Match Report: NECC vs. Plastics XI

After a month’s worth of rain in three days, the call was made to play the Plastics XI at our home ground after a quick pitch inspection in the morning determined that the ground was safe.
A late illness in the starting XI brought Sam into the squad and there was a welcome return by seamer, Ollie, playing his first game for the Exiles in three years. 

There was also excitement in the air we would finally see the first teas served at the Lakes by Mary and Mark for over 20 months. Teas are such an important part of the cricket tradition.

Rain was still threatening to ruin the afternoon but while it stayed away, we came out to play. Wet weather meant that other than the central square, the rest of the ground looked like a lush and verdant grassland and on a wet wicket and slow outfield, Plastics XI won the toss and chose to bowl.
Jez opened with Paul who was playing in only his second game of the season. Saril, with his Grandhomme-esque mane, opened the bowling using the new ball and the overhead conditions to good effect and he soon had Jez and Sam caught at slip reducing us to 20 for 2. Luke joined Paul and they looked untroubled as they added 40 runs for the third wicket before Luke was run out for the second time this season on his own call. 
TMG entered the attack and soon had Lee and Jack bowled, the latter with the “ball of the century” as exclaimed by the umpire, Josh. Charlie, practically blinded due to hay fever, didn’t help his cause by playing across the line to one on the stumps from Bradbury and yet again, one had brought four for the Exiles. 
Kalp, came in to join Paul, with TMG on a roll and they started to construct a promising partnership in which Kalp put away TMG for three imperious fours in one over. Shortly after drinks, Kalp drilled a straight drive back to Sandham who managed to deflect the ball off the bottom of his boot onto the stumps. Paul, who was backing up like a good non-striker, had no chance to get back in his crease. From 89 for 7, the last three wickets managed to add a valuable 30 runs bringing the score to 119 all out.

Tea was had. It was thoroughly enjoyed. Almost to the point that the cricket was irrelevant. 

The recent heist with a similar score in similar conditions against the Brixton Barbarians had the Exiles filled with hope as they took the field with 10 players, having lost Sam to a stomach bug. 
After a brief sunny spell, Aaron and Ollie opened the bowling steadily with the odd delivery staying low. Aaron induced a false shot from opener Webster and Jack got under the lobbed dolly at mid-on and shelled it. Webster made the most of this chance as he did the bulk of scoring, putting on 37 with Hatton before the latter was bowled by Shah. Ace batsman Bishop walked in to replace him and edged his second ball from Kalp to the right of the keeper, but it was not to be a wicket. Uneven bounce on the wet pitch meant that Luke was enduring a nightmare behind the stumps. Webster and Bishop made the most of their second chances as they dominated the bowling without any further troubles. Webster retired for a brilliant 51 and Davies joined Bishop to help polish off the chase in the 21st over. 

A comprehensive win for the Plastics XI on the back of a brilliant bowling performance. 
Paul is the player of the match for his fantastic knock demonstrating a rock-solid technique and patience on a difficult pitch. Overall, it was good to get a full match when the weather threatened to ruin the afternoon. Once again, plenty of room for improvement in the batting and the catching departments.

Scorecard