Nowt to Grumble about as Horrors Claim Third Successive Win *

The home side were reduced to 10 men before the start, following the withdrawal through Saturday-cricket-injury of Nikhil, which is a good illustration of why gentlemen only play on Sundays. Acting Captain, Richard Burgess, with a watchful eye on the rain forecast for the evening, decreed a 40 over match and strode out to open with Mike Herlihy. The pair began extremely well against decent bowling from Siddau and Bagnall and had put on 48 when Richard fell to Piercy's nip-backer in the 12th over. This excellent delivery turned out to be a huge mistake on the part of the bowler as it only brought to the wicket, Amit, in particularly free-flowing mood. The ensuing, record-breaking 144 run partnership between two in-form batsmen was an absolute joy to watch: Mike's timing and shot selection was impeccable, and particularly fine just behind point. Amit played shots all around the wicket and both batsmen ran hard, ensuring full value for any shots that failed to reach the boundary. The partnership was all the more creditable in the light of an excellent fielding performance from the visitors who, in a clear and shameful breach of etiquette, had omitted to select any obvious weak link. Mike reached his fifty in the 20th over of the innings and the pair continued to run amok as the score escalated. Bagnall, having bowled a tidy opening spell, returned in the 30th over and must have been surprised to see the first ball of his second spell disappearing into the sightscreen as Amit cut loose. Eventually the fun had to stop and Bagnall had a measure of revenge when Herlihy was caught behind for 81 (13x4) and Amit was bowled for a crowd-pleasing 91 (1x6, 15x4) precipitating a mini-collapse from 192-1 to 206-5 as Gaskell and Winteringham perished. Stiven, at 4, made a useful contribution (16 n.o).in partnership with a spritely Arif Qawi (9 on seasonal debut) as the Horizontals closed their innings on 233-6.

Following a luxurious tea, The Grumblers began their chase needing more than 6.75 an over if they were to be successful. Shanker & Scally opened the bowling and it quickly beacame obvious that the visitors fancied their chances as Siddau (who had earlier finished with 3-25) hit some crisp boundries off his toes. The Grumblers had acrued a chanceless and competitive 38-0 from the first eight overs when skipper Burgess made a double bowling change. From the pavilion end, Rob McLeod was asked to conjure (Who said 'buy'?) wickets with flight and guile whilst at the road end, Arif Qawi was charged with bowling dot balls and turning the screw. The plan worked like a dream; as Arif embarked on an eight over spell that featured four maidens, Rob purveyed a beguiling assortment of flight and shite, alternating excellent balls with rank full tosses. Nearly all of the full tosses were spanked dismissively to the midwicket boundary but Joiner cracked in the end, whacking one to Amit at mid off who held a juggling catch. 65-1 and better was to come as with the very next ball Rob bowled Siddau round his legs with a ripper: 65-2. Perhaps wearying of bowling in braille for no reward, Arif tried out Grumblers' skipper Koezmayer with a leg side full toss. He hit it hard to midwicket where Bordin held a sharp catch. 67-3 and particularly satisfying for Richard who had insisted that Stiven field rather than keep in the 10-man side. Arif was now on a hot streak, bowling Lee (0) and having Mowatt (0) adjudged LBW to reduce the visitors to 92-5 and surely tilt the match in the Horizontals' favour.

James and Hull had other ideas and rapidly compiled a fine partnership of 77 which caused some nervousness in the home ranks, before the introduction of Paul Fitzsimmons eventually brought the wicket the home side craved when Bordin took another good catch at cover and James was gone for 42. 169-6 and the Grumblers needed 65 from 9 overs - a tall order, but not impossible whilst Hull was still going well. Burgess brought back his opening pair to bowl the final eight overs and they soon wrapped the game up. First Scally worked over Hull before claiming his wicket LBW (interestingly the umpire was Moffatt, himself an earlier LBW victim) and then Amit uncomplicatedly clean bowled the remaining three batsmen. Old Grumblers were dismissed for 186 with 3.1 overs of the 40 remaining. This was a fine performance from the Horizontals with significant contributions from every player. Arif returned astonishing figures of 8-4-14-3, Amit claimed 3-30 to go with his 91 and Rob returned 2-54 having dismissed both openers. A merry mood in the bar, then - and one shared by the visitors who played a full part in a very enjoyable day's cricket. We look forward to next season's encounter.

 

 

* Which is not the same thing as saying there wasn't any grumbling, of course.