MCCC Inter-Club Match: Mark's Team vs Vivek's Team
Saturday 26th August 2006
Match Report by Matthew Oliver
More than just pride was at stake when Morden Corinthian’s two Saturday sides met in a forty over a side game at Joseph Hood Playing Fields last Saturday, to battle it out for the title of Morden Corinthian’s‘1st XI’ (for the purposes of this match report, sides will just be known by their captains names).
Both sides opposition had cancelled in mid week, (it was Bank Holiday after all) leaving Mark’s side as the home team, and both sides without refreshment at tea time. Both sides were short of several first team regulars as well (too numerous to mention), meaning Marks side also only consisted of ten men. Keen not to give them an excuse however, Vivek’s side generously lent them the use of a substitute fielder.
Mark won the toss and decided to bowl first under blustery skies on a green pitch just drying out after a brief shower some two hours prior. Unfortunately his decision soon looked misguided as Tush’s and the match’s first ball was driven over mid off for four by Simon Hawkins. Vivek joined in the fun and both openers were soon playing freely as they saw off the new ball.
With the scoreboard ticking along at 6 an over, Mark had to create inventive field placings just to keep his side in the game, as his opening bowlers were treated with distain. In a desperate gamble he threw the ball to Imran.
Imran was going through a bit of an identity crisis, as it was his bowling spell for Vivek’s side last week (see match report) that helped win the game. However this week he found himself playing for Mark prompting many cat calls when he turned up at the ground.
Not feeling quite up to his high standards of last week, Imran decided to buy his wickets. His first five balls were used to get his radar right, and went 8 runs. His sixth however bowled the dangerous looking Simon off his pads for 33 and brought a whole new complexion to the game.
Still Vivek’s side were still looking strong having put on 65 for the first wicket, and both Vivek and Daniel Denize looked to keep moving along at six an over. Vivek, promoting himself to open, played well before the pressure (not to mention banter from the increasingly desperate fielders) got too much and he chipped tamely to mid on for 29.
That brought the promoted David to the crease, who played very correctly for someone who normally bats lower down (if at all) supporting Daniel who by now was taking over where Simon had left off. Daniels fine fifty soon followed and Viveks side looked set for a big total with 8 overs to go and only 2 down. However it was here that the innings fell apart, allowing Mark’s side a foothold back in the game.
Chasing quick runs trying to get over the psychologically important 200 mark brought about some weird and wonderful dismals including two run outs to short backward square. Now you might think one was careless, with Chirag at the strikers end failing to send back the possibly too keen non striker. However two you could say was downright terrible with the striker, Vik, apparently (according to Richard) calling his non-striking partner Richard through and then not leaving his crease. Vik, forever now known to his team-mates as ‘Inzi’ did not last too much longer and neither did the innings.
Marks side had Steve O Neil to thank for getting them back in the game, his bowling at the death, 2-20 off six overs, too good for our long tail. After a good start, 193 felt too few on a good pitch, with the batsman disappointed none of them went on, whilst the lower middle order disappointed not to contribute much at all.
With the lack of tea however there was no time to dwell on the negatives. After a good team talk from the skipper and then a sharp fielding drill we were back on the field quickly, ready for the fight.
With Tush having to leave early, he was promoted up the order to open with Mark, in a pinch hitting role. We think that was his role, as his only shot seemed to be the cross batted swat. His aggressive attitude seemed to rub off on his skipper who to only the last ball of the first over, and his second, got out bowled to an ugly swipe across the line off the inside edge.
Tush soon followed the next over, clean bowled by Wainer, anxious it seemed to get away to his mysterious rendezvous, rather than help his team-mates (obviously he was on a promise). You could cut the tension with a butter knife in the batsman hutch and the middle as our openers were really hitting their straps.
The fielding team’s dominance was soon proved beyond doubt when Mark’s side fell three down inside the first three overs. A seemingly routine bye to wicket keeper, Vivek, was called by the non striker, Azzam Malik; however his amble to the wicket was not enough to beat a fantastic shy at the stumps, to complete an excellent game for the skipper. It was quipped that Malik ran faster to the side of the pitch back to the ‘hutch’ than he did when going for the run, as he kept on going not waiting for the umpire’s decision.
This led to a slight interval in the game as, the remaining shell shocked batsmen, scrambled for their pads, with the club chairman no less struggling to put on his jock strap in time. Confident in their abilities however the fielding side did not ask the umpire for the time.
There followed a period of consolidation with the odd wide and good ball beating the bat thrown in for good measure. Just when the batting side were looking as if they had weathered the storm, two wickets fell in the space of three overs. The first was to the excellent David Lumby, caught behind by Vivek and the second to Raj, on first change for Wainer, thanks to a well taken catch at mid on.
With the match seemingly lost, embarrassment looming, and with the fielders looking at their watches in anticipation of getting home in time for 6pm nothing it seemed could stop the rampant fielding side. Nothing however except the fielding side themselves and an inventive ploy by Mark that is.
A member of his side’s original opposition had supposedly turned up at the ground and had introduced himself, wondering if he could play. Vivek graciously let them have him as their last man, despite there being sightings earlier of a desperate Mark on his phone. Had he been calling in reinforcements? Had they dragged a stranger off a park bench? We will never know…
Whilst this was happening and the ‘ringer’ padded up meanwhile, the fielding side were busy shooting themselves in the foot. Perhaps frustrated that the would be last pair of Hammond and Vickery were seemingly batting for a draw or rain, the various bowlers bowled no less than 42 wide’s and 52 extras in total.
Eventually, after defiant resistance from the tail enders and a few lustly blows from the ringer, the game was wrapped up by the returning David Lumby, who was the pick of the bowlers with 4-17 off 8, and the spin of Chirag.
The final score was 127 ao off 33 overs, an impressive thrashing and a good day’s work, however for a while both sides were wondering if the fielding side would bowl the batting side to victory in extras.
Overall a great game and one which will no doubt add further spice to the upcoming interclub game.
MOM – to name one individual would be churlish when each player did their bit, batting, bowling or fielding. If only Duncan Fletcher has been watching we could have all been playing for the one day squad, as he would have been impressed with our multi-dimensional skills
Memorable moment: Two moments – The first ball of the match being hit over mid off, a signal of intent from the off and Viveks wonderful turn and throw down of the stumps as Azzam Malik ambled a single.
