Match Report

There were some lovely moments to enjoy on a lovely afternoon for cricket. We had Sathya’s delightful daughter handing out cups to thirsty players at drinks, we had visitors from the Arndamurchan Peninsular (“we play Shinty, lots of transferrable skills you know”)pl and we had a special tea provided by Athis. What we was not so enjoyable was the cricketing performance from the home team.

Representative’s of Oxfordshire’s Over 60 C team, messrs House and Simpson opened the batting as the Skipper fretted on the boundary about how best to order the 8 players who were currently on the ground. “You might want to put a helmet on” was suggested to Simmo ” this lad is a bit sharp”.  Tim clipped a full toss off his legs to the square leg boundary and decided that actually a helmet was a sensible idea. 

Bowling from the farm end to a 7 – 2 off side field was Campion. The ball was swinging away and Simmo was circumspect. Tim was beaten by a change of pace from Kelly, a slower off cutter which nipped back between bat and pad. Matt Bazeley smashed a full toss through cover deep into the nettles in a statement of intent. Playing back to a full ball from Kelly, Matt was beaten by a ball that kept low to leave MSCC at 14 – 2 as Satyha’s car trundled into the ground.

Jay Mumtaz joined Simmo in a war of attrition. Campion conceded only 7 runs in 7 overs, while Beckman who replaced Kelly conceded only 2 runs in his first five overs.  By the time drinks were being poured MSCC had crawled to 32 runs Simmo nearing double figures.  Jay started a trend of hitting full tosses in the direction of fielders as Middleton became frustrated as the very rare scoring opportunities were spurned.

Campion had Jay caught at the wicket for 7 as he tried to force the ball toward cover. Tim Riley saw off the rest of Campion’s spell hoping that the change bowling would offer some respite.  It was not to be as the Author’s top wicket taker, Taylor was too prove much too good for the home batting.  Simmo was his first victim well taken one handed at short midwicket, 

Tim briefly flourished against Beckman hitting consecutive boundaries to take Middleton past 50.  Sathya was unable to get off the mark, LBW to Taylor, but Mike Robinson showed a more solid defence in adding a further 20 runs with Tim. The end came quickly Taylor bowling Mike, having Tim LBW and George Robinson stumped.

Tea was taken outdoors in a leisurely fashion. Many thanks Athis, your teas are always a special one. Missing from tea was Rona, who sustained a cricketing injury last week trying to hurdle the barbeque. We wish you a speedy recovery.

There a lots of examples where teams have made a low score and then gone on to win. Usually that requires an outstanding fielding performance from young and spritely players, and inspired bowling from geed upped fast bowlers. Middleton’s selection of fielders may once have been young and spritely. Today there was one who could fit the description young, but spriteliness was an elusive quality.

Hamidullah is the leading wicket taker for the club this season. He bowled some good balls in his five over spell, but none that took wickets. Sathya was accurate from ball one and he did gain Middleton’s only breakthrough, picking off opener Owen for a duck.  McGowan was as circuspect as Simmo earlier in the day playing out three maiden overs from Sathyha, but his partner, Beard was in bullish mood deciding to emulate Ben Stokes in scoring a very rapid 50 not out. At the end of the match the Authors were most deserved winners, better at batting, bowling and fielding.