Rhewl v MIMCC – Andy Meakin Match Report
Link to playcricket result here: https://mynyddisamaeshafn.play-cricket.com/website/results/4801353
This fixture was another reminder that past perceptions are no guarantee of future performance. As we gathered at Bersham waiting for a few Rhewl stragglers to turn up, there were very few familiar faces.
Having won the toss, we nonetheless decided to bat.
Settled opening pair of Apples and Siv encountered some nippy bowling at each end, with Apples bowled for 0 in the third over.
Will as No3 was back in the pavilion several balls later having been run out on what might be called an ambitious call from Siv.
Trouble was brewing and we were 2 for not many more.
Tom was next in and steadied the ship. He picked off the loose ones, crunched some fine boundaries and top scored on 41 before eventually skying a leading edge to be caught & bowled. By this time the score had ticked along to 80 odd. Rhewl’s opening bowlers were leaking extras too and must have put 20 or so of that total on the board.
Andy was next in and weathered a few overs to new bowlers before being bowled (7) trying to leather a yorker, with Siv still gamely at the other end. But the run rate slowed right down. Abs followed but found it difficult to get going. We had got to 67 from 10, but I recall were about 137 at 30. The quality of their bowling attack (if not their economy) was definitely much better than in the past and we were struggling to break clear.
Siv was caught after a good knock of 30, which was frustration in the end having been pinned down by the bowling on offer. In came Matt, but was another early return for no score after another frustrating run out. We were in self-destruct mode through some poor understanding.
Another crisis another saviour. Enter the suave stroke-man Sanath Shetty. Missed last week, he grasped the situation and after a few sighters immediately started carting their bowlers around. This forced their skipper to reintroduce the opening bowlers, both increasing the extras bounty and Abs had more pace to play off. Runs started coming at around 10 or more an over, until Sanath was caught on 31, soon followed by Abs going the same way for the same score. By now we were in the 37th over at 190 and the job was done. Jonty rustled up 2 before being bowled by their [not so] quick, with Fordy not out on 3 and Pughy showing the selectors his value, facing the last ball for a scrambled bye.
At tea there was a definite feeling of relief. Fences mended and mistakes forgot, we set out to see what the changed Rhewl batting line up could offer.
Tom and Matt opened the bowling. Tom was a handful for the openers, but as last week, couldn’t get the nibble his first 5 overs deserved. Matt managed to pick up one wicket in his first spell, a catch by Sanath. What I do remember is that Matt had quite a few catches put down. Apples did his catching reputation no favours, with Fordy & Siv [and Jonty] equally having [dead easy] sitters spill away [suntan lotion in his eyes again?]. We began to think that Rhewl could make some kind of impression in the game.
Tom and Matt were replaced at 10 by Sanath and Jonty. Sanath bowled through his full 9 overs. We started to get regular wickets, Sanath bowling the other opener in his third over and Jonty didn’t. Sanath got the next batsman caught. Jonty struggled to get any turn and anything outside leg got punished. Luckily his mother was there to offer comfort and support and witness the near emotional respect from his team mates. In case she didn’t follow any of that narrative, Gray was happy to set her right from his armchair. Hopefully he mentioned Jonty’s great economy – 12 runs from 5 overs.
In came their wicket-keeper, who like to drill off drives every ball if he could. Siv joined the attack after drinks, but found he was difficult to dislodge. His 6 overs for 15 again showed great economy and tight fielding and run pressure started to tell – they were 49 after 20 and the run rate never got above 4. At 28 overs in came Fordy. In his second he removed the dangerman, who swung and tickled one in the air to Siva.
Back came Tom and Matt, with Tom deservedly picking up 3 wickets. Too good for their lower order, a top of off stump ball, an lbw beamer and another bowled cleaned up the tail. Tom finished on 3 for 20 from 8 overs – economy 2.5 which is highly impressive. Matt picked up their last wicket with a yorker and they were 95 all out.
Some good batting performances and consistent pressure in the field saw us home. Run calling remains work in progress! Its pleasing that Rhewl are on the up performance-wise and look forward to playing them again, as they were a thoroughly nice group this year.