Match Report

A good day for MSCC. 

A good weekend for Simmo

The first Cricket Match in Middleton Park took place in 1801. It has taken 224 years for a match to take place in which the result was part of a competition. (I state this confidently but am happy to be proved wrong). This season we are taking part in a mini league featuring sides who play most of their games as Sunday afternoon friendlies. There are 8 teams divided into 2 divisions. Each team plays 3 qualifying games and then plays off with the equivalent team in the other divisions. Our first match was against Appleton, a team from the Abingdon area.

The game was scheduled for a 1.30 start, Appleton were bright and early, MSCC, many thinking it was a 2.00 pm start, were tardy. Stand in skipper, Paul Wordsworth, won the toss and decided that his only option was to bat first.  The first five overs of the innings proved unremarkable, Middleton reached 11 without loss with Stevyn Jackson partnering Anirudh Sharma. 

At the end of the next five the score board was barely able to keep up as Anirudh launched an onslaught. The ball disappeared to all parts, forlornly chased by the Appleton players deep into the undergrowth. The score ticked past 60 and Anirudh had his half century. Changing the bowler brought the fielding side no relief, some wayward bowling was dispatched mercilessly. A glimmer of hope came when Stevyn was dismissed LBW for 4.

Matt Bazeley joined in the fun, supporting Anirudh towards his century. As drinks were taken, the umpire checked with the scorer to find out how close he was to three figures. “He is on 117” the scorer replied. Anirudh gracefully retired after one more over with a final contribution of 124; including 2 sixes, and 24 fours. He also managed 16 singles.

James Lyon missed out by missing a straight delivery as Matt was joined by Ali Meier. Matt took over the aggressive role while Ali supported picking up singles and twos. Matt played an elegant shot back over the bowlers head for six, and reached his own fifty with his second maximum. He then picked out the pick of the Appleton fielders who held a regulation catch on the boundary. Handily he now had time to put on the urn and put out the food as it was his turn on tea provision.

Ahmad carried on the assault on the Appleton Attack, he and Ali adding a further 50 runs to the total in the last 10 overs. Appleton lost a player to a hamsting injury in the middle of an over. James volunteered to field as a replacement, Appleton were grateful to have him as he saved a hatful of runs as Ahmad picked him out with relentless accuracy. Both batsmen finished on 31 not out, a personal best for the club from Ali. Ali scored no boundaries, but did outscore Anirudh in terms of numbers of singles, doubles and triples!

Tea, featuring salami and olives, was enjoyed by all. Matt’s work included sandwiches of the less dainty but tasty and filling kind, his coronation chicken being much admired. If you haven’t signed up for a tea duty yet, there are still spaces available here. 

Father and son opening bowlers is less common than the batting equivalent. This week we were honoured to have Hamidullah opening with Ahmad. Having fired his first two deliveries down the leg side, Hamidullah’s radar adjusted and for the second week running he struck in his first over. Appleton’s opener dismissed for a duck, LBW. The second pair were challenged at first but gradually grew in confidence and began to play some aggressive shots, back past the bowler and through square leg.

Ahmad did not take kindly to being hit for four, bent his back, got the ball to lift and leave the batsman, the keeper taking the catch above his right shoulder to leave Appleton 22 – 2. Showing that he too was upset at going for a boundary, Hamidullah had Gilkes, who looked the best of the Appleton batters smartly caught at second slip by Anirudh. When Jones was beaten by a “nip backer” from Hamidullah and Timmins was caught at full stretch by Matt B at first slip from Ahmad’s next over Appleton looked doomed.

Only Lamdin, the second opening batsman threatened the home total. He observed the carnage from the safety of the other end, glad when the father and son duo were rested after 10 overs. Runs had come at the required rate but six wickets had fallen.

Seril Shah and James Lyon were the change bowlers. One bowled supremely well beating the bat four or five times an over, the other happily took the wickets. It was Seril whose luck was in. The last ball of his second over induced a poor shot from Lamdin. The ball looped up towards three waiting slip fielders, all of whom allowed the keeper to step in to take the catch.

Visiting skipper, Wayne Geller, came in with a determined look on his face, he was joined by Botham. Geller defended valiantly against James. He left well and managed to miss the edge when the ball moved. Botham hit a crisp boundary from a Shah long hop and began to believe in himself. The sun shone warmly on the players, who were having a jolly time in the spring sunshine but the spectators were feeling the chill in the shade of the trees and the pavilion. The warmth of the barbeque firing up attracted a grateful huddle.

Seril succeeded where James had not, encouraged by the skipper to bowl wide of the off stump, he did so and persuaded Geller to edge into the keeper’s waiting gloves. Botham took advantage of some friendly deliveries from Shaan and Paul as both came on to seek a wicket. Shaan kept the ball well wide off the off stump. He needed to do so as he only had one fielder on  the leg side. Number 9  Kay was the fall guy to Shaans’ plan, his 12th delivery was straight, Kay was bemused and played no shot, the umpire had no doubt.

With one man down, the visitors were invited to select a player to bat twice. Seril switched ends. In no time he had picked up the last two wickets. Gilkes snr, a player senior enough to be born before Paul, was cheered from the boundary for every shot, but lasted only a few cheers before edging to the keeper. Timmins was the batsman to bat twice, he was hoping to do better than his first go when he was out for a second ball duck. Seril bowled, Timmins wafted and for the fourth time the keeper took a catch from Seril’s deadly bowling.

There were some notable performances, Anirudh’s rapid century, Matt’s half century, Seril’s four wickets and Tim’s five catches but overall it was a good team performance that won the day. Appleton were in good cheer despite defeat, and set a club record by buying 10 barbecue tokens in one go. Rona did sterling work, (I think she was enjoying the warmth) feeding the hungry and Seril and Andrew kept the thirsty refreshed. Once again Chris kept score immaculately. 

Oh… and if you missed it, as he was reluctant to let anyone know, Simmo became National Tench Fishing Champion. Its good, but its not the same as scoring a century in 20 overs.

Tim Riley