Match Report

Anirudh’s Audacious Assault on Aston Tirrold

MSCC fielded a second team for the second week in a row as the clubs playing depth goes from strength to strength. Anirudh made it a memorable day, away at new opponents Aston Tirrold scoring the clubs second century in as many weeks (read about Jon’s last week here). 

Matt Carpenter, captaining the team lost the toss and we were asked to bat first. Matt was relieved we got started as he arrived early before the gates had been unlocked and had started to fret. His mood didn’t improve as we quickly succumbed to 20 something for three and then 40 something for 4. Mark Ford-Langstaff had looked good for a solid 20 before feathering a well-taken catch to the keeper. Matt Dipple in the unaccustomed role of opener offered up a friendly catch and returned before Mark had his pads off. Matt C at number 3, hit 4 and departed within 5 minutes. Here he is trudging off looking really happy about the fact.

Ali Meier strolled in and out without troubling the scorers (thank you to Aston Tirrold for doing this so well). In fairness, it was a very well held catch at slip.

The rebuilding required was now down to Ahmad and Anirudh. Ahmad, technically correct rotated the strike, hitting the gaps and looking in control at all times. Anirudh played in stark contrast. Words such as biffing, bullying and battering could equally apply as he went fully on the attack, finding the boundary with ease. Only once was his wicket under threat as he entered the eighties, the ball going hard, flat and through the fielders hands for six. The century followed soon afterwards. It was Anirudh’s first for the club, we’d be surprised if it were his last and it will probably be one of his most important considering the state of the game when he started his innings.

Ahmad had contributed a very important 37 to the partnership before mistiming a shot and getting caught. Anirudh fell soon after, again caught for 106.

Arvind, Shaan and Paul Wordsworth took us to the 35 over mark scoring 3, 16 and 9 and taking us to 223 for 7.

Tea was magnificent and a big thank you to our hosts who provided more sandwiches and cakes than we could manage. Some achievement! 

Hamid, who leads the way in wickets taken this season (just ahead of son Ahmad) opened the bowling in partnership with Paul Wordsworth. Aston were quickly in trouble as Hamid bowled both openers for not many. Late swing accounted for both as he found a lovely line and length.

A word at this point about the pitch and ground. Surrounded by trees with a playground in one corner and a football pitch slightly overlapping the boundary at one end, the pavillion is modern and sits next to a table tennis table and basketball court. I’m sure a lot of hard work went into securing these facilities for the villages of Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe. It has character too, with a gentle but noticeable slope meaning the bowlers deliver either uphill or downhill. Maybe the resultant bounce accounts for our loss of early wickets (but probably not!). It’s certainly an enjoyable spot to play Sunday Cricket.

Shaan and Arvind were trusted as our change bowlers after the initial breakthroughs and stranglehold applied by Hamid and Paul. A period of attrition ensued as the run rate slowly increased as the batsmen clawed their side back into the game. Number four (Clark) did particularly well having not played for some years. He scored 82 having taken two wickets and two good catches earlier but Matt C pushed for victory and brought Ahmad into the attack. He took two quick wickets including Clark for only two runs, whilst Matt Dipple, bowling off-spin also took a wicket at the other end. Our total was looking imposing and Shaan got the next breakthrough with Ali taking a catch. 

Overs were running out as Ali turned his arm over eventually finding his length and a wicket. Aston were left 74 runs short as we won at a canter. Matt C smiled. He’ll be delighted that I didn’t mention his dropped catch (knocking it out of Mark’s expectant hands at first slip) and how one went through his legs and hit the helmet for five penalty runs. Maybe there was something in the air?

Thank you to Aston Tirrold for helping us find a second fixture for the club this weekend and we hope to see you again.

Mark FL