Sunday XI v Incognit - July 6th

M & B's winning run came to an end on Sunday as they were beaten in their only "time" game of the year by Incogniti. After losing the toss M & B were asked to field, which probably suited skipper Armstrong, who had forgot the intricacies of time cricket after the normal formulaic 40 over Sunday fare. Irrespective of whatever form Armstrong opened with the same combination from the previous week, of Arul "Gunbarul" Appavoo and Avi Gossain, and with the same impact - wickets. Appavoo continued his sparkling form by bowling a great spell of 8/3/12/1 and Gossain bowled an improved spell of 8/3/27/2. Strangely his wickets came with the few short balls he bowled, a top edged hook, well taken by keeper Brian Dixon, running back and a top edged hook which found it's way down to fine leg.

Spinner, colt Sachin Moudgil, being the main spinner on view with senior Sunday spinner, Butler injured, picked up an early wicket to leave Incogniti in trouble at 54 for 4. Alas this was as good as it got for M & B as incoming batsman, Sunny Bowry, continued his love affair with Bray, have posted a century last year. Poor bowling and fielding let the Incogs back into the game and skipper Armstrong probably let the game drift, instead of making a bowling change. It was one of those infuriating days when the ball kept being hit out of the ground and taking an age to be found. Amit Giri took the next wicket, having decided to come round the wicket, and promptly disturbed the timbers of Lewis, who departed for 58, although he was dropped badly on 45. The next partnership between Bowry and Khan was the decisive one, putting on 82 in quick time, as Khan launched the ball on the leg side. That said numerous chances were given, mainly off the unlucky Moudgil, and not accepted. Armstrong dropped his first catch of the season which probably summed up his performance. In the end Incogniti ended up with 218 for 7 in 41 overs, which on the face of it was not that bad. The preserving Moudgil was unlucky to end up with figures of 13/2/86/3, he deserved five at a lower cost. Bowry ended up on 73 having been dropped at least three times.

In response M & B got off to a solid start posting 50 for the first wicket in 14 overs, before star Sunday batsman, Raoul Cheema, was castled by spinner, Singh, in the 14th over. His opening partner, Thomas Wilding, followed 3 overs later out bowled, whilst attempting a sweep. Yusuf Qureshi and Brian Dixon repaired the damage as they took their partnership into the final 20 overs and the drinks interval. With Qureshi at the crease a victory was very much on the cards, as he clattered the bowling for three sixes, two over the score box and one into the picket fence. Alas bar steward ,Tony Brooks, must have put something in the drinks as it had disastrous side effects for the batsmen, as M & B slumped from 99 for 2 to 102 for 6 inside 3 overs. The biggest wicket being that of Qureshi, who was out caught on the deep long off boundary. The M&B players thought the catcher had used the net to balance whilst in the process of taking the catch, the fielder claimed it and the umpire upheld the decision. The glut of wickets were all down to poor shots rather than good bowling, although the mini collapse gave the lower order batsmen an opportunity to make a name for themselves, albeit they included Moudgil, who had opened the innings for the 2's the previous day. In the end though the star of the show was Avi Gossain, who took advantage of attacking fields to blast 51 in ten overs, mainly courtesy of lofted drives over the bowler and off the back foot through the covers. Incogniti brought back opening bowler Khan, who was promptly dispatched for 13 by Gossain, an edge through slips, cut through gully and a sumptuous off drive, which sped to the boundary. After completing his half century Gossain was bowled first ball by Bowry for 51(2 6's & 7 4's), who then dismissed Armstrong to finish the game, to claim 2 wickets in his only over to go with his 73no earlier. The dismissal of Armstrong made it one of those miserable days for Armstrong, those batting has completely deserted him these days. In the end M & B were all out for 179 in the 38th over, with two overs still remaining, meaning if M & B had used their full allocation the over differential would have been only one !