Match Report

Bowlers have the upper hand

MSCC are sponsored by NOLAN OIL AND NOLAN GAS.

Chapter 1.  Before the game

After all the weeks of dry hot weather enough rain fell during the week for the square to be soaked and for some colour to return to the outfield. More rain was forecast on the evening before and on the day of the game. Therefore the covers were put on overnight, with early bird Paul Wordsworth removing them on Sunday morning. The pitch was damp and had been rolled flat. All was well until Simmo, dry-stone walling in his garden observed that his head was getting wet. A short sharp and localised shower deluged Middleton Stoney. 

A small party was assembled to assess the damage. Fortunately the shower was not too long and the pitch, after a cut and a roll, thanks Matt Dipple was iridescent green but perfectly playable.. Phone messages were sent to the Invalids that the game was on and the sun was shining. Immediately after the message was sent the clouds rolled back in and the covers were put back on. 

Chapter 2  The game begins.

The Invalids are long standing visitors and many were the familiar faces who rolled into Middleton Park.  Visiting skipper Richard Steel being one of them.  Whoever won the toss would choose to bowl first, both teams having strong bowling attacks. The Invalids called correctly and chose to bowl, and then realised that they would be handicapped as they only had 9 men. The threat of a further shower passed by. Middleton offered two fielders and the game began with James Lyon and Mark Ford-Langstaff not refusing the offer to open the batting. 

Mark Williamson and Abdul took the new ball. Both have bowled many overs against us and caused problems in the past. Mark Ford-Langstaff almost fell for a duck, but was relieved when extra cover spilled a regulation catch. For 9 overs Mark and James battled against the moving ball. What runs were scored were hard earned, James guiding through backward point and Mark seeking the full delivery for his off drive.

The game took a dramatic turn in the 10th over.  James feathered an edge through to the keeper from the fourth ball  of Abdul’s over. New batsman Matt Bazeley then was beaten by a first class delivery that swung in late and left him helpless. Having left the field as sub fielder two balls before, Olly Ross was the new man in. He just about had time to strap on his pads before he was facing a hat trick ball. He survived jabbing down on an awkward ball that came in to him.

Ali Meier having come on to the field to replace Olly at square leg, now left the field to put on his own pads. It was just as  well he did. Mark had faced most of Willamson’s bowling. Most had hit the seam and moved away. The first ball of his next over did not move away, it seamed in. Mark became the third wicket to fall with the score on 18, his wicket shattered. Josh Bazeley, son of Matt was next and hoping to restore some family pride. This time he could only match his father’s performance as he became Williamson’s second victim to a ball that cut back sharply. For the second time in five deliveries a bowler was on an hat trick. Ali came out to face it. He kept it out and saw off the over to the end.

Chapter 3   Olly becomes an Invalid.

To Middleton’s surprise and relief the Invalid’s took off both opening bowlers. From the Church End, Tim Peters, an over 60 International bowler bowled with less pace but just as much accuracy and guile. Olly and and Ali knuckled down to restore some respectability to the Middleton total. Twice Tim R sub fielding at cover prevented boundary bound shots from passing him and then Matt Bazeley had no option but to hold on the chance offered by Ali To leave Middleton five wickets down.  Thinking they were doing too well, the Invalids refused offers of further fielding support and decided 9 men were ample.

Howard proved to be the first to stay with Olly. First they saw off Peters and then began to take more scoring opportunities from the change bowlers.  Olly began to play more expansively, one pick up shot flying well clear of the boundary for the first 6 of the innings. The worst of the damage had been eliminated when Olly reached his half century just before Howard played his first false shot to be caught at square leg.  Ahmad was next in and was soon pushing the running, making Olly hurry for second runs. Olly responded by hitting the ball directly to the boundary, six of his next scoring shots being boundaries.

One second run call proved too  much for Olly, who on bustling to make his ground, dropped his bat and clutched the back of his leg. He battled on for an over but it was clear that the strain was too severe and that he should be invalided off. Tim and Ahmad pushed the score along, with only Roberts, another lively seam bowler, able to contain the scoring. The ball still moved around. Ahmad was bowled by a delivery as good as the one that beat the Bazeley’s earlier. Matt Dipple enjoyed a cameo, with one  square cut a shot he will remember with pride taking the score past 150.  Tim was bowled for 17 with the interval moments away, and Hamidullah was well taken at slip to complete the innings.

Chapter 4  On Come the covers.

Olly’s tea beckoned the hungry players, the shiny new mugs were awaiting the players but the incoming dark cloud delayed the feast as both teams assisted in putting the covers on. The shower was a light one with no damage done, behind the clouds were bright blue skies. The teams were in sunny moods enjoying their refreshments. The Invalids thought a good job had been done, restricting the total to 154, MSCC thought a good job had been done, getting the total to 154.  Hoping to fill his plate a second time, Matt Dipple asked who was opening the bowling, told it was him he declined a refill.

Gilmour and Roberts were first to bat for the visitors. Matt D and Hamidullah had the ball, with expectations of exaggerated movement from the start. Gilmour and Roberts proved a match and were soon taking the initiative as both bowlers over pitched. A breeze had got up, aiding the bowler from the Church end, but nightmare for the Farm end operator.  Hamidullah should have taken the first wicket, finding the outside edge of Roberts only to see the ball roll out of the keepers right hand.

Chapter 5 A second good start for the Invalids.

Sensible batting, good balls defended, half volleys and full tosses dispatched put the Invalids in a very strong position. Matt was happy to be offered a later spell with the wind behind after just 4 overs, so strong had been the wind in his face. James Lyon took his place. James did not start well, his first ball way off target, the next nearly the same, with extras 16 came from it.  His face like thunder he stomped off to mid on.  Hamidullah induced a false stroke from Gilmour, James was there at mid on, his countenance now less furrowed. Hamidullah bowled his next delivery full and straight, an appeal, a raised finger and he became the third bowler of the day to be on a hat trick. It was a worthy hat trick ball, homing in on middle and off, but the batsman was in line and safely defended.  It seemed apposite that he took his wicket now as it was the 200th over Hamidullah has bowled for Middleton this season, 

Chapter 6  Middleton strike back

Encouraged by his catch, James found his length and line. That length and line gave him help as the ball started to bite in the drying surface. He had Abdul LBW without scoring and then picked up the vital wicket of Roberts. The slightest of nicks from a bottom edge taken by the keeper standing up.  Ahmad replaced Hamidullah with the Invalids now struggling at 61 for four, but effectively 61 – 6 as they were two batsmen short. Captain Steele looked to hit his way to victory, three times edging past keeper and slips for boundaries but by now the ball was doing exactly what the bowlers told it, moving just enough and in both directions. James finished his seven over spell having conceded only 10 more runs, Ahmad switched ends and Matt returned with the wind at his back. The final 20 overs were called with Middleton well on top. 

Ahmad picked up wickets five and six. Steele could only carve the ball to James at extra cover. James, be capped and be sunglassed had no issue with the low sun shining straight at him while the faster straighter delivery was too good for Andy Peters batting at number 7.

Standing firm for the Invalids were Manifold, the keeper, and Williamson as capable with the bat as the ball. The target was not out of reach if the batsman could avoid dismissal. The bowlers were ruthless. Manifold was undone by a superb delivery from Matt Dipple. Fractionally short it cut back sharply to hit the top of middle stump. Last man Tim Peters played out the rest of the over with the authority of man who knew how to defend for for an hour to save the game. Three wickets had fallen with the score becalmed on 83. Ahmad bowled a maiden to Williamson giving Dipple the chance finish the innings. It took one more straight delivery.

The Invalids were generous in defeat, and partook cheerfully in barbeque and beers. Many thanks to Simmo for the bbq and for Ali and Howard for running the bar.  We all missed the presence of Andrew Hickman and wish him and Rona well for a speedy recovery following his recent illness.