MBCC Sunday XI v David Smarts XI 2nd August 2015

M&B completed their first Sunday game for four weeks, on a delightful summer's day, with a last ball victory against old foes Dave Smart's X1. Having lost the toss M & B were asked to bowl. Smarts X1got off to fast start posting 30 in the first 5 overs. Alkesh Vaja though, bowling with serious wheels, pegged the scoring bat and had the dangerous Corby caught behind by Dixon in the 9th over. This though brought to the wicket Vainker, who in conjunction with Cross posted 63 or the 2nd wicket, mainly off ill disciplined bowling from first change bowlers, Armstrong and Qureshi. Luckily for M & B though Vainker drilled a lofted drive off Qureshi to Will Western-Kaye, who managed to hold on at short extra cover. In the very next over, Squirrel's(GT)first, he managed to induce an edge from Cross which was brilliantly snaffled by Alex Hess at first slip to leave Smart's X1 100 for 3 after 20 overs. From that moment on one got the sense that M & B could keep the Smart X1 scoring in check, as GT and the rarely used flighted filth of Hess quickly rattled through the overs with not too many boundaries scored. Squirrel ended with figures of 8/0/38/2 and Hess surprisingly good figures of 6/0/30/2. The principal scorer at the end for the Smarties was left hander Dixon, who played on or two lovely drives, including a superb lofted cover drive off Vaja for six, landed in the practice nets. Skipper James Bowler grabbed two scalps at the end, which could have ben three, if Squirrel had taken a regulation catch at deep mid-off, instead of letting it slip through his hands and go for 4. Vaja finished with deserved figures of 8/1/29/1 as Smart's X1 finished on 219 for 8 off their 40 overs. The M&B fielders left the field pleased with their efforts on a hot afternoon and fast outfield, considering at one stage the Smarties were 98 for 1 in the 18th over. Squirrel was forced to do a lap of the ground, which the tyrannical Bowler insisted upon as penance for the dropped catch.

Although 220 was an obtainable target a few 50's would be required. Openers Hess and Brian Dixon posted 22 for the first wicket before Dixon was cleaned bowled, claiming he couldn't see the ball as it was too dark! He did play the obligatory dab to third man for 4 though, before departing. Hess kept the board ticking with drives and whips through the leg side. Yusuf Qureshi did well to score 12, having not picked up a bat for two months before his impetuosity got the better of him. Quershi's demise brought colt Duncan Brown to the wicket, who went on to play probably his best innings for the club. Although slow at the start he played himself in as Hess did the bulk of the scoring, before unfurling a number of cover drives and pull shots. Hess in the meantime became more punishing smashing three 6's by way of lofted drives into the net. Spinner Smith exacted his revenge though as he was caught behind for an excellent 69 in 24 overs, which included 7 4's and 3 6's . The third wicket partnership added a crucial 75 in 11 overs. No.5 William Western-Kaye continued his recent fine form as he helped Brown form another crucial partnership. Just as Brown completed his 50 he played an uncharacteristic swish across the line at Smarties gun bowler, Timothy Smart, and was castled. It was a shame Brown couldn't see his innings through but he received a richly deserved round of applause for his round 50, which contained 7 4's and lasted 19 overs. By now opposing captain Smart had brought himself on to bowl the remaining 7 overs from the River End, which made scoring runs difficult, so difficult that Western- Kaye and Vaja lost their wickets, to effectively leave the ultimate battle, captain to captain. It was down to James Bowler to try and hog most of the strike and score all the runs!

Eventually the equation boiled down to ten off the last over, bowled by Smart. GT took a quick single off the first and Bowler took a comfortable single off the second. GT missed the third delivery but Bowler ran through for a bye as the keeper missed a simple run out(easier to simply carry ball to stumps than attempt a throw). So 7 were then needed off three and then a more simple task of three off two as Bowler muscled the ball to the wide mid-on boundary for four. The fifth ball was flicked through midwicket for two to leave the scores level. Presumably Smart went for the Yorker for the final delivery which ended up as a full toss which was gleefully smashed over deep square into the bushes for a final ball victory, leaving the victorious skipper Bowler on 27 no. A quick return on his new £240 Salix bat(a reward for his graduation). A great game of cricket on a glorious sunny day.