MBCC First XI V's Datchet 2/08/2008

On Saturday we played 3rd place Datchet. Datchet won the toss and chose to bat, which, on an overcast day and with a slow outfield due to rain was a very welcome decision by the Bray skipper! Bray got off to the best possible start when Coyne dismissed the Datchet Captain Nick Tilley for 0 with a run out on the third ball of his over. Aldiss then came to the crease and as the man in form Bray needed to get him early. Rather frustratingly though the players were ordered off the field before he could face a ball as the rain began to fall. After a half an hour delay and the loss of 2 overs in the match, we resumed play. After pulling a short ball from Coyne (5-60) for 4 the danger man was caught out on his favourite shot, the straight drive. He forced a full length right down long offs throat which paid homage to the tactics of putting men out from ball one. Coyne claimed his second wicket the very next ball with a LBW and Datchet were in Real trouble at 17/3. A mini partnership began but was soon broken and Bray seemed to have the better of Datchet at this point. At around 70/6 Datchet looked like they were going to struggle to reach a hundred! It took a good partnership to get them over that mark and secure them at least a couple of points. Valambhia came into the attack and ended said partnership which allowed Lambert to the crease at Number 9. He played an interestingly, uncharacteristic but effective innings of 50 runs to put his side back in the match. Bray struggled to bowl the visitors out but eventually did so after 45.5 overs for a score of 192.

Bray got off to the worst possible start (even worse than the start they had inflicted on the Oppo) The early fall of Gully Khan put Bray's tally at 1/1. Danger man Bashir then strolled to the crease and, having scored a stack of runs this season, kept Bray's confidence alive. Sadly though lambert got him with a peach of a delivery that snicked the edge and carried through to first slip. Bray, now 1 - 2 wickets were severely on the back foot. Karen Kumar who, last week, played a masterful innings came to the crease. At 15 years old he is the youngest member of the side but he batted with extreme confidence and maturity. Together with Chris Kennedy (71) they built a partnership of 70 runs before Kumar had to retire hurt (a decision that later lead to much controversy) Faisal Choudhary then came to the crease and made a valid contribution to the total being given out LBW. Bray were now 4 down but looking comfortable to reach their target only needing 50 runs. Vishal Arjan was the next to the crease. He went soon without really troubling the scorers bringing Karen Kumar back to the crease after having treatment for his illness. It was then when the umpires got together and said that he may not return to the field as he did not declare himself injured when he retired so the assumption was that he was retired out! A controversial blow to Maidenhead and Bray. Bray, having suddenly jumped to seven down but gladly for skipper Coyne, lost no more wickets and Hewitt (28*) and Ramzan finished the innings off in spectacular style and gave Bray an extremely satisfying win over the side that are no longer the best team in the league.