Siva hits a quickfire 47.
Buckley CC 2nds 240 for 4, Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn 1sts 150 all out.
No dopplegangers of cricketing legends this week – thanks Apples for reporting on the Abergele game so well last week – and using facts rather than a clutch of (hazy) recollections (editor’s note – I understand this week’s report was written after the skipper consumed a bottle of whisky to drown out images of his fielding gaffe) – but this week maybe remnants of Shakoor Rana and some playground drama.
Having met Buckley in the first game of the season, where we squoze (is that a word? Ed) a win on a very spongy wicket, it was somewhat inevitable that Buckley’s brand of total cricket would see them put out a strong team to make amends. The track was hard, dry and looked run friendly.
A full team pulled in and no latecomers for me to pick on! We won the toss and elected to field. Weather was cloudy-ish and due to clear during the afternoon and my rationale was an old-fashioned run chase on such a batting wicket would be doable.
Tom and Dave Markey opened. Runs flowed from the off – using the pace and the outfield was fast. A left/right opening combo, they got to 44 runs after 8. Anything wide of a fielder was a boundary and despite some good stops, it was ticking over.
Jonty meanwhile decided that patrolling the short boundary could include sitting on the benches dotted around and I’m sure he spent half of that first ten spectating more than fielding.
Tom came off at 8 and Matt came on, getting his areas from the off. However, the cricket demons were busy at work already. Siv had two catching chances – one that even understudy Apples would have shook his head in shame. It can’t be too long now before Applewhite Business Consulting (for all your business consulting needs) runs a course called “Keeping for Keeps”.
In the 11th on Matt’s bowling a ball was squirted to Venkat at point. The batsman had cantered down to the other end, only to be sent back over 3/4 of the way. Venkat meanwhile was having trouble picking the ball up with his spidey-shades on. For what seemed like the time it takes to get through passport control at Manchester airport, Venkat eventually picked it up, stumble and fall again and finally got it home as the returning bat folded his newspaper and put down his cup of tea.
At 12 newcomer Ewan came on. He zeroed in pretty quickly and started to get his line and length. Anything slightly short from any bowler and with a very short boundary to one side, it was expensive, but there weren’t many. We reined in the economy, Matt bowling well and had several chances, one near chop on, but their left-handed opener seemed to live a charmed life and had the golden touch, he was making a score. Sometimes these things happen.
Drinks at 15. they were on 67. On at 18 was Venkat, who soon made up for his earlier fumble with a good take to run out one of their openers: 74-1.
By now the clouds had moved away to leave a blue savannah above and everything was pretty straight. But slower bowling was dampening the run rate. Venkat bowled very tightly, Jonty also. In his third over, Jonty set up a beauty; turning ball where their number 3 danced down the wicket and Siv ripped the bails off. 103-2 and a breath of life.
But soon it was time for a change as looseness crept in. Matt came back and continued with his good economy, again creating chances, but we were about to sit out a hundred partnership between their 1 & 4, who were both drilling the ball.
At 30 overs they got to 140. At this point Fordy made a guest appearance, but seemed rather too tasty for this settled pair and was retired the next over. Matt carried on, with Tom back at 32. But these bats just seemed to get a charge on – their left hander going on to carry his bat for 113 or so. Their number 4 got to 67 or so and then skied one to cow, handsomely caught by Matt.
In the last 6, Dave and Tom got more punishment, 6’s and 4’s. Not helped it has to be said by some a howling fielding mistake by your skipper who let a ball through his legs for 4 and then couldn’t even find it to throw back. Before I fall to pieces. Oh dear. (editor’s note – if any other member of the team had performed this piece of classic fielding, I can guarantee that Skipper Meakin would have written a whole paragraph about each part of the comedy moment of the season. To be fair, it did seem as if the ball went down a rabbit hole just before it arrived at the skipper and popped back up the other side before disappearing over the boundary). A run out in the last over, but they finished 240-4 after 40 and a chastening total.
Some debate about tactics at tea. Rather conventionally, Abs and Siv opened. As expected, young bucks to face and they were pacey. In the second over, Abs after a lovely boundary to mid-wicket, pulled a body ball and looped a catch to short square. 6-1. In the 3rd, skip drove a length ball, but it just carried to mid-off. 6-2. Quack. Not a good day at the office.
Noise levels increased, in came Will and with Siv tried to rebuild. Will picked up a few boundaries, ran well but their opener eventually bowled a very full beauty to bowl will for 13. 24 for 3. Siv too was starting to motor, dispatching bad balls. Tom joined him and had a different perspective on quick singles. But we got to 10 for 42-3. By 12 we were on 58. Cue a period of stability and improving run rates, so that by 15 we were on 67, same as Buckley.
While umpiring it was commendable that Buckley’s bowlers didn’t pose loads of lbw appeals for near misses, which might be expected from a total win mindset. But there was definitely a rising sense of indignation from Buckley as Siv and Tom put a mini-charge on.
Change of bowling with Edge coming on and Tom and Siv punished a greater number of bad balls on offer. But he could pull a few cutters out of the bag and was no pushover.
Mike – stand in skipper at the other end. He bowled closer to the stumps and had some variety, but Siv pulled some great leg boundaries from middle stump balls to get to 47, before having a heave and caught at mid-off. Good knock and we were 90-4. In came Dave Markey. Dave dealt with some testy balls well before finding some rhythm. Tom too was building a score, but some of the unnecessary on-field commentary reflecting the pressure Buckley were feeling spilled into a bowler/bat series of verbals.
After one dot ball Edge came down the track to carry on some verbals. Ball had already gone from glove to fielder when Tom walked up wicket to reciprocate with the bowler – and not attempting a run. Keeper gets the ball back and then ensues a heated demand that Tom is stumped. Yours truly at the bench. The ball was dead, Buckley wanted Tom out as he was a real threat, but like a Trumpian electoral count, only one outcome was acceptable. Tom then got an elbow – which for non-MIMCC readers we accept the face value apology and plea of innocence – but in the match context was at best a regrettable embellishment of some unnecessary gamesmanship.
A couple of balls later Tom tried to leather an Edge delivery and thick edges it to third man. Suckered in yes, but like the fourth protocol some forms of weaponry no sides shouldn’t go near. From the delirious celebrations the value of Tom’s wicket was clearly pretty high.
MIMCC were 5 down and in came Jonty. Not many balls later Jonty hits a tame square shot, but off his glove and a fairly smart catch at short square (editor’s note – important to maintain impartiality when it comes to writing, the skipper has missed out the word ‘quack’. Although it should be noted its still a lot less quacks than the skipper this season). Ewan next, but a lot of pressure on the young lad’s shoulders. A few deliveries later and a straight yorker sees Ewan back on his way – with a bit of practice I’m sure he’ll show great promise.
Venkat next. Dave meanwhile is picking off bad balls and getting boundaries – so that we get past 140 to get our first point. And not even in our 27th over. Our run rate, despite Buckley’s form bowling, was better than theirs. We were just running out of wickets. Venkat held on for a while, but Dave was soon caught and bowled when their opener came back on. So in came Fordy for a last wicket stand. We got to 151, but Venkat tickled one to mid-off and ran, with Fordy just too late at the other end and we were done.
Just the point today and their opener the real difference today with his unbeaten century, with a turbo run-fest after 30. No real place to hide for us. Good in the most part, but our batting not up to protecting our wickets. Run rate was good (all out by 32) but some hasty shots. And while we recognise some teams we face adopt a more muscular style to winning, wise heads need to speak up to make sure this game, to which many of us sacrifice many hours, is enjoyable whatever the result.