Match Report

As August draws to a close inevitably thoughts start to turn to the long winter nights ahead and memories of pleasant summer afternoons spent on the picturesque playing field of Middleton Park.

Only a few games to go – so each one that much more sought after by the paying membership. Apparently, no places left for the last game of the season now. So in the lead up to this game how potentially distressing to learn that our scheduled opponents were unable to raise a team (even with Heaven’s Help!). Fortunately, MSCC are blessed with an ever vigilant and dedicated team secretary and in next to no time at all MF-L had lined up a substitute. In the event today’s opposition proved the perfect match, for West Wycombe have the same ethos – Sunday cricket, ideally time-limited and fun for all.

Yet another bright fine day with the Park looking splendid despite the arid summer months and stand-in skipper for the day Willy won the toss and sent in father and son Ford-Langstaff’s to open proceedings. Honour was preserved with a family average of 24.5 but unfortunately only 4 of these to the older version as Mark departed the crease bowled by the deceptive swing of Wagner (incidentally of a rather gentler pace then the New Zealand version). Jacob (45) occasionally teased the Wycombe fielders with his sublime judgement of how to keep the ball just out of reach but with some well-timed blows and increasing elegance kept the score ticking along nicely with his new partner John Floyd (33). Isn’t it annoying how some players seem to be able to play with a fluency that eludes so many of us even when they haven’t played for months! The leg glance was John’s banker, but he struck out with increasing power as his innings progressed and it was a surprise when he fell to a slip catch as the score neared 100.

Max Langdale contributed a brisk 20 showing promising signs of batsmanship that Stevyn Jackson (18) at the other end was at times roused to attempt to match. One sweep struck with improbable sweetness brought the home bench to its feet in acclaim. Alas, Howard Lancaster (7) could not quite produce the Joss Buttler innings that he had hoped for and it was left to the batting brutes Jamie Lumb (23*) and George Williams (38) to plunder the last few overs heavily with a number of blows of Neanderthal severity allowing a relatively early declaration at 194 for 6. Not a bad score against an attack that had a little help from the pitch and in conditions where the ball swung throughout the innings. Ibra (9.5-1-43-2) was probably the pick of the bowlers but his cause was certainly not helped by the plethora of catches that went down. Despite an otherwise tidy display the poor old WW keeper did not have his catching gloves on today.

So after another fabulous tea provided by the Floyd team it was time to bowl. M F-L opened up as if he had never been away with mainly impeccable length and line (after a few sighters in the first over) but never got the wickets his efforts deserved and was particularly unlucky with one catch going down. In contrast, Floyd’s left arm in-swingers got their reward in a first over wicket maiden although that was the last wicket of a miserly spell of 8-2-25-1. Seril Shah came on at the Road End (we haven’t yet got round to naming it after any former or current players for fear that Simmo might claim that honour) and kept the scoring rate down for an improbably number of overs until Leach decided that enough was enough and plundered 28 from the last two (“I think I’ve been found out” were Seril’s immortal words).

That left things pretty much as planned for the last 20 overs with the opposition needing 100 and the wiles of Jason Williams’ leg spin still to be unleashed. The problem was that we had only taken one wicket and there were two batsmen who were well set.

Enter Williams (Senior) and what a day he had. First, a run out with a dead eye underarm to get rid of Leach for 56 and then a run of 5 wickets for only 15 runs from 10 overs to take us to the brink of victory, and a catch off Wordsworth’s bowing at mid-off. A performance that truly earned a place on the Honours Board. Two excellent catches from Max and Seril off well struck blows and another run out from Ford-Langstaff Junior and Lumb combo, but the man of the match was Jason without a shadow of a doubt. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the hostile Williams (Junior) we couldn’t get the last wicket despite having a couple of overs at the last pair leaving our worthy opponents 38 runs adrift and nine wickets down. A really enjoyable day for all except Stevyn’s knee, which has clearly seen better days and many thanks to our oppo for filling in and travelling over the Bank Holiday at short notice. We hope we shall see them again either in Middleton or at West Wycombe.

Thanks to Simmo for cheering us on and cooking for us on the BBQ, Andrew for helping with the tea and behind the bar and Richard for his umpiring (with some help from Gus Floyd) plus Chris of course, our excellent scorer. Much appreciated as always.

Paul Wordsworth