Match Report

The Scent of Victory

In this modern age, when the men about town can be free to talk about more sensitive issues, the discussion between overs as Middleton fielded included, “I like that cologne.” It turned out that Howard was wearing coconut scented suncream. It was the sort of day that required suncream, warm bright and sunny.  Middleton had made their way North into Warwickshire for the second away match of the season at Napton CC. 

Napton’s ground is young in term’s of cricket grounds. Carved from a sloping field, the steep bank forms an ampitheatre giving great views for the watching players and spectators. In one section the earth is retained by a wall of gabions, surely a unique feature in an inland cricket ground. It is a small square with just five pitches, a new one had been prepared for today’s game. No one was sure how it would play. Middleton won the toss, ummed and aahed and opted to bat first.

Matt Carpenter was making a welcome return to the ranks after his recovery from a broken arm. He opened the batting with the delicatley perfumed Howard. Matt survived the first over with some relief. The ball was swinging and the bounce was variable. Howard opened the scoring with a cut behind square for a boundary but otherwise runs were hard to come by. Matt was drawn into following a wider outswinging delivery, his edge was found and the ball arced into and out of first slips hands. A first life and chance for Matt to get his head down and play the anchor role. 

Howard reprised his cut shot in the eighth over which took the total to 20.  The outswing of opening bowler Nyren was replaced with the inswing of Eaden J, the tidy Speller replaced by Napton’s captain Mike Eaden bowling at a lively pace. Two boundaries in the 13th over, one from Howard and one crunched through midwicket by Matt broke the shackles and added some momentum to the Middleton innings. 

Howard in expansive mood attempted an off drive, he hit it well but in the air and was well held at deep mid off. James Lyons came in at 3, he scored 3 but in doing so helped Matt add 20 more runs to the total. With the third change of bowling and drinks approaching, James mis read a ball from off spinner Pelter, thinking it would be a full toss, he found himself yorked and trapped LBW.

Matt Bazeley announced his intentions with a crunching drive through mid off, that ran three quarters of the way up the steep bank. Unfortunatley a repeat attempt was directed toward the mid on fielder who held on. Jay Mumtaz soon followed back to the pavilion, regretting a poor choice of shot that lifted the ball high, but in reach of the bowler who took a very good catch behind his left shoulder. 

Stevyn Jackson showed in a short stay a clear intention to increase the run rate. All all too short a stay it kick started the rest of the innings as Matt passed fifty with successive boundaries. Ahmad was not worried by any devils in the wicket, he simply waited for a full delivery and bashed it back past the bowler. In one instance into the bowlers shin. Matt, somewhat warm from his exertions tried to whip a ball from his leg stump into the surrounding fields. He missed, but the ball did not, knocking over his leg stump.

Tim Riley joined Ahmad, fed Ahmad the strike and concluded the innings with a quick fire partnership of 39 in the last 25 minutes.Tea was a welcome feast, steaming cups of tea, cherries and watermelon and an excellent variety of cakes. The younger members of the team managed most of the cake between them, the large slab of coffee cake on Robin’s plate suggested a very healthy appetite.

The in form Hamidullah took the new ball with James Lyon. Both were accurate and got some movement off the seam. The swing of the first innings seemed elusive. James found some lift in his third over, a tickle behind the wicket and the keeper did the rest. Next ball and the off stump felled to leave Napton hurrrying finish the washing up and repalce marigolds with batting gloves. Hamidullah joined in in his next over bowling the second opener.

Alsop, batting at 5 was the most accomplished of the home team’s batting line up. His defense was technically sound and given the opportunity he powered the ball to the boundary.  James picked up a third wicket with a trademark slower ball to leave Napton in trouble at 33 – 4. He was replaced by Robin Cummings. Robin was just starting to settle into a good rhythm when a familiar twinge struck his right knee.  Robin was unable to continue so the reliable knees of Paul Wordsworth were called upon for the next spell.   Clearly tiring after a longer than normal spell, Hamidullah lost a little contro in his ninth over, spraying wides one to each side of the wicket. In between he found a straight one to pick up his second wicket, Goodman LBW 6.

Although five wickets had been lost the target was not out of reach. Mike Eaden joined Alsop in the the key partnership.  The two best batsman were now at the crease, with barely five runs an over needed for victory. Ahmad replaced his father as the final twenty overs started the game very well poised. As is often the case Ahmad found the outside edge, only for the keeper to spill the chance. Twice the ball spat and beat bat, stumps and keeper to run away for byes. The score was in nineties, the fielders initially crowded around the bat, were now spreading out to protect the boundary.

Alsop played back to Ahmad, the ball kept low, hit the back pad and the umpire was obliged to raise his finger. Middleton had ten overs to get the last four wickets. They had no answer to Ahmad who only conceded runs from an outside edge. Paul relished taking two wickets in five balls, both LBW as the home team collapsed to 98 – 8, Ahmad made it 99 – 9 clean bowling Pelter with a delivery that much too good for a number 9.

Four more overs passed as Napton attempted to secure the draw. More and more close fielders surround the dead bats. The captain urged his bowlers to toss the ball up…flatter and flatter they bowled it.  Ahmad took pace off, had the batsman playing too early and won the game clean bowling last man Harries. Chris Greer completed the scoring by writing in MSCC win by 52 runs.  A very pleasant game was concluded as player retired to the appropriatley named Victory Club to enjoy a drink and chat in the late sunshine.