Match Report

Meier tests Ben Stoke’s theory that a late night of celebration is not detrimental to an athlete’s performance. 

(Photo above courtesy of Simon Godfrey)

Most of life is made up of decisions. Some are important, most less so. Sometimes good decisions are made, sometimes the decisions seemed good at the time and sometimes the decisions are, in retrospect, inexplicable. 

The first good decision was to invite Wantage and Grove CC to take the place of our scheduled opponent who were unable to raise a team. It was a first visit to Middleton Park. The visitors were awed by the grounds and intrigued by the pavilion taking the chance to have a good look around thanks to an early arrival. 

The pitch had been covered all week to keep the baking sun at bay. The grass had grown in the shade so the groundstaff gave it a quick wash and brush up.  The first decision of the day was made by W&G as they won the toss. It looked an easy decision to bat first in the heat so they did. It was not good news for Ali Meier, whose decision to celebrate England’s Quarter-Final victory into the early hours was having serious repercussions on his morale. In the words of PG Wodehouse, “I am told by those who know that there are six varieties of hangover-the Broken Compass, the Sewing Machine, the Comet, the Atomic, the Cement Mixer and the Gremlin Boogie, and his manner suggested that he had got them all.” Ali had hoped to lie down in darkened changing room, instead he faced the prospect of 35 overs fielding in the midday sun.

Untroubled by such discomforts, Mukhtar was delighted when one MSCC player failed to arrive for the start and he was able to take his place. Also playing and making a season’s debut was Charlie Napper, meaning that for once MSCC were fielding with three players in their teenage years. The more venerable were thrilled that young legs could do the running. Throughout the innings a run out looked likely, Charlie, Ahmad and Shaan all coming very close to doing so.

Paul Wordsworth took the new ball. The pitch, responding to daylight for the first time in three days decided to assist the bowler. Batting was difficult with the ball mostly keeping low, but also moving sideways. Fresh from his hat trick heroics on Wednesday, Hamidullah was his opening partner.  The batters, Harvey and Omar dug in. Paul lost his length for a ball or two and Harvey punished him with consecutive fours.  Omar trying to do the same played across the line to be bowled and give Paul his first victim.

Hamidullah gave nothing away. Charlie Napper replaced Paul and bowled an ideal line and length with his first ball. “Happy days” said Mark  Ford-Langstaff at first slip. Charlie’s second ball was a head high full toss. It proved an exception as Charlie bowled a tidy four over spell keeping runs at a minimum. The next chance came when a full delivery from Charlie was struck toward Mid on. Standing at Mid on Ali was considering the stability of his gastric cement mixer. With his mind on the churning sensation, the usual doubts that beset a fielder under a ball they ought to catch were dispelled, Ali holding on in surprise. Charlie delighted.

In his seventh and final over, Hamidullah felt it was his turn to strike. The pitch helped in the dismissal of Elle Smith who dragged a short wide ball onto the stumps, Tim House helped on Hamidullah’s final delivery, as top scorer Harvey was caught on the second rebound for a creditable 33.

Shaan and Mukhtar bowled the middle overs for Middleton. W&G’s middle order Venky and Sheraz looked to rebuild. The pitch proved tricky for the wicket keeper as extras started to mount with too many byes being conceeded. Venky punished Shaan when he dropped short but Shaan picked up the wicket of Sheraz very nicely caught by Ali at extra cover. 

Venky was now key to reaching a challenging total. He had survived a life when a short pitched ball from Charlie had  scuttled along the ground into his stumps. A negotiated no ball seemed the fairest call. Charlie got his revenge in his second spell when his best ball of they day bowled Venky. Two balls late Charlie picked up a third wicket having Baker LBW.

Iqbal took a liking to Shaan’s bowling, a first ball four was followed by two sixes over long on. Paul and Mukhtar kept him off strike and wrapped up the innings with a wicket a piece. At tea the visitors had made 156. Shaan and Michelle had volunteered to make the tea for this rearranged home match. Tea was once again a spectacular feast, with care taken to ensure suitable fare was laid on for a largely vegetarian set of players, very many thanks to both of you.

After three hours in the sun, the pitch had lost some of its spite. Ali had returned to the brink of feeling human and opening partners Mark Ford-Langstaff and Tim House were champing at the bit.  The first over bowled was marked by a series of wide balls, Tim nearly putting his back out trying to reach them. The final ball showed what was to come, a much straighter delivery stroked effortlessly through cover.

With Tim looking in excellent touch and Mark growing in confidence the target looked straightforward. 50 came up in seven overs as boundaries flowed, Tim striking through cover, and Mark through square leg and then back past the bowler for a four and six.

Tim was very well caught at short extra cover by Harvey as he tried to go over the top. Ahmad batting at number three did not let the scoring rate drop. There was some running confusion as Mark did his best not to run an easy single to long off, but as Ahmad was already at his end, he decided that there was one there anyway. Wantage and Gove tried different bowlers but the batting team were cruising home.

The game took on a new complexion when Omar came on, bowling much faster and much straighter. Mark was beaten there times outside the off stump. He survived a very confident appeal for a catch behind. The appeal was more in excitement than expectation and Mark survived to go on to a first half century of the season. In accordance with the rules of the day, he retired unbeaten.

Immeadiately after his retirement, Ahmad decided to run down the wicket to hit a six over the trees. He had to carry on running as he was stumped by several yards. With less than 20 runs needed Matt Bazeley told Ali who he was now batting with to be careful.  Matt carefully played two balls gently back to the bowler, before an undisguised slower ball had him clumping the ball straight to the grateful fielder at deep mid on.

A now clear-headed Ali looked in top form, the boundary at extra cover twice crossed as back foot shots were caressed for four. Shaan had been given out LBW on Saturday after a 25 over vigil for a draw was ended by the umpire. His luck returned as two simple chances were spilled. The seven wicket victory was completed with 11 overs remaining.

Matt tried to persuade the teams that they were still hungry and needed a burger to round off the evening, while Ali sold his wares from behind the bar, his temptation to sample them resisted. Meanwhile Paul Wordsworth ensured that the hoses were out on the square, he has spent hours this week ensuring cricket can be played, the club is very grateful for all the volunteers who ensure the smooth running of the club.