The North Midd Ashes

This was a match the 4s have been looking forward to for some time. Two years ago the 3s edged out the 4s on this same ground, but this year the 4s wanted revenge. Contrasting pre-match warm ups were evident, with the 3s getting some net time in the middle, while the 4s watch on, beer in hand.

But the casualness of the 4th XI ended there, as G-Man (35) and 4s debutant Paddy (27) got the team off to a cracking start with 62 from the first 10 overs. Two wickets in two balls from Dre (6/31) and Brian Richo removed both openers and brought Turbo and Pistol to the crease. If the 3s though they might have stemmed the flow of runs with the wickets, they got a shock as the run rate actually increased, with free flowing scoring from both batsmen. Marc fell to a smart return catch to Doris, gone for 26, but Pistol continued the onslaught, bringing up his 50 in the over after drinks with a homer, hitting Dre’s Jag in the process. Arj fell cheaply then Pistol was bowled by Dre for 93 (9 sixes and 6 fours), but Carl (33*) continued the hitting, including a massive six over the club house, ably helped by Chrissy, who hit a massive flat homer over cover, Dykie and Fergus. The 4s were left 245 all out with 5 overs to spare, but content at tea that they felt had scored enough runs to see the 3s off.

In the first over, Fergus, who bowled amazingly (4/13 from 6 overs) brought one back to opposition skipper, Lakey, to clean him up for a duck. Tight bowling from Ferg and Pistol had threes 2/28 after ten overs and well behind the required run rate. The introduction of Gaurav and Paddy saw the run rate increase slightly with some good batting from Pat (25) and Luke (58), but the intensity of the 4s fielding restricted the flow of runs and kept the pressure right on the batsmen. With Paddy removing Pat before drinks, Dykie (3/35 off 6) was introduced and bowled well, but the re-introduction of Fergus removed Luke and Rossy in a double-wicket maiden and effectively killed off the match. Some late order hitting, especially from Brian Richo (45), who hit some towering sixes, brought the scores closer, but the 4s always had the match in control and finally had the 3s all out for 218.

Post-match chat included making this an annual fixture in the calendar. First step will be to burn the bails from the match: the North Midd Ashes has been born.