Irregulars v Northop U15s : Wednesday 20th April 2011

A ‘grand’ season opener at Northop Cricket Club, the Irregulars facing the cream of the U15’s, many of whom already being stalwarts of the seconds and thirds in addition to boasting honours at North East Wales level.  The normal form of this fixture plays out thus; a group of talented, keen, athletic youngsters fresh from a winter of coaching in the nets normally put the Irregulars in their place in an early season loosener with combinations of superb batting, sustained accurate and at
times aggressive bowling and panther like fielding. So what happened this time?

The toss lost by the Irregulars, the youngsters elected to bat and I guess they wanted to put us out of the game before we could strap on a pad. A series of loosening mild fielding drills (throwing the ball about like a bunch of tourists on the beach) was hardly going to have them worried. The match
ball tossed to our ever consistent Mansoor to ceremonially open the season from the ‘Donkey Field’ end commenced five overs of near mayhem. A (possibly) unlucky Matt (Sid) Price was adjudged caught behind off the second ball (I think). My memory of the over is as hazy as the recollection of whether it removed even the slightest molecule of wood off the edge of his bat. Certainly there was a noise however I was concentrating so hard on just catching a ball passing the batsman at some pace that I can’t be sure whether it did or not. However the enthusiastic finger of Neil Bartlem taking his sabbatical and returning as honorary Irregulars umpire was quick to react. We had been worried that this enthusiasm would backfire on the Irregulars after several equally ‘close’ decisions went against him last year where his team mates had sent him prematurely back to the pavilion. However the call this time went in our favour.

Ushan opened with his customary accuracy at the ‘Flint Road’ end holding the early batsmen down with line and length which resulted in just the start we were looking for. Runs were hard to come by and with Mansoor ‘steaming in’ at one end and Ushan providing control at the other the ‘plan’
was taking effect. Within the first five overs Mansoor had accounted for 4 of the top 5 batsmen with a succession of batsmen (Roberts, Blackwell and Johnson) returning to the pavilion. Tom Blackwell caught well at square leg by one of his compatriots, (sub), Roberts lbw, after a lone appeal from Mansoor where no one was quite sure the decision had been given until after a run had been completed, and Johnson plum LBW just a ball or so later. Mansoor continued from
where he left 2010 off by returning spectacular figures of 4 for 8 from his 3 over limit.

Harry Bartlem came to the wicket to join Tom Hughes with the score board showing 18 – 4 at the end of the 7^th. Tom was showing his class despite one chance to a juggling Pete Langham and batted through to his 25 retirement. Dave Hobbs replacing Ushan bowled with accuracy and great temperament deserving at least a wicket from his best bowling performance for the
Irregulars, thanks at least in part to a some early season practice however his bowling is becoming something only to be fully appreciate whilst either batting against him (not so good) or safely behind the stumps (better). An innocuous three step run up is deceiving when the ball is delivered at a sharp pace, from height. A great spell.

Dan Rogerson provided some experienced spin through the middle overs where the batsmen were generally restricted to ones or twos, but never were comfortable enough to force the pace.

Harry and Tom took the score on to 44 before the powerful arm of Dan Rogerson missile’d the ball in from the cover boundary to Pete Jones who took advantage of a mix up in calling, Harry being Run Out stranded for a classy 20. The fielding was generally very good, particularly considering that this was the first game of the year, with special mention for Nick (Phil H’s friend) being very enthusiastic and athletic, and Ben A being a tidy late stand in.

Pete J continued his introduction back into cricket by bowling a mean spell taking the wicket of D Nicholson bowled off his pad for figures, one wicket for six runs. Ushan had Heppleson caught behind off the underside of a glove before Andy Meakin managed to keep the lower order quiet with some tidy spin. Meakin together with an over of allsorts from Aveyard accounted for the
last 3 wickets in 4 overs, Meakin having L Harrison bowled with a straight one and taking the last wicket (Gaz Jones) caught and bowled from the last ball of the innings.  Aveyard taking L Reed with a strangled full toss neatly caught by Phil Hamilton at fine leg. The innings ended with the returning Tom Hughes being unable to add substantially to his earlier innings for 26 n.o. and the U 15’s posting a total of 65 to chase from 20 overs in diminishing light.

Without a mountain to climb the intentionally selected steady opening pair of Langham and Aveyard took to the field, the ‘plan’ was to ensure the aggressive opening bowlers of Matt Price and Harry Bartlem were seen off before the more natural stroke makers came in to knock off the runs. The ‘plan’ worked well with a steady start and a number of well-judged quick singles coming before both opening bowlers were taken off, however an over of total accuracy from Tom Blackwell frustrated Aveyard to the point where the suicidal decision to call a quick single to a ball hit firmly to one of the best fielders on the opposition (T Hughes) resulted in Pete L being short of his ground
despite his best endeavours. Sorry Pete. I was later reminded that I’ve now run him out twice, the first being a hard struck full toss being fended off by the bowler ricocheting onto the stumps leaving the backing up none striker stranded. I take full responsibility for the latest one, however not so for the unfortunate ‘long shot’ of the second, however I was very sorry the score board
pressure (at that stage 17 off 8.5 overs) resulted in his early walk back to the pavilion for just 7 runs.

What do they say, “Every cloud has a silver lining”. Pete L’s unfortunate dismissal resulted in the arrival at the wicket of his namesake Pete J. Now part of ‘the plan’ was that if we could see off the opening bowlers Pete’s inimitable attacking technique could take the game away from the
opposition in a matter of just a few overs, and that’s  just what happened. I realised that if we
needed more than half the runs in less than half the overs I needed to a get a move on. And so I managed another cut through point for a couple before driving one to Tom Hughes for an easy catch and the walk to face Pete L for my 9 runs. I hope that Pete L would realise I’d decided to get a move on with things which had caused the sudden rush of blood to the head. The reaction in the dressing room was a better than expected ‘well these things happen’. By the time I’d got out of the changing rooms Pete J was in his customary mood of ‘if it’s up there hit it’. I have to share with you the comments of one witness to the carnage that followed but Umpiring Impartiality rules don’t allow me to acknowledge the source of the quote. “Pete batted so well I wonder how good he’d be if he had two shots instead of just the one. It was quite funny to see that they (the U15’s) knew what was coming but they still couldn’t do anything about it.”

Mansoor wasn’t able to get his ‘drive’ going that had been so effective in the nets however eventually stuck with Pete to the partnership of the game (from about 5 overs) taking the Irregulars from 20 odd, through to nearly the game being won. Pete’s contribution being  a series of brutal ‘run avoiding’ boundaries took him to retirement for 27 off not very many, and Mansoor keeping him company for a steady 8. Pete’s retirement permitted Phil Hamilton to come to the crease to smash the ball down to long off for the boundary that saw us home after just 14.2 overs.

So, the first win of the season against what I’m told was an opposition we’ve usually not beaten starts 2011 off in fine style, good performances all round, a convivial fine Spring evening promises much for the rest of the season. Surely the ‘spirit’ of the Irregulars cricket, good surroundings, good team mates and a good game, win lose or draw.

Player of the Match, Mansoor is unlucky not to get it, providing the platform for the win with 4 early wickets that left the opposition reeling, however in my mind it can only go to Pete Jones both for a fine battling performance but also for a reliable bowling performance taking 1-6 in 3 overs … and he virtually didn’t bowl last year. (Soon put that right!)

Champagne moment, one of Mansoor’s wickets? My first catch behind where I’ve actually seen the ball deviate, hence forcing some reaction from aging muscles? No; My champagne moment was Phil Hamilton’s powerful off drive for four that took the Irregulars to their first win of the year, the first win against the U15’s / 3rds in the traditional opening fixture and hopefully the first of many enjoyable matches for Phil with the Irregulars.