Match Report

“I’m convinced things will go much better if the players smile and have some fun on the field”– Jonty Rhodes

It did not really matter that the match was a one sided affair, the sun shone, the players on both sides smiled and everyone had fun. After the bitter north winds of Thursday, Friday and Saturday waking to a perfect blue sky on Sunday raised the mood of all. Making the trip through Cotswold villages the Middleton Stoney team welcomed Mark Ford-Langstaff for his seasons debut and Matt Bazeley for his club debut.

The home side asked to play a 35 over game, recognizing that they had had to fill the last places in their team with some younger players who had not played more than 20 overs games so far. Ascott under Wychwood CC won the toss and chose to field first. Jay Mumtaz and Stevyn Jackson were the opening bats. Will Harvey, only 15 but taking resposibility as fielding captain took the new ball. 

The wicket looked a touch rough around the edges as the home groundsman had been away for the week. All were interested to see how it would play. After three uneventful overs, Jay decided that the pitch held no demons and dispatched successive deliveries to the square leg boundary. Trying to repeat the shot but at the other end he lofted an easy catch to midwicket. “Yes” called Stevyn, Jay remained motionless watching the ball arc gently into and out of the hands of the fielder.

Stevyn applied the brakes. The fielder recovered and responded to the hurried calls of “bowlers end”.  Stevyn lunged headlong toward the stumps, bat grounded and heading for the safety of the crease. Meanwhile the wayward throw was being collected by the enthusiastic fielder, also lunging headlong but in the opposite direction.  The two players collided, Stevyn’s helmet meeting fielders midriff. A moment’s pause but neither was hurt and the game went on.

Jay took advantage of his good fortune and dominated the scoring, Stevyn picking up singles and feeding Jay the strike. As the fifty partnership approached, Jay’s luck ran out as the stretched arm of extra cover held a sharp catch to a shot Jay thought was bound for another boundary.

In this fixture last year a famous photograph was taken of Asif being bowled out attempting to hit the ball into the next parish. Therefore some may be surpised that the skipper elevated Asif to third in the batting order.  Asif was determined to make the most of this unexpected opportunity, perhaps it was a reward for being the first person to arrive on the ground.

His first ball was from the left arm spin of Worsley. The deftest of glances and the ball sped to the long leg boundary. Asif’s innings was away, and a second boundary soon followed. Stevyn was the second wicket to fall. He tried to pull a short ball, which stuck in the pitch and looped slowly over his bat and down onto his leg bail. Mark F-L realized on coming into bat that he had never batted with Asif before. 

A very relieved Mark scored his first single and was soon moving through the gears. Asif clobbered the first six of the innings, achieved his highest MSCC score  (20) and was promptly bowled. Matt Bazeley joined Mark as the half way point of the innings was marked with a welcome drink.

Ascott began to ring the changes with 8 of the team having at least 3 overs. Not all of the overs were as accurate in length and line as desired so a considerable number of wides and no balls added to the total. Dealing with the surprise good ball became the main threat. Mark edged a wide ball through to the keeper and had tucked his bat under his arm and walked off before the umpire could confirm the decision. 

Ali Meier was next in and he provided a perfect foil for the more aggressive Bazeley.  Matt waited for the ball to be in his slot and twice hit sixes into the nettles behind the bowler. Ali nudged, nurdled and rotated the strike. A shock yorker beat Ali’s defensive shot allowing Olly Ross to have free rein to attack for the last 7 overs. He effortlessly scored 33 runs without breaking sweat. 

Matt fell to a carbon copy of Ali’s dismissal allowing Shaeen, (formally known as Pankaj) a moment at bat. At his third time of asking he scored his first runs for the club and scored his first boundary finishing 5 not out. Tea was taken, the first for several years in the Ascott pavilion before the teams swapped roles.

Simon Petit was able to spend some time watching and catching up with old friends, as Andrew and Rona with no bar to oversee or barbeque to run, also enjoyed an afternoon in the glorious sunshine. 

Olly Ross was handed a pair of wicket keeping gloves, a first for him as Shaeen took the new ball. Asif was his opening partner. Worsley spanked a full toss through mid on and the chase began.  Asif’s first over was a maiden. In the third over Shaeen took the first wicket, Harvey snr spooning a dolly catch to mid off. Shaeen now had his first run and his first wicket for Middleton. Two more quickly followed, with Asif picking up one for himself bowling Worsley with the best ball of the day.

After 9 overs the home team were 40 – 4, with the best batsmen out. Seril replaced Asif and within three balls it was 40 -5 The batsman completely bemused as to how he could have missed the ball. Most of the remaining batsmen were Ascott’s younger players. Great excitement followed as Beasant hit two balls for six, one from Seril and one from Paul Wordsworth who came on to replace Shaeen. Beasant should have fallen to Paul, Matt Bazeley calling clearly and confidently, in  military tones that the catch was his. It would have been had he not let it slip from his grasp.

While Paul was luckless, Seril was picking off wickets, another bowled and one taken into the accommodating hands of Stevyn Jackson at cover. Will Harvey was the last recognised batsman, he was joined by Ascott’s youngest recruit Charlie Brooks. Brooks showed enough technique and determination to see off both Seril and Paul’s spells. Paul did pick up the wicket of Harvey, with Mark Ford Langstaff plucking the sharpest of slip catches into his safe hands. 

The captain and Jay Mumtaz were selected to finish the innings. Jay notably did not bowl a wide in his two overs. The skipper bowling for the first time this year picked up the last two victims. The game had been played in the best of spirits and 22 cheerful cricketers retired to the bar.

Next week sees the first of the mid week games as we welcome NOC back to Middleton Park, we hope to see lots of you there.