Match Report

And he smiled like a four year old opening his presents on Christmas Day.

 

Peak summer perfection was found in Middleton Park this Sunday. The sky was the deepest blue, the breeze from the north held the temperature in check, the clink of glasses and happer chatter of the annual village barbeque drifted from the boundary over the square. Paul’s work on the ground had produced a perfect looking pitch, flat and firm with just a hint of green in the grass. 

Visitors, Elmhurst CC, were ready in good time. MSCC won the toss and chose to bat, most hoping that Olly Ross would make it to the ground in time to open the batting. Standby opener Matt Carpenter, was rather hoping that he wouldn’t. Seven minutes before the start of play, Olly pulled in. Matt reluctantly unstrapped his pads and resheathed his bat. He didn’t let his disappointment show as he readjusted his expectations to bat at number 6.

Olly and Mark Ford-Langstaff took little time to assess the conditions. The pitch was flat, if slightly low in bounce and the outfield was giving full value for every shot. Olly took three boundaries from the third over, two in a row caressed through extra cover. Mark soon joined in the fun, first striking to square leg and then playing a shot he will remember and describe for many seasons. Stroking rather that striking and timed to perfection Mark’s off drive sped to the cover boundary. Mark held the pose for a moment and a grin for the rest of the day. 

Elmhurst’s bowlers were toiling, the MSCC batters thriving as the score moved on a pace. If the ball beat the field it went to the boundary. The fielders spread and the score moved on in fours and ones. Mistakes were few, but once Mark was beaten by a beauty outside the off stump and twice to consecutive deliveries Olly wafted airly outside the off stump. Berating himself he set out his stall to take further advantage of the perfect conditions. Good shots were played, some excellent fielding from Elmhurst kept the score in check.

In the sixteenth over, Mark played all around a slower delivery and was bowled for 30. It didn’t wipe the grin from his face. Howard was due to come in at the fall of the first wicket. In a magnanimous gesture he had offered his spot to Matt, who now strode to the wicket.

Matt and Olly added over 100 more runs chancelessly. Matt woke up Olly by stealing a quick single to get off the mark but that was the only risk taken. Olly passed 50 just after the drinks break and then began to scatter the barbequing crowd and threaten the parked cars. Matt out scored Olly as Elmhurst changed to the second and third string bowlers. With a century in his sites Olly played a big sweep but missed the ball to be bowled for 70.

Ben Merritt has a good batting record with Matt. He partnered Matt to his half century and took the score past 200 when he tried to reverse sweep and was bowled.  After 35 overs the declaration was made. Ali Meier had made tea. With help from his elves a find spread was layed out. As usual the tea interval had to be extended as the feast was enjoyed, the visitors fulsome in thier praise for the spread. 

Asif has been missing in action for a month and a half. Taking the new ball, a lack of practice was evident as his line wandered and his length was anything from extremely short to a waist high full toss. Khalid Hussein playing his first Sunday fixture was also off radar in his first  two overs. The target set of 204 to win in approximatley 45 overs looked a very generous offer as Elmhurst set off at 10 an over, Tamuir the chief protaganist.

Some captains might have wavered at this point, but Asif was given a fourth over as he finally remembered the basics of bowling. Kahn, who had top scored last year bowled by a peach of an inswinger. Khalid picked up a wicket bowling the number 3 for no score. A third wicket fell in Asif’s next over with Ben Merritt taking a sharp catch as short mid wicket high over his right shoulder. Tamuir carried on attacking, as the full tosses kept coming. Khalid made way for Seril Shah.

Seril peaked with his first delivery and with his first over. First ball he trapped Tamuir LBW and then bowled the visiting skipper for a duck four balls later.  From 48 – 0 Elmhurst had collapsed to 60 – 6 and the game looked to be in the bag. The Elmhurst 7th wicket pair though diffently. Patiently at first, against Seril and Paul Wordsworth, they began to rebuild. Every now and then shoulders were opened and the ball flew to the boundary. Seril fully expected to break the partnership when the ball was lifted gently to Ben at Mid off. The fielders, the watching batsman, the attendant villagers all expected Ben to take the chance. Somehow Ben failed to hold on and Elmhurst sensed a chance.

The score had doubled to 120 when Tim took over from Seril and Ben replaced Paul. Ben’s extra pace and Tim’s lack of it proved the undoing of the visitors, Tim picked up the first, Ben the second and then Tim delivered the coup de grace with a one handed caught and bowled. Elmhurst were pleased to have mounted a decent attempt on the target but accepted defeat much more graciously than Argentina’s footballers were to do later in the day, in a game that Elmhurst all hurried off to watch. Seril manning the bbq was wondering where his customers had gone.