Sadly another weekend of atrocious weather. Wins for the 1s and Friendly XI, washouts for 2s, 3s and 4s on Saturday and for 5s and Sunday 1s (National Knockout First Round – now rescheduled for 23 May).

Given the circumstances, was great to have such a decent turnout at The Midd to support the 1s.

Some rained off 2s stars doing their laps -

Here are the details and reports (pics courtesy of Pete Hollman) –

[b]1st XI vs Finchley - NMCC won by seven wickets
Finchley 187 for 8 (50) (Uzi Amjaid 4 for 36) v NMCC 191 for 3 (41.2) - Tom Heathfield 78 not out, Evan Flowers 57, James Parslow 27 not out

https://northmid.play-cricket.com/website/results/4621280

Mark Williams reports -

It was a cloudy morning, and the weather looked set fair with the chance of showers later. The pitch looked firm but there was moisture underneath, so James Parslow had no hesitation in asking Finchley to bat. The outfield would be slow because of rain in the week, and the ropes were set back to maximum width for the square boundaries (a proper compensation to the bowlers for the chip for six on offer at the pavilion end), so square fours were at a premium all day. The team was unchanged from last week with skipper Hughes still feeling a tendon strain.

Jamie Powe and Leggett began brightly, but then settled in to consolidate against bowling that was tidy, but unthreatening. In the 11th over, the latter (on 9) mistimed a firm drive from Liam O’Driscoll and was fortunate to see mid-off palm a clear chance over the crossbar. Thus reprieved, he greeted the introduction of Luke Hollman with a six and four, but in the next over off-spinner Uzi Amjaid had Powe well caught by Connor Nurse at mid-wicket (49-1: 23: 15.5). This brought new skipper Tom Powe to the crease, and the pair continued to score at 3 an over without any apparent difficulty. Alex MacQueen suffered the impertinence of both batsman planting him over the pavilion end sightscreen for six, in an otherwise typically accurate and miserly spell, but it was Amjaid who broke the partnership when Leggett thick-edged a chance which rebounded from the ‘keeper’s glove, and Parslow, alert at slip, caught it diving forward (68-2: 37: 21.4).

Uzi in action -

Le Bretton now joined his captain in a long partnership which gradually increased the scoring rate from 3 to just under 4 an over, running well and punishing the bad ball, but otherwise taking few chances. Parslow rotated his bowlers sensibly, but the batsmen looked entirely secure, and the pair added 50 in 80 balls and 100 in 133 balls as both batsmen reached solid fifties in 73 and 86 balls respectively. The hosts, however, had managed to retain control, so that at the end of the 45th over the score had reached 174-2, and one sensed that this was at least 25 short.

With 8 wickets in hand for the last five overs, it should have been possible to add 8-10 an over for at least a respectable total in the conditions. In the event just 13 more runs were scored whilst 6 wickets fell. Will Vanderspar picked up a wicket by bowling Tom Powe attempting aggression (175-3: 55: 45.2). Hollman finally broke his duck with a double wicket maiden, having Le Bretton comprehensively stumped by Matt Cracknell (177-4: 54: 46.2) and bowling McGowan (177-5: 0: 46.5). Vanderspar bowled Hatchett with a full length delivery (181-6: 1: 47.5), and Amjaid bowled Herath (181-7: 3: 48.2) and had Ahmed stumped (183-8: 1: 48.6) to finish with excellent figures of 9-0-36-4.

Some wicket celebrations -

So the innings ended with a whimper at 187-8, which looked significantly below par. The Midd had bowled and fielded with purpose and commitment throughout and never lost their overall control of proceedings. All the bowlers were economical, and O’Driscoll and Vanderspar both had economy rates of 2.6 runs per over.

Skipper's briefing -

Who's this helping at the changeover?

Manager worrying - have they got too many?

Tom Heathfield and Hollman began positively, and it was a surprise when skiddy Patel bowled the latter after he had hit 3 fluent boundaries (27-1: 6.3: 14). Just before this, the former had benefited from a rare 7, when a reckless wild throw 10 yards from the stumps went for four overthrows when the batsmen had already crossed on a third at the instant of the throw. Nurse had played himself in securely when he was trapped palpably in front by seamer Herath, having got a thin inside edge to a similar delivery and avoided the same fate the ball before (45-2: 7: 13.4).

Tom Heathfield building his score -

At this point the game was wide open, and the visitors scented blood. They reckoned without Tom Heathfield, who looks an excellent prospect, playing the straight ball consistently in the ‘V’ between mid-on and mid-off, decisively leaving the non-straight delivery, and looking equally secure on both front and back foot. He began quietly, but steadily found his timing and placing, and reached an assured fifty in 82 balls.

Heathfield makes his first 50 for the Midd -

Evan Flowers took no chances either, but he is difficult to keep quiet nonetheless, and soon the runs were flowing as he unleashed his full array of attacking shots, reaching a breezy, but responsible fifty from 57 balls.

50 for Ev -

He couldn’t resist one moment of madness when, on 29, a long-hop from a young leg-spinner was dispatched with unerring accuracy straight down deep-square-leg’s throat, without having to move an inch, who obligingly dropped it; the batsman later moaned that the square boundaries were too deep: utter nonsense, the fielder was 10 yards inside the rope! – batsmen should always know where the fielders are, and place their shots accordingly. The pair put on 50 in 48 balls and had added 94, when Flowers essayed an expansive lofted ‘millionaire’ square drive from Hatchett (left-arm over), and was brilliantly caught by Ahmed at deep cover diving forwards inches above the turf (134-3: 57: 33.2); he had the affrontery to wait for a decision, and was promptly sent on his way by the umpire (he is Australian of course!), but it had been a fine, responsible and attractive innings, containing a six and 6 fours as the outfield speeded up.

Heathfield blossomed as the finishing line beckoned, finishing undefeated on 78 from 110 deliveries and Parslow enjoyed himself with a run-a-ball 27; they had just completed a fifty partnership in 51 balls as the hosts triumphed by 7 wickets with 7.4 overs to spare.

Tom and Pars see us home -

Praise for the ‘A’ team umpires, who, apart from having excellent games, stayed on twice in firm persistent rain, deeming conditions ‘not dangerous’, when it was clear to them that it would only last 3 minutes. This had been an emphatic victory, much more confident than the previous week, with everyone getting a decent workout and contributing usefully. Next week will be a very different test across the fence at Crouch End, on an ‘Oz’-prepared pitch!

2nd XI vs Osterley (a) - Match cancelled due to iffy forecast
Three points each

2nd XI remain unbeaten.

3rd XI vs Ealing (a) - Match cancelled due to 6am drizzle
Three points each

3rd XI remain unbeaten.

4th XI XI vs Uxbridge - Match cancelled due to "layer of sludge on pitch"
Three points each

4th XI remain unbeaten.

Friendly XI vs Holtwhite Trinibis - NMCC won by 94 runs
NMCC 212-7 (35) v Holtwhite Trinibis 105-8 (35) - Linus Wainewright 86

Simon Richard reports -

The Friendly XI’s away trip to Holtwhites Trinibis took them to the lovely Hertfordshire village of Newgate Street. While in the sun it would have been a beautiful setting in which to play, it was anything but that. Rain lashed down before the game, worsening the soft pitch and damp outfield. Both captains agreed on a 35 overs-a-side contest due to the weather and, with some concerns over the strength of the home side, we agreed to bat first in the damp conditions.

The opening bowlers were accurate, taking advantage of a pretty soft pitch. Dawson was bowled for 12, but Linus Wainewright stuck at his task well and him and Nikhil Perincherri accelerated the scoring quickly, both running well between the wickets and both playing superb shots and taking advantage of the small ground. Nikhil went for 46 but Linus passed 50, punishing the bowling to all parts of the ground. He fell for 86. Wickets fell regularly but the opposition found it tricky to contain the flow of runs, Conor McNamara hitting a very quick 36 including three sixes in an over. We made 212-7 off our 35.

Holtwhites simply weren’t in it in response as they were continually contained by all the bowlers. Vijesh Parmar took three wickets, Nikhil Perincherri took two and Linus Wainewright carried on his brilliant day with a catch and a stumping. There were wickets too for Alec Dawson and Rob Cohu. Also, a special mention to Vijesh, who took a superb one-handed catch. Holtwhites fell well short, though their young opener batted well and offered stubborn resistance.

A good day in the end, a first win of the season for the 5s group and good to somehow fit a game in given the weather. Less said about how the pitch ended up the better!

5th XI vs Brondesbury - Match cancelled due to Sunday Armageddon
Three points each

5th XI remain unbeaten.

National Knockout Cup: 1st XI vs Finchley (a) - Match cancelled due to Sunday Armageddon
To be replayed at Finchley on Sunday 23 May