes the pitch was being videoed by Buckley. Mr Ten-percent as manager of today’s star hovered with a royalties contract at the ready, but there’s no money in the horror genre.
12 points, good win under the belt to start and NEVER had a doubt.
- MIMCC looking for a groundsman for Feb 2022 and onwards. No experience necessary, just a passion for cricket. Full training provided. Would suit someone semi-retired looking to get involved or stay in the game. Text 07500 704441 for details or email jbandcfagan@gmail.com.
Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn CC