Played at Enfield
Report by Steve Hamilton
Once again we were blessed with some delightful weather,
temperatures hitting 26C.
This was our first visit to North
Enfield and we were greeted with picturesque surroundings and a
well-groomed pitch that was definitely a batsman’s paradise!
I lost the toss, but surprisingly the opposition elected to field,
which I was definitely pleased about.
Mozzam and Jakaria
opened and played with an air of confidence and self-control which
was definitely needed. as some of our batting performances this
season haven't really showed any gumption or self-discipline!
At the halfway point of our innings after 17 overs we were on 97
for 1. Jakaria reached his third half century of the season and with
fourteen boundaries including four sixes. There certainly would have
been more sixes but for the big tree about 15 yards from the
boundary which he hit a number of times.
Jakaria was
unfortunate not go on to get his hundred but departed on 80 after
being given out leg before, a decision not without controversy as
the fatal ball appeared to have struck him halfway up his thigh.
Nonetheless, Jakaria is an all-rounder who has been a great
addition to our weekend team this season. Second highest run scorer,
joint highest wicket taker and doing a superb job as our keeper!
In next was Junaid with another classy performance with the bat,
delivering a half century yet again! He has now piled up a tally of
400 runs in just eight games!
Adnan Walayat scored a rapid 41
not out to give us a very competitive total of 248 for 4 off 35
overs.
At tea we took in the sun’s rays and enjoyed some
appetising milk cake decorated with pistachios kindly brought in by
Jakaria, which soon vanished as the team eagerly hoovered it up.
Even the slimline Jonathan Stebbins had two helpings!
Umair
and Syed opened up our bowling attack and once again Umair struck
early, taking two lbws yet again to put him in second place for
wicket taking this season.
Our first change bowlers Peter
Frisby and Jonathan used their experience and wisdom to put the game
firmly out of reach! Both took a wicket, with Jonathan clean bowling
their awkward leftie for 52.
At 85 for 5 off 22 overs, I
thought it was safe enough to bring myself on. I was well supported
at the other end with midweek skipper Graham McGee.
I cleaned
bowled their captain, flighting the ball above his eyeline which he
completely misread. He went off quite irritated, as one our players
said, ‘What a Jaffa!’
My next victim was their aggressive
opening bowler, who was quite verbal during his bowling spell to
some of our batsman. But we had the last laugh as I bowled a
slightly quicker and wider ball that tempted him outside his crease.
He missed and the lightning reflexes of Jakaria whipped off the
bails in nanoseconds. Adnan took a wicket with a caught and bowled
at the end to win the match comprehensively by 128 runs.
A
special mention to our best fielders on the day, Peter Frisby and
Jonathan Stebbins, who moved like gazelles and certainly showed us a
lesson in dedication and full commitment!
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