Match Report

Mark returns to form 

It is a rare day when all 11 Middleton Stoney CC players are on the ground with half an hour to spare.  For this game not only had all arrived in good time, but Ahmad had helped remark the creases, Hamidullah manned the roller and Ben Merrtitt trundled around decapitating buttercups on the mower. Seril was busy restocking the bar, Matt Carpenter opened the scorebox and John Springer was ensuring the the urn was filled and boiled a good three hours before the tea break.

All that was missing was the opposition. Only one player had made it in time for the 1.30 start, the others en route from Brighton had been ensnarled on the M25, some of them nursing severe hangovers from the a second consecutive night on tour. The West Wycombe tour is notable for including Middleton Park on its Sussex itinerary a geographical quirk of planning. 

Just after 2 the cars started rolling in and the toss was made. The Captain’s agreed that a match of 36 overs a side would best in the time left. West Wycombe won the toss, chose to bat and sent Mssrs. Tricroft and Lloyd to the crease, now dry after the extra paint applied by Ahmad had a chance to soak in! Hamidullah and Ben Merritt took the new ball. The first six overs include four that were maiden, with runs coming at a trickle.  Lloyd was particularly patient, scoring runs at a sepulchral rate. 

In his fourth over Hamidullah found an outside edge, Matt C taking the catch behind the stumps. He struck again in his fifth over, Irfan LBW playing no shot. The attatched video captured the moment for posterity. Hamidullah completed a fine opening spell of six overs, 2 – 6. A spell completed without bowling a ball to the left handed Lloyd.  Ben was wicketless in his five overs, conceding only five runs.

Shaan Singh, fresh from his three wickets against the Captain’s XI last wicket and Seril Shah took over the bowling duties. While runs now came a little quicker, number 4 Ranzan showed some positivity, it still seemed unlikely that the visitors would reach three figures.  A loose over from Shaan changed that perspective with 16 runs added to the total.  Stung Shaan responded with the first ball of his next over having Ranzan caught by a tumbling Matt Bazeley at cover. New batsman Azan took a liking to Seril’s sixth and seven overs, rather spoiling his bowling figures before the captain turned to youth and experience to finish the innings. Simmo, (the experienced one of the pair) dismissed the obdurate Lloyd with a ball that turned and bounced. Ahmad, took care of Azan.

West Wycombe’s strongest batting pair, Lucas and Jones were also the most hungover and had been held back for the last quarter of the innings. The most entertaining spell of cricket of the afternoon now unfolded as the partnership added 50 while Simmo teased by throwing the ball up and Ahmad probed with his extra pace.  Jones played a series of powerul shots, mostly through mid on, some just escaping the fielders. With three overs to go smart fielding from Ben on the Mid wicket boundary ran out Lucas. Jones fell to Ahmad for 35, Tim taking an easy catch at extra cover. Simmo wrapped the innings with a second and third wicket to finish with 3 – 33. West Wycombe had recovered from the slowest of starts to a creditable 150 – 9 at the end of the innings. 

The urn had boiled in ample time. John Springer’s delivery service had arrived with sandwiches, home made cakes, (coffee and walnut was particularly tasty) and a lovely variety of frest fruit. As the players ate the skipper deliberated over the batting order. As usual most of the team, given the choice would have said, “I’ll take number 5 please” .  Mark Ford Langstaff, although painfully short of runs and form accepted the offer of opening with Tim.  He was glad he did so as the ravages of touring and a long journey were clear.  West Wycombe had assumed that their no 11 bat was actually playing. That he instead chose to umpire was appreciated by the batting team more than the fielders. The opening bowlers trudged to mark out thier run ups.

Needing four and over Mark and Tim found the bowling very friendly. Boundaries were frequent, wides were gifted and in no time fifty had been chalked . Mark began to grow in cofidence playing some trade mark cuts and off drives. On reaching his own half century, Tim retired hurt, nursing a strained gluteal muscle. Matt Bazeley, came in ready to finish the game, while Mark in turn passed 50.

Mark nudged, nurdled and walloped his way to 64 not out. Matt fell for 12, the only wicket of the innings, when he hit a full toss to mid off. Ben Merritt finished the job with a rapid 14 not out including 3 boundaries. Rona was back in station on the barbeque, chillies, onions and relishes on hand to add to the flavour. Andrew and Seril ensured that drinks were served and match fees collected. Once again many thanks to Chris our scorer. As the August sun set into September the last men standing were Simmo, red wind in hand and West Wycombe’s umpire. He is also Chairman of The Stage CC it is anyone’s  guess who has the largests store of cricketing yarns to spin.