Match Report

Rainmen are a team who relish the atmosphere surrounding a cricket match. They gain as much pleasure from a good lunch and fine tea as they do from playing the game. They were not disappointed by the lunch in the Horse and Groom or the tea provided by Howard and Paula. 

After last week’s game, on a pitch which had an unusually low bounce, the pitch was switched to the one used against Oxenford. How it would play was a mystery as the skippers started to stroll out to toss. The keen North Easterly that had set in over night sent the home team scurrying for extra sweaters. The visitors had lost a player overnight, and had several guest players in minimal kit…. it was not a day for just a short sleeved shirt.

Realising that he was weak in batting the visiting skipper negotiated to field first, while the home skipper explained the mysteries of the timing of a time game. Two things were omitted, both of which came to pass, notably the early tea when a declaration is made, and that it is 20 overs minimum in last hour, more if the overs are bowled in good time.

Raimen had Halal, an enthusiastic and youthful opening bowler. He had a whippy action and generated a good pace. At the other end McKaine was less youthful, but had the wisdom of years.  There was some pace in the pitch, but it was soon evident that the bounce was going to be variable. 

Shaan and Sam Norley were asked to renew their opening partnership. A good start was made, Sam looking to hit the bad ball, and Shaan showing that he could glance and glide to good effect. Good running was a feature of the opening stand, with several twos run that later partnerships would be turning down. After a stiff first over McKaine proved very steady, beating the bat outside the off stump, rather too often for comfort.

Halal broke the partnership, Shaan playing outside the line of a straight ball to be leg before, Sam falling soon after to the best ball of Halal’s spell, clean bowled. Both Howard Lancaster and Mark Ford-Langstaff were making a season’s debut. Both were keen to get off the mark, Howard called a single from a ball hit straight to Rainmen’s best fielder at cover, either batsman could and should have been run out, stranded yards short. Fortunately the throw was off target and both survived.

Howard did get off the mark with a nicely timed cut shot to the boundary while Mark pushed a single into the legside. 

Clearly feeling that he was now “in” Mark tried to hit a short ball over mid-on for 6. Mid-on had moved a little deeper, Mark picked him out unerringly. Matt Bazeley joined Howard, Matt was determined to be more disciplined following several similar dismissals, remarkable similar to the way in which Mark had been dismissed. Four times he succeded in playing his trade mark straight drive back past the bowler to the boundary. 

 Rainmen’s best bowling now came from Bewley bowling from the farm end. He had a lively pace, and now and again bowled a rapid delivery. Howard and Matt battled hard to keep him out but were scoring freely at the other end.

 Once again Matt fell victim to a poor shot to a poor ball, hitting a simple catch straight back to  change bowler, Ellitson. At 69 – 4 the game was in the balance. Howard had played himself in and was becoming more expansive. Tim House was very glad to be wearing a helmet as his first delivery from Bewley reared up from a length hitting him flush on the grill. 

After undergoing a concussion test he was judged fit to continue. It is in Tim’s nature to rise to the occassion when put under the most pressure. There was no way that Bewley was going to get through. It was great battle between the two players, with Tim winning on points after the early knock down.

A fifty partnership was made as the scoring rate increased. Howard approached his own fifty, and was pleased to reach it with a fine drive through extra cover for four. Acceleration was now a feature with more risks being taken, Howard’s legs must have warmed up as quick singles were again turned into twos as the numbers on the scoreboard mounted. The partnership pass the century mark, with Rainmen at a loss to stop the runs.

Bewley returned from the Church end and got his man, Tim well caught at square leg. Ahamd had three balls to make a mark before the declaration. His mark was made with a dismissive shot off the back foot the boundary as the declaration made. Howard’s 62* is currently the highest score be a Middleton player, a target in the sights of several other players.

Hurrying to take off his pads and gloves, Howard sped the fridges to put out tea. Fingers and thumbs from willing helpers found that extracting made sandwiches from refilled bread bags was a degree level challange. It was worth the effort the tea was spectacular, the fruit cake a big hit.

Asif and Hamidullah took the new ball, Halal and Trimmingham were the opening pair. Trimmingham was patient, Halal wanted to win the game in four overs. Seldom can a bigger hit have been attempted than that made by Halal to the last ball of Asif’s second over. The bat lift made Lara’s low in comparison, the follow through lifted him off the ground, the swish off the bat generating enough breeze to dislodge the bails on its own. Sadly he missed and the ball, swinging in nicely hit the leg stump.

Trimmingham dealt well with a series of low bouncing deliveries, setting his stall out to play through the innings. Asif’s Swing defeated him. McKaine was the key to a long Rainmen resistance, technically the superior batter of the team. Bewley came in at four and pushed McKaine into running some short singles. One single led to Bewley, perhaps 90 kilos and well over  1.80cm colliding with Asif.  Luckily Asif bounced and came off none the worst. The strategy worked well until the unfortunate McKaine pulled up lame and had to leave the field. 

Seril Shah decieved Bewley, Asif taking the catch at mid wicket and all Rainmen’s hopes were gone. The only further resistance came from Wall. Ahmad showed his versatity, bowling leg spin, not his usual off spin or seam up. When he found his length the ball was virtually unplayable. 

Hamidullah and Matt Bazeley raced each other to boundary as the occassional shot came off, Matt nearly pulled off a tremendous run out, but saw the ball leap over the stumps when it looked destined to hit. A couple of half chance were spilt before Sam Norley put on a fielding exhibition, first running our Ellitson with a chase , run, turn and throw, before finishing the game with a tumbling catch moving quickly to his right, behind bowler Seril. Rainmen were dismissed for 77, 107 runs short of the target.

The game next week is our first away trip. The start is 1.30 at Aston Tyrrold.