FCC u11s vs North Middlesex CC

Cup match. CC won the toss, a good omen maybe, and chose to bat on a pitch that had been dampened with earlier rain. Which looks like it might stay away, or might return, who knows – surely this match won’t be rained off a second time? Their coach had told me their best chance of winning was on the toss of a coin, which sounds about right, but please don’t let it come to that. It’s a bit chilly, but with a barbecue on offer, we can put up with that. Right, first beer in hand and away we go.

Aarav Patel and Rayaan Alibhai to open, and a solid start against some decent bowling. They take the partnership quickly up to 32, before Aarav misses one and is bowled for a patient 8. Rayaan looks in great form though and is joined by Captain Rishi Mehta, and we know what he can do! 49 for 1 after 8 but Play Cricket not showing me the live feed so hard to keep up – I blame the app but secretly suspect my lack of technical competence is the issue here. Romil’s the kind of guy who could sort this but he’s busy scoring, better not disturb him.

Rayaan and Rishi developing their partnership, hitting at will – a lofted pull for 4 from Rayaan through the fingers of the fielder and the 50’s up! Good solid platform developing here. That barbecue is distracting, I’ve only had an egg sandwich since breakfast. Maybe someone will take pity and offer me a burger. 60 for 1 off 9. Nice running for a single pushed into the covers, an another from a mistimed hoick. Yes, that’s a word, in my dictionary at least. And a beautiful cover drive for 4 from Rayaan, then a straight 6 – yes, a straight 6! - into the sightscreen! Easy, my car’s parked over there. And another 4, what an over. 4-6-4 last three balls and they’re up to 76 off 10. Looking good.

Their coach/scorer/manager looks a bit worried, his boy Alex went to nursery school with my Nico. Very competitive so we need to win this one on a personal level. Rayaan’s on 46 already – but Rishi finds the fielder at deep mid-on, good catch, but a nice innings with 16 off 15 balls. Sachin Tibarewala to the crease, come on Mr Tendulkar. Your dad’s umpiring so watch out! 80 for 2 after 11. Rayaan mistimes one to mid-off, dropped thankfully. Sachin off the mark for a single, nice running. Rayaan’s on 47…a single for 48…and a smash to mid-off for 2 brings up the 50, Fantastic. 88 for 2 after 12. Bit distracted, still trying to find this game on play cricket…must be there somewhere? ‘Rayaan’s on fire’ is the call from the bench, which sounds about right. Pulled to leg for another 4 and the 100 nearly up. 97 for 2 after 13 and there’s talk of a retirement. Then the 100 up with a push to cover from Sachin and Rayaan is indeed retired (controversial, we need to win this game, but some great batters to come) not out 57 and 101 for 2. Fantastic and well-deserved half century. Elliott Kennedy to the crease. Great fielding stops a certain four to mid-off, two to Elliott and he’s up and running. Their leg spinner looks good, Warne-esque technique and the blonde hair as well, wonder if he’s developing the lifestyle to boot? But he’s not beating the bat as yet. 104 after 14. Need to accelerate its a bit slow at the moment. Sachin and Elliott working the singles, and my burger’s arrived courtesy of Nico using my debit card naturally, plus one for him, not sure that’s a good idea 5 minutes before batting – and anyway when do they start paying their own way? Poor form on the cheese though, not melted. And Romil and their scorer Ian stood right in front checking scores - this wouldn’t happen in the Lords press box, I can’t see a thing!

Run out? Elliot dives in, close call but Rishi’s on the square leg umpire - not out, naturally! Then a pulled 4 from Elliot, one bounce and over the ropes. Great running turning ones into twos, this is fantastic batting and thinking. Elliott skies one, over the fielders for 4, came down with snow on it that one. 126 after 17, but a dot ball from Warney. Single to Sachin, good bounce from the bowler keeping it tight. Sachin slices one over the fielder for 2, and again - good fielding stops the 4. And the same shot 3 times, they need a gully in place! Sachin is retired for a useful 15 off 17.

Elliot pulls one to mid-on as he looks to push on and is caught! Great contribution though, 24 off only 17. Nicholas Ponzoni Kirkham to the crease. Three balls, practicing his forward defensive, then off the mark with a single. Don’t overdo it Nico! Sharp 2 to Sonny Synett, 137 off 19, final over - can we get to 150? Might need it, I think. First ball moves a little and beats the bat - dot. Second ball pushed for a single. Third ball - dot. Great death bowling here! Great pull over mid-on for 3, just stopped at the boundary. Two to go. Lofted straight drive for 4 from Nico, beautiful. Last ball pushed again and two to finish - 147 for 3 after 20 with two retired. Enough? We’ll see, I suspect it might be with our bowling attack.

Short break and a few burgers and beers organised. Starting their innings now, Rishi opening the bowling, scrambled single and a run out? No, direct hit though, nice. Fielders looking sharp. Lovely bounce on the next ball but wide, nice take Nico behind the stumps. Next one plumb LBW – come on Rishi! Amit insists I mention that. Elliot’s dad wants to know what parsimonious means from my last match report – I’m about to tell him but a great catch from Judah Ndukwe off Jake’s bowling distracts me, and first one down! Lovely cricket. And now a clean bowled, stumps and bails all over the place. Jake’s celebrations are a thing to behold - two down! Jakes on fire tonight, his tail’s up. Whatever he’s been having I’d like some too please.

6 for 2 after 2. Rishi back in the attack. Past the edge and taken by Nico. Next one cuts him in two and beats the keeper and two fielders for 4 byes, unlucky. Nico’s in too close maybe. Nice push to third man but a run out – Jake Schapkaitz’s throw to Nico with a sharp stumping. 3 down! Next batsman’s down on the floor, caught by a sharp inswinger from Rishi, its relentless. 12 for 3 after 3. Jonny’s not happy with the weather and asks me to get it into the report. Done. I agree. Meteorologically poor. Who’s in charge of that? Elliott takes a skied catch, nearly running into Rishi in the process - how did they avoid the crash? 4 down! Could be an early night. Then Jake’s third wicket, it’s his night. Rishi calls a wide and the rains coming…please, not a delay or a match abandoned, that would be very unjust. Batsmen are really struggling against this bowling attack. Rain’s getting worse and my ipad can’t take it. Ali Dawud takes one clean bowled, 5 down already – tension increasing as the weather worsens.

Then the batsman smashes to mid-off to Rishi – caught, how on earth did he take that? His hands will be hurting! Dawud’s on a hat trick and with 6 down, its only 19 runs on the board after 5 overs. Hat trick ball defended, just about. And the rain’s slowing thankfully, Looks like we’ll get to the finish line. Anyone know Duckworth Lewis rules just on case? New batsman can’t get near it. Jake to bowl again, middle stump immediately out of the ground, this is madness. 19 for 7. They’re killing this one! Jakes taken another, and he’s got a five-for Or is it 5-for? Or a fifer? Whatever, it’s great. That one was played on, and Jake’s spent more time celebrating than bowling! 19 for 8. No ball, and that’s over. 22 for 8 after 6.

Judah to bowl, scrambled single, Rayaan throws and Nico takes the stumps away - 9 down with the run out. This is too much, I can’t keep up. Last man now, fishing outside the off stump to Judah. A push to cover - Rishi goes to throw to the keeper - changes his mind and goes bowler’s end - run out. Brilliant decision making. Game over. Outstanding. 22 all out and only 5 of those were off the bat. And we can go home early. Onto the semis and resume back in the league, this season’s going very, very well and it’s a real pleasure and a privilege to be here watching this team.

**Match Report Credit - Paul Kirkham