MBCC Sunday XI v Gentleman of Hampstead

The M & B Sunday X1 reacquainted themselves with the hallowed turf of Bray after a four week sabbatical. On a glorious June afternoon with no wind, skipper Armstrong envisaged three hours hard labour ball chasing, after the visiting skipper called correctly. Fear not as the opposition inserted Bray!

Openers Alex Hess, making his Sunday debut, and farmer William Western-Kaye were delighted to pad up, even though both were chronically out of form. Hess decided to take the attack to the more friendly Sunday opening bowlers and hit out from ball one. After taking 7 off the first over and batting a yard out of his crease to face the new bowler, Hess promptly played a text book forward defensive and played the ball back obligingly into the bowler's hands, who promptly dropped a sitter ! Hess therefore continued on his merry way and blasted 39 out of an opening stand of 42 in 9 overs. One notable lofted drive over mid- off went sailing for 6, before he was caught at extra cover playing another expansive drive. Western- Kaye took the other option of crease occupation as he scored 14 in 13 overs, hopefully benefitting from the time at the crease. This left the stage clear for supreme under achiever Yusuf Qureshi to strut his stuff. A beautifully crafted 21 was ruined by a moment of madness as he played a wild scythe across a straight ball and was bowled middle stump(obviously a train to catch or a bowl of chips to buy!).New player Arun Nibar impressed on his Sunday debut playing authentic shots all round the wicket, especially strong on the drive, as he added 46 with Sunday stalwart, Atif Amin., until he was caught in the covers for a well crafted 37. Skipper Armstrong was hoping the lower middle order and the tail could bat out the overs and post 225 +, which his what happened. Dependable Mr Giri obliged as always hitting 36, with his powerful drives and leg-side game, before he was surprisingly caught out, with another 50 beckoning. As he walked back he admitted he got out due to fatigue(smoke less, shave and get in the gym Mr Giri!). Bowlers, Callum Phillips, Thomas Allen & Gunbarul all performed with the bat and ran well between the wickets as M & B finished with 243 for 8, which was aided by 35 extras, which included a massive 24 wides. Bell & Tyler were the principal wickets takers for the Gentlemen of Hampstead.

As always Gunbarul and Phillips were entrusted with the new nut. Phillips couldn't control his out swing early on bowling 3 wides with his first three deliveries(Callum if your stock delivery is an away swinger and you then bowl with the Malinga round arm it's going to go wide, get your arm up laddie!)before he found his line and beat the bat continuously on the outside. As always Gunbarul was a handful with his bounce and angle. That said the Gents batsmen posted 40 for the first wicket, before Gunbarul reverted to the more conventional over the wicket and bowled opener Sudeep off stump. Skipper Lewis remained a threat and with Thomas Preston in at three the Gents were still in the game as they reached 50 with only one wicket down.. Gunbarul managed to bowl out his allocation of 8 overs straight through, for 21 runs and a wicket, without his back giving way. Seasoned Sunday campaigner and spinner, Chris Butler was first change from the Road End and he removed the dangerous Lewis by clean bowling him(allegedly with one that moved which was refuted by the batsman as he departed and was heard to say he just missed a straight one !). Although he was hit for a few boundaries Butler on the whole bowled a reasonable line and length. He was rewarded with the wickets of Alex, surprisingly caught by Qureshi in the covers, and the main wicket of Preston, caught by Nibar at deep square. Butler was aided by a tight spell of medium paced bowling by Mr Giri. In the end Butler finished with season's best figures of 8/0/44/4, which were damaged slightly by a few lusty blows by Matt Bell in his final over. Only Bell stood between an M & B victory and he was quickly dismissed by Allen in his first over as he was deftly stumped by Hess, to cap a fine keeping display. Proceedings should have been brought to a conclusion as Puff gave Mr Giri an easy chance but the sun and his beard caused him to spill it and leave M & B in the field for another 5 overs. Eventually Allen got his reward as he bowled the last man to leave the Gents all out for 160 and leave M & B the victors by 83 runs. Allen finished with 2 wickets for 11 runs to go with his 24 no, a fine all round performance.