Holtwhites Trinibis vs Finchley u11s

County Cup Semi-Final, July 6th 2022

Feels very relaxed tonight, hard to believe this is the County Cup SF. Everyone’s so laid back. Boys are confident after Monday’s win it seems, ready for this challenge. Rayaan Alibhai and Aarav Patel to open - repeat of Monday’s partnership? Ray’s off the mark with a single and Aarav gets his first 4. They’ve opened with a spinner, interesting, on an Astro pitch again. Misfield gives another 4 to Aarav. Nice start. No Play Cricket tonight so will be some guesswork on running scores but I’ve surreptitiously moved the scoreboard so I can see it. Just need someone to keep it up to date now. 10 off the first. Pulled hard by Ray, 2 runs. He’s picking them off at will, another 4. And a 6. Bowling looks suspect, just saying…could be fun. Swing and a miss, careful, a mistake could be costly. Bar’s not open yet, I have a couple of emergency beers though. There’s a bowls club, just went for a visit to see if they have a bar, average age of members 103 by the looks of it. And they do have a bar, but we don’t seem to be welcome, so I come back empty handed.

Aarav’s made a mistake, pops one up to square and he’s out, caught. Unlucky. There’s still a long way to go here. 24 for 1 off 2. But Rishi Mehta to the crease, he’ll be keen to avenge Monday’s LBW decision. 26 for 1 off 3. Seamer up next, short run up but he’s quick, Max from the Borough squad. Four from Rishi, cut to backward square. Nice. And a full toss dispatched to mid-on for another. 36 for 1 off 4. Bit of a conference in the middle, someone’s not happy with the umpiring, not sure why, and a that’s brought to a conclusion with a 6 from Ray over square. Then one almost played on, good football skills keeps it away from the wickets. 43 for 1 after 5. A no-ball dispatched for 4 through the fielder’s hands. Lovely cover drive from Rishi, and the 50s up. Ray’s down injured again, looks like a twisted ankle. Can he walk it off? Need some magic spray. He’s back up though and clips one off his toes for another 4. Made of tough stuff, Ray. And he finishes the over with a glorious cover drive for 4. 62 for 1 after 6. Rishi hammers the next one through mid-on, another 4. Feels like Monday all over again. Two more fours. It’s getting repetitive now and ridiculous hitting, 4-4-4-4…is 200+ on? Could be if they don’t make any mistakes. 80 for 1 off 7. Better over that though, only 4 off it. Next bowler’s body language is awful, he looks like it’s the end of the world! Four from Rishi and a wide to rub salt in the wounds. And another. 99 for 1 off 9. Hundred’s up with a single then to cow corner for a six from Ray…no its a four, six inches short. 50 for Ray, he’s carrying on where he left off Monday, fantastic. Then a beamer hooked by Rishi for 6! Unbelievable shot. Then 4. 121 for 1 off 10. Carnage. Time for a break to see if that bar’s open.

Second 10 has started, we need to remember this is a County Cup semi. Ray’s gone for a big one…and dropped on the boundary! They’ll regret that I suspect. And another dropped catch, Rishi this time. And a misfield for 4. Things not going well for Holtwhites. 134 for 1 after 11, 13 off the over. Full toss pulled to square for 4 by Rishi, lovely batting. This is an exhibition. Not of fielding though, another misfield goes for 4. And another. Unless they have some awesome batting I can’t see this being anything other than a win, but apparently they have a player scored 100 at county level. We’ll see. For the moment its fours all the way, can’t remember the last dot ball. 162 for 1 off 13. 6 for Ray who goes for another one - and another dropped catch. 172 for 1 off 14. Rishi’s on 93…he really is making up for that decision in Monday. Huge six pulled to square by Ray, the biggest of the lot. 195 for 1 off 15. This is now our biggest score of the year and there’s 5 overs to go. 200’s up, phenomenal batting. Century for Rishi, amazing, brilliant, there are no words for this. What a display! And remember, this…is…the…County…Cup…semi…final.

Pull to square by Ray, the fielder is 5 metres behind the boundary, he has no chance. 209 for 1 off 16. Four more. And now Ray’s gone for one too many, finally caught at mid-off. Great innings though, he made 80 to go with his century on Monday. Sachin Tibarewala’s in next, 17th over underway. Ridiculous straight 4 from Rishi. And again. Rinse and repeat. Which was the legendary advice provided by a 1970s branding consultant to a shampoo company, doubling their sales overnight. Brilliant, even if it might be urban myth. Thick edge from Sachin for 4. 226 for 2 off 17. Rishi’s dropped on the boundary, how many drops is that now? 242 for 2 off 18. 250’s up. Yes, 250. Two hundred and fifty. And still an over to go. Sachin getting in on the act now with a lofted 4 over mid-on. And a four to finish from Sachin. Well played. 265 for 2 off 20. Incredible. 134 n.o. to Rishi, that is astonishing. I need a pint, and the bar’s finally opened.

Right, second innings and Rishi to bowl the first. Quick as usual. Batsman not playing a shot. One off the first over and Sonny Synett to take the second. They’re behind the rate already. Nearly a run-out from Judah Ndukwe and an LBW shout, not given. One-handed take and throw from Nico Ponzoni Kirkham on the boundary, nice. But first four, cut to square. Rishi to take the third over, 9 off 2. Nice four off the face of the bat, glanced square, this outfield is quick and the batsman looks useful. Beautiful bowling but a four off the toes to finish the over. 18 off 3. Nearly a caught and bowled off Sonny, that was close. Good over this. 20 off 4. They need 246 off 16. Do the maths -no way. David mentions there haven’t been hardly any wides in the match, which is true - so Jake Schapkaitz, bowling next, duly bowls one. Great comeback though, beating the bat. 23 off 5, only 3 from the over. Matias Gura to bowl next. And a catch to Aman Raja at square leg, first wicket down. Good cricket. Over, one run, 24 for 1 off 6. They could win this by 200 runs…32 for 1 off 8. Aryan Bavishi to bowl. This all looks predictable. As is the inevitable resignation of the PM – has Boris gone yet? There’s more action and jeopardy in the cabinet offices at the moment and thoughts here are turning to the final. Nearly a catch to the keeper, just falls short. A game like this can be tough on some of the players who don’t get involved much, but that’s the nature of cricket and at this stage of the tournament winning is everything. Pulled for 4! Nice shot. Judah to bowl next, expect some pace. 40 for 1 off 9. Some good fielding going on. 44 for 1 off 10.

Just got up for a stretch and Aryan’s got his wicket, bowled round the legs - Sanchit tells me to sit down and write about it! Fair enough. And a second, stumped? No Amit’s intervened, not out. VAR - Video Amit Referee. Or maybe DRS. Whatever, not out. Nice shot to mid-off for 4 off Judah. Who then takes the stumps out of the ground next ball, lovely bowling. 53 for 3 off 12. Nico to bowl, he’ll be pleased to come in from 3rd man exile. Just over Sonny’s head at backward point, runs away for 4. Unlucky. Great over though and its 55 for 3 off 13. Full toss hits Aarav in the nether regions, that looked painful. But he’s OK. Second full toss from Aman gained away for 4, nice shot. Aman Raja’s bowling very full tonight. 66 for 3 off 14. First misfield goes for 4 off Nico, again unlucky for his stats. Chipped over Rishi’s head at mid-off, goes for another 4 - really unlucky. But a great comeback with a slower ball. Great over, beating the bat regularly. 74 for 3 off 15. Ray to bowl next and pulled away for 4. And another. This is hurting his net contribution for the day! Still well up though. And a third straight 4. Apparently, we’ll be playing Ealing or Harrow in the final. Good comeback from Ray to finish the over. 88 for 1 off 16. Sachin to bowl and he’s got one caught behind, great bowling, fourth wicket down. 92 for 4 off 17. Aman back for the 18th. Jake throws himself full length but just can’t stop the boundary. 103 for 4 off 18, Sonny to bowl the 19th. Great over, 108 for 4 off 19 and Jake to bowl the last. Another great over and its 113 for 4 off 20.

Game over. It was a close-run thing, winning by just 152 runs (!)…but we’re through. Bring on the Final.