10/05/2024
MIMCC 172/7 (40 overs)
Bersham 2s 166ao (39 overs)
MIMCC win by 6 runs
Scorecard here: https://nwcl.play-cricket.com/website/results/6817536
With our spotless winning record on the line, MIMCC travelled to Bersham to face a side who had battered us twice last season. Under a cloudless sky, and on a bare and dusty surface which looked more like a fifth day test pitch in the subcontinent rather than one in North Wales in May, the skipper lost the toss (of course) and we were invited to have a bat.
Aryaman and Abs opened, with the former falling early for 5 caught in the offside. Deepak joined Abs and made 21 in a 50 partnership before departing caught in the gully off the Bersham Shane Warne impersonator. Apples battled hard for 8 before mistiming one and departing caught. Meanwhile at the other end Abs had got to grips with the slow pitch and had passed 50. He would finish with 69 off 104 balls in a knock with would set up a competitive total. Umang had now joined Abs and was starting to time it well. After Abs’ departure Saboor, Jeremy, and the Skipper all came and went during the last few overs, all aiming big shots towards the next field in an attempt to get us a few late runs, and all missing.
Ziaur and Umang showed urgency in running between the wickets to grab a few crucial late runs, Z finishing with 4no and Umang with an excellent knock of 39no. 172 felt about par on dead pitch, so it would all depend on what we could do in the field.
Naseer and Jonty opened the bowling as usual, with both keeping things tight. Bersham’s openers were finding it difficult against disciplined bowling, with Jonty in particular setting up a long duel with one of the batters. At one point he attempted to reverse sweep the Hon Sec out of the park. Slighted by this, Jonty dismissed him caught and bowled, and it was a good job Pete Ford was only a spectator rather than on the park otherwise his eyesight might have been in danger.
An honourable mention must go to Apprentice Wicketkeeper Ford who absolutely barbequed Wicketkeeper Applewhite when the latter remarked that it was ‘time for Fordy to watch a proper wicketkeeper at work’ by replying ‘what time’s he getting here?’. One Nil Mr Ford.
Back on the field of play, Jonty made good on the old adage that ‘one brings two’ by bowling their no 3 for a duck. A partnership then followed between their other opener and S Warne, both scoring at quite a rate which threatened to swing the balance of the game squarely in the home side’s favour. Thankfully change bowlers Deepak and Aryaman eventually did the business with Deepak bowling their opener and Aryaman picking up the no 4 caught and bowled.
By drinks the balance was back towards us, but only just. Umang came into the attack and was testing the batters on a regular basis, including a couple of lbw shouts that were missing both off and leg. Other methods of dismissal would be needed, and Umang duly delivered clean bowling their no 5 (which may have caused the skipper to inform anyone who was listening rather loudly that ‘that one’s F……(rankly) out!’.
Umang picked up a second wicket with Abs taking the catch to dismiss their skipper, but the score was continuing to tick towards the target. Ziaur entered the attack and was hit for a few boundaries by their no 8 before he picked out Naseer in the deep who took a superb catch that came right out of the sun. We definitely need to shine a bright light in Naseer’s eyes at all points while he’s fielding for the rest of the season as it apparently turns him into Jonty Rhodes.
The runs were still accumulating steadily as Aryaman came back for a second spell replacing Z, but the rate was starting to be an issue for Bersham. Cue the big shots, which allowed Aryaman to pick up 2 wickets, one bowled and one caught well by Deepak in the deep.
By now Bersham were 9 down, needing about 20 off 3 overs, and the odds looked in our favour. Deepak came back to bowl the penultimate over, and their no10 decided it was now or never, hitting him for a couple of boundaries down the ground. 7 to win and it seemed like the balance of probabilities has swung back to the hosts. Looking to retain the strike, their no10 tried to take a sharp single off the last ball of the over. Deepak, however, was alive to this prospect and ran him out with a direct hit to win the game.
As Ian Smith’s famous commentary from the 2019 world cup final goes, we had won it ‘BY THE BAREST OF MARGINS’. A second nail biter of the season and a great win over a strong side. An excellent team performance, especially in the field, and a victory of which we can be rightly proud.
Pictured: Artist’s impression of Naseer’s catch
