Match Report

President’s Day – Captain’s XI v Vice-Captain’s XI

There had been some talk building up to the game. Some good natured rivalries were developing, batsmen making threats to hit bowlers out of the park, bowlers threatening to uproot stumps,  Matt Carpenter threatening to get his team through a full warm-up session. The ground staff, Paul, Tim and Peter had shaved the outfield to a crew cut, the pitch was a new one and runs galore were promised. Paul had also been baking, along with Mrs Wordsworth and the Simpsons and had prepared a “light tea” knowing that come 7pm players would be feasting from the chip van.  A light tea might be considered a cucumber sandwich and a cup cake, this tea far exceeded that description.

With most of the players assembled on the ground a few special arrangements were made, Matt whose team was one short would have one player batting twice, and Tim’s team would offer a sub fielder. Jay was the player selected to have a life, Jay was quite pleased.

 Matt’s team were asked to bat first when Tim won the toss. This was a good result as one  of Matt’s team was severely delayed in Worcesteshire and unlikley to make the first half of the game. We welcomed back Richard Lumb as umpire and in the score box Jen Lyon deployed her pencil in keeping the scorebook updated. 

“Two lives Mumtaz” and Harry Way  took the field for the batting team, facing Hamidullah and James Lyon with the new ball. James bowled a tidy maiden to Harry before Jay tickled a leg side delivery to the boundary to open the scoring. Jay used up the first of his lives three balls later, beaten by a straight delivery from Hamidullah. Harry was also to be given two lives. First he edged a ball from Hamidullah to Mark Ford Langstaff at third slip, the usually reliable snaffler fumbled his work (a difficult chance!). Then Harry hit a leg stump half volley from James high toward mid on were Robin Cummings was waiting. The ball wobbled in the air at just the wrong moment, clipping the tip of Robin’s bowling finger on the way to the ground.

Giving Harry two lives is usually fatal to the fielding team, the run hungry Yorkshireman is inclined to go on and make a big score. Not this time, the third chance was taken as James nipped one away off the seam, Harry edged and Jamie Lumb took a regulation catch. When Shaan edged to Simmo, he did not fumble to leave the vice captains XI in disarray at 26 -3. 

Matt had his serious head on, front foot lunging forward he defended for his life. At the other end in a rather more care free manner, Anirudh was celebrating the arrival of a new member of his family by bashing the ball toward the boundary. Seril and Simmo came on hoping to tempt Anirudh into an error. He was duly tempted, Simmo the bowler, Tim at Mid off the catcher, the new father out for a rapid 21.

Ahmad was the new man in. He was just as circumspect as Matt, waiting patiently for the bad ball to arrive. Matt finally picked up a couple of boundaries from Seril and got down to face Simmo. Simmo won the contest, 71 – 5 and the Captain’s XI were on top. Stevyn Jackson was sent out with orders to occupy the crease and to let Ahmad get on with the scoring, or at least that is how it appeared to the fielding team. 12 overs later Stevyn had done his job with the total nearly doubled.

The Captain’s XI  included the Chairman seeking to relive his glory days. Peter came on to replace Robin who had bowled three good overs. The shoulders may have creaked a little, but he will remember the ball he bowed to Ahmad that pitched on a length and nipped away, missing by a millimeter the off stump.

Tim gave himself a bowl in the role of partnership breaker. It took four balls and little gentle persuasion from an elderly spinner fielding at slip for Stevyn to rush down the wicket, miss the ball and be stumped by a street. Tim House had waited for the best part of an hour in his pads. He came and went in the best part of minute, playing an inexplicable waft at a gentle leg break, guiding it into the safe hands of Seril at extra cover.

Batting at number 8, the venerable Paul Wordsworth had scored 3 runs so far this season.  In one delivery from the Chairman he doubled his season’s total. In a fit of over excitement and with no thought of his real age he then ran another three in support of Ahmed. Not yet satisfied he then spanked the skipper to the mid wicket boundary to reach double figures. Somewhat fatigued he was faced with Simmo in a second spell. Beaten outside the off stump, he stretched to regain his ground, Jamie juggled the ball, Paul slowly toppled forward and Jamie gleefully completed the stumping.

Tea was on the horizon when “Two lives Mumtaz” returned to the crease.  Ahmad sensed the time had come to attack, Jay was in the mood to join him. An extra 30 runs were added in the last five overs, despite the loss of Ahmad, caught at deep mid off. Jay fired three fours in James’ final over. A final total of 169 – 9 was a great result from the earlier struggles.

Mark Ford-Langstaff and Howard Lancaster, knowing they were to open the batting secreted plates of “light tea” for later – it was too good to miss out on. Some discussions were exchanged between the purveyors of the savouries about the naming of vegan sausage rolls, the winning voice clearly stated “they are not sausage rolls, they have no sausage”. 

Before the game recommenced the club photo for the year was taken. It may be the largest group assembled for such and image – something to beat next season.

Anirudh, raring to go after three weeks of paternity leave and Paul, still recovering from all his running, had the ball in hand. The vice-captain had encouraged his team to be vocal in support, none were louder than Jay who took the instruction to heart.

Anirudh was to bowl a niggardly spell moving the ball in all sorts of directions, Seril umpiring at that end was impressed. Howard tucked a full toss from Paul to the long leg fence to score the first runs from the bat. Mark had just got off the mark when he faced up to Anirudh. At the same time as Mark felt his bat nudge his pad, the ball nudged his outside edge, Matt took the catch and Seril raised a reluctant finger.

James Lyon batted immaculately against the best of the bowling. He timed the ball beautifully but kept finding the fielder. Paul in particular was tumbling around to stop the ball, usually from his own bowling.  With the boundary seemingly out of reach runs slowly accumulated in singles and twos. After ten overs of diligences James was good enough to get an edge to a ball that would have beaten most , a second catch for Matt. 

Jamie Lumb has not had a great season with the bat for Buckingham or in his occasional outings for MSCC. Today his fortune was to change. He lost Howard to a full toss that should have been dispatched to the boundary, but instead was hit to Ahmad at cover and then Ali Meier after a promising start LBW to Shaan. Expecting support from Tim he was not to get it as Shaan found an edge and Matt completed a third catch. Shaan had replaced Anirudh and had taken inspiration bowling by far his best spell of the season.

Just as the first innings had become mired in mid innings so did the second. Simmo dug in to support Jamie. Tim House bowling from the farm end bowled tightly supporting Shaan. Gradually Jamie began to find his touch one straight drive over Shaan’s head a contender for shot of the day. Harry Way was given the opportunity to bowl, his two overs saw a change in momentum as he struggled to bounce the ball on the cut strip. Behind the stumps Matt’s optimism glowed less brightly, Jamie and Simmo were in position to close out the game. It was time to play his trump card and bring Ahmad onto bowl.

Arvind, the late arrival from Worcestershire came on to replace Harry. Twice Jamie picked out Tim House on the square leg boundary, twice the ball dropped just in front of a diving Tim, once he found Ahmad right on the rope unable to hold onto the ball that dropped over the rope for Jamie’s half century and the only six of the day. Finally he found Harry at deep square leg who did not let go of the ball. 

The skipper’s team tail was a substantial one. Needing nearly six an over Simmo needed to shepherd the tail and score most of the runs. He found willing support in Robin. Robin’s shot for four off Ahmad’s bowling getting the biggest cheer of the day from the gradually increasing crowd. Anirudh returned as the vice skipper’s XI pressed for victory. 

With three overs to go Anirudh got through Robin’s defence, and next ball castled Hamidullah for a golden duck. Suddenly Matt’s team needed two wickets to win and the victory target was receding into the distance. Peter strode out, padded up just in time to face his first ball of the decade. He survived the hat trick ball.

The skipper gave the instruction to never say die, 19 was gettable in the last two overs.  Simmo played with a mixture of classical batting, (witness an off drive for the ages. It gave Harry an alarm as it whistled past him at silly mid off) and more modern variations including the ramp. It came off on one of the three attempts to play it. On the third attempt the ball took the leg bail. The last wicket pair were at the crease, neither having held a bat all year.

Seril survived the last two balls from Ahamad with vultures clustered around him. Peter was left hoping to survive the over. An edge to the second ball allowed him to get off the mark, he could have taken 2 but he was wise enough to let his partner face the rest of the over. Seril got his own back by running a leg bye two balls later. Anirudh needed one more wicket to get on the honour’s board, he will never have a better chance.

The teams left the field head held high in an honourable draw, everyone had batted, most had bowled  and all had contributed. It was a perfect Middleton Stoney afternoon, one which we will try to emulate next season. It is worth noting that a third Middleton team could be made up of players not able to play in this match, one that would be stronger than either team. With many players wanting to play in the remaining fixtures we are hoping to arrange two more away fixtures in September so that they all can get a game. 

The club is in a healthy position. We cannot rest on our laurels, keeping the club healthy will take input on and off the field. The AGM is looming on the horizon with some committee members looking to stand down from their responsibilities. Please consider if you have the appropriate skills, time and enthusiasm to lend a hand.

Also on the horizon are the club dinner, to be held in the pavilion at the end September and the golf day. The dinner is likely to be oversubscribed, look out for details which will be coming soon. 

The last formal event of the day was the drawing of the winners of the fifty club. The profits from this draw will be split between charity donations and club development, details of the charity donation will be announced shortly.  Fittingly on such a great day for the club the first and second prizes were won by two of the best known supporters of the club, George Lamb and Georgina Lamb. Third prize was claimed by Andrew Fulljames. Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to the unlucky losers and thank you for your support.

Tim R