Match Report

MSCC v Bampton in the Bush CC

April 14 2024

 

Bampton 83 all out

MSCC 89 – 3 

MSCC won by 7 Wickets 

 

This was the game that was given no chance of being played. Too much rain, too much winter, too many miserable cricketers bemoaning their lot. One man kept believing that a pitch could be prepared, that it would be dry enough for play and that the season could begin on time. Unbelievably to most, the sun shone on Saturday, and continued mostly to shine on Sunday morning.  The outfield was dry, and still being cut as players arrived on the ground. Bampton were early and keen to get started, Middleton arrived to dress the ground, adjust the ropes and open the scorebox. Middleton were pleased to welcome back Harry Way, after a season and a half’s absence. A new curly haircut, a goatee and evidence of a few hours gym work were a disguise only betrayed by a very distinctive Yorkshire twang. 

Winning the toss is a good start to any season. Skipper Tim Riley did so and immediately, ( having explained the way in which a time game operates) suggested that the visitors might like the first chance to bat on the soft green pitch which hinted that the bowlers might have an easier time than the batters.Eliot Barton kindly agreed to Umpire. The offer of a free tea and the incentive of not having to spend his Sunday revising were all the persuasion he needed. Matthew Dipple and Rob Barton were given the new ball. Rob took the first of his three wickets thanks to the safe hands of Howard Lancaster at extra cover. The batsmen aimed through the legside but played too early, miscuing a leading edge. Bampton’s second wicket pair, Kasim and Tanware weathered the early storm. Matthew was finding some grip from the surface, if not from his studs. One tumble was reminiscent of Mark Wood. At least the turf was soft and giving when he landed.

If Matthew was the pick of the bowlers, surely the Captain should have held that chance at slip the better luck was with Rob. Having had some short wide deliveries dispatched to the legside boundary he took the skipper’s advice and risked bowling a fuller length. Tanware opted to drive, hit the ball towards the two fielders in the region of mid on. Both wanted to take the catch, both called for it. A collision beckoned, but Matthew Dipple kept his eye on the ball all the way into his hands. Rob’s effort to take a caught and bowled moments later was spectacular. Launching from his left foot he dived to his right and stuck out a hopeful right claw. The square leg umpire was impressed for a moment before he realised the ball had not remained in Rob’s hand.

To celebrate his catch, he took his first wicket of the season, bowling Kasim via his pads. Fifth batsman, Cook took a fancy to the short leg side boundary, with consecutive boundaries coming from Rob. Extracting revenge, Rob’s shorter delivery rose only a few centimeters from the turf, Cook was powerless, and bail-less, as it all but rolled into the stumps.

In the last game played against the visitors, in May 2022 a batsman named Easterbrook had carried Bampton to victory. A game noted for the incident when a Bampton player opted against wearing a box,  was hit and regretted it. He continues to be reminded of it to this day. Easterbrook looked eager and wanted to run. Sadly for him he opted to take a run to Dipple at mid off. The clean pick up and direct hit had Easterbrook running all the way back to the pavilion.

 

Five wickets had fallen for fifty. Not such a high score, but the wicket was difficult and the outfield thick and unyielding. Anirudh Sharma replaced the tiring Dipple. From his first ball he looked purposeful and accurate. Bowling with hustle and energy he proved very difficult for the Bampton batters to overcome.  Every over he bowled looking likely to take a wicket. Tim House took over from Rob at the Church end. Cutmore was the pick of the Bampton players. Sensing that he was running out of partners he began to play more aggressively. One straight drive burst through the bowler’s hands, an off drive was just too high for mid off to reach. 

 

Tim picked up the sixth wicket with a leg cutter he will happily recall for the rest of the season. Cutmore gave Anirudh his only wicket, Matt Dipple taking an awkward boundary catch at deep midwicket with gymnastic aplomb. Seril Shah bamboozled the lower order. Discombobulation was the order of the day as he wrapped up the tail. The first of his three victims was taken with remarkable insouciance by Rob Barton fielding at silly mid off. A half volley was met with the middle of the bat, Rob found that the ball had lodged perfectly in his hands, without realising quite how it had got there. Next ball Jay Mumtaz, waiting calmly at mid on, found the ball drilled on a low trajectory in his direction. His bandaged fingers wrapped smartly around the ball. 

The end of the innings was not long in coming. This time Seril did not need the help of any fielders, his delivery doing just enough to squeeze between bewildered bat and pad. All out 81 in 33 overs. Most remarkable for early season MSCC, there were only three extras in the innings, one wide, one bye and one no ball.

The prospect of tea laid on by Rona made the extension of the tea break to 30 minutes a foregone conclusion.One of the Bampton players remarked that in all his seasons playing cricket he had never had a tea to match it. All the players ate their fill, the middle order batters grateful for a some extra digestion time. There are still many games that require a tea volunteer, if you are a player and your name is not yet down please sign up now. All guidelines are shown on the website.

Michael Robinson and Harry Way walked out to bat chasing what ordinarily would be an easy target, but on the awkward wicket and with a young keen fielding team was anything but. Harry was relieved when, second ball he faced, the ball looped safely from his leading edge into the empty space rather than the waiting fielders. After a patient start Harry began to play some attractive shots, one off drive by a margin shot of day.  Michael showed admirable patience, pushed into running some sharp second runs by Harry he kept his cool, if not his breath. It took 10 overs for the first 20 runs to be scored, Brooksbank in particular bowling a miserly spell.It was he who made the breakthrough, Michael trapped LBW to a delivery that kept low.

Jay Mumtaz has a new bat!  (oh you knew already.) He was keen to test the middle. He added a spurt to the scoring with two boundaries, before in a neat symmetry he was caught at Mid on to a ball hit cleanly with a low trajectory. Howard Lancaster has given his bat a spring clean, stickers and toe guard have been removed and it now weighs 2lb and 9 oz. His bat was still very clean when he walked off at 37 – 3 being well beaten by a delivery that “did a bit”.

Tim Riley came out to support Harry on the slow march to victory. First Harry picked up boundaries to square leg, having waited for the inevitable slow short ball, then as the pace of the bowlers picked up he was able to play some lofted drives, the last of which simultaneously went for 6, took Harry to 50 and won the match for Middleton.

Bampton provided good fellowship after the game enjoying the company, the barbecue and bar. They played the game in just the right way, were keen and convivial. We look forward already to next year’s fixture. It is one of the joys of playing at Middleton Stoney that members are always on hand to help, we are grateful that Chris continues to keep score, (in a brand new score book) that Andrew keeps us in order financially and that Rona keeps Andrew in order.  Behind the scenes Mark Ford-Langstaff ensures the day to day management of the teams is flawless, a thankless task but one that makes a huge difference to the success of the club, Mark thanks for all you do!