N Midd 15s seal comfortable win away to Finchley

Finchley 93/6 off 18
NMCC 94/0 off 9.5

NMCC win by 10 wickets

In this eagerly awaited fixture The Midd turned up with two A debutants in Raffy and George. Raffy contributed well in the field and George improved as the innings progressed behind the stumps.

It is fair to say the fielding (6/10 - so much to improve on still) were wayward. Finchley shot out of the blocks and there was a danger of a large total. Nico (skipper and eventual Lime and Soda winner) turned to the left arm wrist spin of one of the most improved players so far and Freddy removed one of their openers with a jaffa. Fortunately the bowling tightened up and so did some of the fielding as their two county players were in after Tom removed the other opener. Harry and Tom bowled well in tandem and the run rate slowed. Harry was unfortunate not to take any wickets but his four overs went for a miserly 16 (just tipped for Man of the Match). Tom bowled with flight and variation taking three wickets in his four for eleven runs. Freddy came back for two more overs with Sebbie and their county player couldn't hit them off the square. The highlight in the field was a running catch by Nico off Sebbie.

For The Midd reply the boys moved the benches close to the action and cheered Nathan and Alex all the way home. Alex scored a grumpy 61 off 42 balls launching two sixes into the Finchley training session and Nathan caressed and them thumped his was to 24 off 21.

Man of the Match - Alex Sydenham

Lime and Soda moment (t-shirts on the way) - Nico for 'that' catch

Areas for improvement - Fielding, fielding, running between the wickets and fielding

Hampstead in the Area Final up next on Monday

Scorecard

http://mca.play-cricket.com/website/results/3854096