Scorecard

Old Minchendenians 1 v Pinner Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI on Sat 04 Jun 2022 at 1300
Pinner Cricket Club Lost by 2 wickets

Match report Pinner 1st XI vs. Old Minchendenians CC, at OMCC grounds
The Lambs arrived to surprisingly dry conditions at OMCC, in stark contrast to the heavy rains closer to home and on-route. Virat Kohli (Daniel Langan) finally won the toss and had no hesitation batting first.
After only a couple of minutes spent with Simon ‘I just happen to know a lot about Novichok’ Pilsbury, Rohitesh ‘this still feels like winter’ Dhawan (2) got a ball that spat off the pitch in the very first over, clipping the shoulder of his bat and looping to gully for an easy catch. Kavit ‘weapons-grade apologiser’ Dixit (4) didn’t last long either, trapped LBW by a good inswinger and we were left wondering if another collapse was imminent at 8-2. I joined Mr. Pilsbury and we decided that standing firm to see off the opening spell would be the best course of action. Accurate bowling, a pitch offering variable bounce and a slow outfield contributed to slow scoring but above all, we batted with a fear like the muppets on Ghost Hunters tip-toeing inside a haunted house desperately hoping not to trigger the “ghosts”. Simon (11) was trapped LBW just before drinks and at 35-3 in 19 overs, things looked grim. Post drinks, a couple of good overs including an Omkar (9) strike for six raised hopes but he was unlucky to be bowled off bat and pad, playing a forward defensive shot. Raj was caught behind shortly after for 9 followed by myself (20) and Salman (6) holing out trying to push the scoring along. 80-7. Jack's (9) finesse and Nick's (11) flexed pecs distracted the home side for a while but they were both out within an over or so of each other, just when they were looking to quicken the scoring. Pinner eventually folded for 107 in almost the full quota of 40 overs, scoring at less than 3 an over. What a f***** (apologies, Kavit) shambles.
The pre-innings planning/briefing session from skipper Langan less animated compared to his chest thumping cricketing idol, focused on ensuring we left everything out on the pitch to try and bowl out the home team. One of their openers took the attack to our new ball bowlers, Felix ‘batsmen are f***wits’ Hoh and Jack ‘less pecs than Nicholas Lawrence’ Tucker. Just when it looked like luck was favouring OMCC, Felix (8-1-21-1) and Jack (8-2-29-1) struck in successive overs, both openers back in the sheds - 19-2. A counter attack ensued from their middle order. Felix and myself were convinced we had their number 4 trapped in front but Leeroy disagreed, standing firm. The score was moving along quickly and Daniel started shuffling the bowling around. Kavit then held on to a fantastic catch at long on, running backwards, off the bowling off Dan to give us hope which was quickly followed by Dan again, removing the other set batsmen, bowled. 69-4 and we were back in it. The skipper was not done yet and scalped another one, the LBW call going our way this time, with the score on 75. Two balls later and in a fitting tribute to the late Share Warne on the 29th anniversary of the ‘Ball of the Century’, he produced a dream ball that pitched on middle and leg stump, and clipped off. All of a sudden at 75-6, a smash and grab operation was a possibility. Dan (8-2-15-5) capped off his spell with one more wicket for an utterly brilliant 5’er before Sal (6-0-28-1) came back for his second spell and got us our 8th scalp, OMCC still with 11 to win. A couple of tough chances were put down by Nick and myself despite valiant attempts. Chris Stead(y), OMCC’s number 6 played a fantastic knock all this while with a mixture of caution, beautiful attacking strokes and a tiny serving of luck to take his side to a nervy but deserved victory.
Successive defeats for the Lambs but some encouragement in the fact that we didn’t throw our wickets away this time. There are lessons to be learnt - better strike rotation and putting pressure back on the bowlers - if we are to get out of this slump. Our bowling attack keeps finding ways to bail us out or get us close, so a little more solidity and usage of the collective grey matters from the batting unit is all that may be required for us to be back in business. Let’s keep going, chaps!
Dick of the day: Rohitesh Dhawan for wearing three layers of clothing on an anything-but-cold day. Surely his British citizenship will be revoked?
Honourable mention to Kavit Dixit for following with two layers and not having the courtesy to apologise for this behaviour.
Player of the match: Daniel Langan for a superb spell that almost snatched us a win from the jaws of defeat.
Thanks to AK for scoring and Leeroy for umpiring, as always!

Pinner Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
7w 2b 11lb 
for 10 wickets
20
107		        
Rohitesh Dhawan ct Tummala b Sohail Khan 2 5 40.0
Simon Pilsbury lbw Shahid Khan 11 56 1 19.64
Kavit Dixit lbw Shovakar 4 15 26.67 1
Hari Ramachandran ct Shovakar b Tummala 20 59 1 33.90 2
Omkar Xetenarvencar b Tummala 9 9 1 100
Raj Vernekar ct Sanapala b Tummala 9 15 60.0
Sal Moeeniddin ct Sohail Khan b Tummala 6 7 85.71 1
Nick Lawrence ct Shahid Khan b Pandiri 11 25 1 44.00
Jack Tucker b Pandiri 9 23 39.13
Felix Hoh ct Sanapala b Shovakar 4 15 26.67
Daniel Langan Not Out  2 9 22.22

Old Minchendenians 1 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sohail Khan8.0313113.001.62
Sid Shovakar8.03818.001.00
Shahid Khan8.0020120.002.50
H. Tummala8.003649.004.50
S. Pandiri7.011527.502.14
Suhaan Shovakar0.30212.004.00

Old Minchendenians 1 Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
9w 1lb 
for 8 wickets
10
111 (32.3 overs)		     
S. Pillai ct Ramachandran b Tucker 13
Suhan Shovakar ct Moeeniddin b Hoh 4
M. Rayit ct Dixit b Langan 22
S. Pandiri b Langan 19
K. Sanapala lbw Langan 5
C. Stead Not Out  27
Shahid Khan b Langan 0
A. Narisetti lbw Langan 2
H. Tummala ct Ramachandran b Moeeniddin 2
Sid Shovakar Not Out  7
Sohail Khan  

Pinner Cricket Club Saturday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Felix Hoh8.0121121.002.63
Jack Tucker8.0229129.003.63
Sal Moeeniddin6.0028128.004.67
Daniel Langan8.021753.402.13
Kavit Dixit2.301500.006.00