Match Report

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Many a man has finally succeeded only because he has failed after repeated efforts. If he had never met defeat he would never have known any great victory

Orison Swett Marden

Today Middleton Stoney met defeat, beaten by a side who bowled, batted and fielded to a higher standard than us. Comfort came in finding that victory had been achieved by the travelling MSCC XI at Aston Tirrold.  

One thing that we did win was the toss. With good weather forecast and a pitch which promised turn MSCC chose to bat first. Harry Way and Tim Riley walked out to open to find the very Colleymore, a post graduate student of Wind Turbine engineering, with ball in hand. Young and lithe he generated a lively pace bowling left arm over. Harry crunched into a full toss guiding the ball to the cover boundary but let the rest or the deliveries pass by the off stump.

Tim hit his first ball through the hands of gulley for 4 and after two overs Middleton were ten for no wicket at a scoring rate of 5 per over. Colleymore bowled three consecutive maidens, Cowel as the other end was just as tight, it took another ten overs to double the score, and that courtesy of four byes. The fielding was sharp, the good shots being smothered by the close fielders, batting looked hard.

The openers seen off Tim and Harry prepared to feast on the change bowlers. Spinner Wills saw Harry sweep his first ball to the square leg boundary, and then from the first ball of his next over, Tim reverse swept for four. Gypsies captain Richard Beer found movement in the air and off the wicket. Tim edged a wide half volley to slip, but the chance was spilt. Beer took revenge in his next over when Tim chopped the ball into the ground and then slowly back into the stumps. 

46 – 1 was a fair start, Harry was looking in good touch and new bat Jay Mumtaz found the middle of the bat from his first ball, the bowlers stumps standing in the way of a crisp straight drive.  Beer rested himself after 5 tidy overs, the home team were well placed to accelerate and set a challenging total. It was not to be. A succession of Batsmen mistimed aggressive shots to be caught, Harry hit three fours in a over and was then duped into hitting a slower ball into the hands of deep mid on, Jay and last week’s centurion John Springer hit drives to fielders at cover and mid off. Guest for the day, Rupert was bowled first ball by a quicker delivery that took everyone by surprise and Middleton had slumped to 77 – 5.

Tim House and Rupert’s father, Billy set about rebuilding. Tim survived an appeal for LBW that the Gypsies were convinced was out, umpire Williams was resolute in his not out, although his finger twitched behind his back. Tim was not so lucky at the other end when he was beaten on the back foot by a turning off break and he had to go. 

Billy spanked a four to square leg, and another powerfully through mid off but he ran out of partners as Simmo departed for 3, LBW and Jason Williams, Sam Norley and Seril Shah all departed for ducks to the slow bowling of Courtney all beaten by lack of pace. (At least Jason hit his!)

109 never felt like a challenging total, the majority of the visiting team had demonstrated in the field that they were cricketers of a accomplished ability. Tea was provided by Messrs House, (Sandwiches) and Springer (Cakes). As there was no rush, time was taken to enjoy the crustless fancies, the Simnel cake and orange sponge. All were demolished, many of the Gypsies still eating as the second innings began.

Spin was the most likely chance of winning the game. The faster bowlers, Sam and Rupert duly bowled three overs apiece before being replaced by Simmo and Billy. Sam picked up a wicket caught and bowled to most players surprise. It appeared to be a bump ball, but the square leg umpire had no doubt. Rupert swung the ball, but drifted a little too much toward the leg side. 

Simmo teased with some loopy off breaks, while Billy did manage to spin a couple past the outside edge, one almost settling in the gloves of John Springer from a thick edge.

Middleton would need to take any chance that came their way to provided a good contest. Sadly any further chances that came, were spilt. The Gypsies cruised home in just 20 overs, to be deserved winners. So early was the finish that the regular supporters were still en route! Pleasentries were exchanged at the end of the match as the BBQ was fired up. Many thanks again to Rona who arrived just in time and to Seril for running the bar. It was such an early finish that by the time the Lambs rolled up, most of the players had drunk up and gone home, at least they had Simmo to keep them company.