Scorecard here: https://nwcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/6817558
31/05/2025
MIMCC 194/6 (40 overs)
Carmel 2s 57ao (26.3 overs)
Skipper’s Match Report
I am a bit short of time this week so please excuse the brevity of this report. A thumping 15-0 win away at Carmel to maintain our 100% record and keep us at the top of the league. Well done all!
Despite time constraints I do want to spend a few minutes to describe a passage of play which perfectly encapsulates the nature of village cricket that we all love.
Umang and Jay are batting together with the latter on strike. Jay hits the ball in the air on the leg side for what should be a straightforward catch. Two fielders converge on the ball, but neither attempts the catch, and the ball falls between them. Meanwhile, the batters are attempting to take a single. The fielders are now arguing with each other about who was at fault for the missed catch, but eventually they notice that a run is being attempted and try to throw the ball in for a run out. The ball is thrown in, and whizzes off for possible overthrows. Umang doesn’t notice this, and thinking the ball is dead, sets off walking down to the other end for a chat with his partner. The fielding side realise what is happening but thankfully make a mess of getting the ball back to the keeper for a possible run out.
Never change, cricket.
p.s. I fed the above paragraph into ChatGPT and told it to generate a comic strip of events. Here is what it came up with:
p.p.s – I should like it to be noted that I took a slip catch which, even if I play until I am as old as Steve Pugh, I will never take a better one than.
(Editor’s note – it was like watching a young Graham Houghton – outstanding catch low down at full stretch. The skipper was so surprised when he took the catch that he ran round in little circles shouting something incoherently about Rochdale, and then tried to hug everyone including both batsmen and the umpires).
(Editor’s note 2 – for anyone who doesn’t know him – Steve Pugh is very old and doesn’t have his own teeth).