Match Report

MSCC welcomed Bodicote back for the second time, with memories of a gentle day out last year when the visitors were rolled out for less than 50. With that in mind, and a balanced team lineup, the stand-in home skipper won the toss and chose to bat.

Richard Lumb kindly took up his regular spot as umpire and Ann Cummings, graciously offered to score, no doubt having seen the home team checking the crib-sheet on the various icons…

Both Jamie L and Anirudh S can always be relied on to start off at a pace and although the first over started quietly, Jamie soon shook off the cobwebs and was racing towards a retirement. Anirudh missed out for once, as he departed to what even the visitors felt was a miraculous Inspector Gadget catch.

Harry Way took over and serenely glided to his allocated 30 and retirement. In a similar vein, Mark F-L continued his form and soon had the field spread. With the run rate moving nicely along, and sensing his own retirement, he went for the maximum but picked out their most accomplished player on the boundary ropes. Good home team start.

The middle order had a quieter day at the office. Then Shaan S and Matt D took on the responsibility of posting a decent score. With the re-introduction of ‘free-hits” following no-balls (and there were plenty) one over saw the score jump by 17 or so, and between them these two ended up with red ink and a team score of 133. It seemed enough, at least on last year’s showing.

Middleton Stoney on paper had a strong and varied bowling attack, and were especially pleased and thankful to welcome back Robin Cummings, who stood in at the last moment. He was to go on to play an important role in the game.

This week’s skipper (not being named for reasons that will become obvious later) prefers to open with a spinner in T20 games and Sathya, also welcomed back, did not disappoint, bowling his spell straight through for a miserly 20-1. Matt D and Hamidullah did exactly what they do best and Bodicote found themselves struggling at 36-1 after eight of their overs.

The visitors’ opener retired just as he found momentum and imagined he would not be needed again. However, the strike bowlers were waiting in the wings, and when they were unfurled, they just about won the game for the home side. Anirudh steamed in and nonchalantly took a fiercely driven caught and bowled. Robin C stepped up to the mark and had the batsmen fishing all afternoon. His two wickets were a product of consistency and skill.

With four overs to go, Bodicote were down and out, with 54 needed, although they had one new, untested batsman at the crease, and two tail-enders in reserve, plus the earlier retired opener, now re-padded up, and waiting eagerly, if he was needed. MSCC had Dipple and Hamidullah to bowl three…

Well, someone had to bowl one. Luke Wetherill turned out to be quite a talented range-hitter. 24 now needed off three. (There was a good “dot” ball in there). At least Luke had to retire.

Hamidullah took a wicket, bowled, with his antepenultimate ball. “That’s enough”, he was told, as we’d rather not welcome the opener and Mr. Wetherill back. Hamidullah’s penultimate ball mirrored the previous one, bowled again. The inevitable happened (he’s very talented) and the match ball was heading to Hamidullah’s home to mark his hattrick. Congratulations.

Fortunately, Matt D managed to keep the returning opener off strike and Middleton Stoney strolled to what on paper looks like a comfortable victory. To one or two, it felt a little closer.

Mark Austin, the ever-jovial Bodicote captain, knows us well from his Banbury CC connection, and said that he had spoken so highly of visits to MSCC that he had at least twenty players asking to be in the team.

Thanks to all the players, umpires, scorer, Rona and Andrew as ever and of course, our sponsors Nolan Oils, for ensuring that whatever fortunes you have on or off the pitch, an evening at MSCC still puts a smile on your face.