U11 - FCC vs Stoke Newington CC

Forgot the iPad so writing on the phone tonight. Need to be a teenager really to be able to do this properly - how do they type so quickly? Battery stress too, Nico was using the phone on the drive over so used up most of the juice. Remembered the camping chair though - the others look on enviously, there’s nowhere to sit on this ground. Which merits a report in itself - an Astro strip in the middle of the park? Grass is long enough for a first cut of silage* and is a bit wet after earlier rains but the game going ahead, which we didn’t expect a few hours ago. The boundary has been brought in a bit but still not much chance of an elegant four stroked through the outfield here.

Finchley lost the toss and we’ve been put into bat. Sonny Synott and Jake Schapkaitz to open after the selectors reshuffle the order. We beat this team earlier in the season in a low scoring and panicky game, not one of our best displays but an early season loosener perhaps. Sonny off the mark first ball with a single. Next one beats the bat though. Lovely square cut goes about three yards and is lost in the rough. Cricket or golf? We need one of those electronic ball finders. Two from the over. Sonny pushes the first ball of the next over to mid-off - out caught! Not the start we wanted. Nico Ponzoni Kirkham to bat. Off the mark with a single to cover. There’s no one scoring the game from our side so we’ll need to keep an eye on that, Romil’s not here yet and Rishi and Amit have decided to have a night off. 10 for 1 after 2. Nico chips a catch to mid-on but dropped, it was close to the ground so a difficult chance. I’ve told him about that shot but, strangely, he doesn’t listen to me. 12 for 1 after 3.

Lofted drive from Jake, he’s got his eye in now after a few misses. Stops dead in the grass though - and only a single. Jake pulls one to backward square leg but dropped - a sitter! Nice pull from Nico, but this is a ‘single or a 6’ wicket. 18 for 1 off 4. To prove me wrong Nico then pulls a four to backward square. Lovely! Wides helping the total along. 26 after 5.

Sharp run and Nico’s out with a direct hit - but it misses. With this outfield they can’t risk a single. There’s runouts in this game for sure. Smashed - for 2 – by Nico to deep extra cover (so I’m advised by more knowledgeable colleagues). Next one to same place for 4. Longest boundary too. 40 for 1 off 6. Jake swings at a full toss - out clean bowled! Aryan Bavishi to the crease. Single and off the mark then straight to mid-off and caught. Three down. 45 off 8. Aarav Patel in next. Chopped to backward leg and off the mark. 3 from the wide and the 50’s up. 53 for 3 off 10. Lovely pulled 4 from Nico. And another just over the fielder. 66 for 3 off 12. Nico’s been told it’s his last over before retirement and he’s caught going for the big one, unlucky! Made 33 which would easily have been his first 50 with a proper outfield.

Rishi Mehta to bat. 69 for 4 off 13. Overthrows on a run mix-up and a miss by Rishi. It’s a bit messy! Romil’s finally arrived, with beers naturally. That solves problem of where to get the next round as my cool box is rapidly emptying. We were considering the pub over the road. Beautiful square cut from Rishi - only 2? He looks in good form though. Next one skied to mid-on but falls short. Then Aarav slices one to point and he’s caught. Sachin Tibarewala next in with. 83 for 5 off 15. Pulled by Rishi for 4. 93 off 16. No balls and wides helping and the 100’s up. Sachin doing chip and run, very effective. 102 after 17. Beautiful cut off the back door for 4 from Rishi and we’re up to 114 off 18. Looks like the rain might be coming - the cows are lying down over in yonder Hackney Fields, a sure sign**. 126 after 19. Some comedy fielding and good hitting from Rishi helps to give us a big last over, and we finish with 142 for 5. Not bad with this outfield.

Rayaan and Ali Dawud to open the bowling, they’re playing kwik cricket to get the overs in before the rain! 8 off the first 2 and the energy in the field is high. And I’ve moved the car for a quick getaway in case of a downpour. Sharp catch to Nico and first one down to Rayaan. Judging by their chat the oppo are anxiously hoping the rain will save them. We need to get a minimum 10 overs in. It’s 8 for 1 after 3 and Matias Gura to bowl. Catch? Just short. But a run out - Sonny with a direct hit! Lovely fielding.

Romil, Woody and Sanchit have disappeared - I reckon they’ve gone to that pub. Where’s the commitment guys! Good call though it has to be said… Second run out? Not given! Matias bowling well and keeping it tight. 15 for 2 after 4. Dawud’s actually running back to the mark. Next ball there’s a run out - told you that could happen on this pitch. Chipped back to the bowler but short - good over this. Maiden. 15 for 3 after 5 and 25 for 3 after 7, it’s a fantastic over rate and I can’t keep up! Statto says they need to be at 79 after 10 to match our run rate, there’s no chance of that with this bowling and fielding. It really would be a travesty to miss out on their win because to rain.

Aman Raja beating the bat consistently and next one is clean bowled. Beautiful. 4 down. Rishi fires one in fast and high and the batsman takes evasive action, he’s taken it on the back and he’s down. That hurt. The ice pack’s taken from my cool bag to help out, a noble sacrifice on my part it has to be said, and Romil and his mates are back. Apparently, it was a toilet break. Which occurred over a time interval suspiciously similar to the time taken to get a round in…just saying. The injured batsmans’ retired but I think he’s OK if a bit sore. And my ice pack’s melted for the cause. Next ball clearly caught behind but not given. Where’s Snicko! Or Ultra edge! And are they the same thing!

29 for 4 after 9. Aryan to bowl and Amit and Rishi are questioning the field settings. Four! They have a point. Next one bounces past the keeper but a sharp throw from Sachin and another run out. 38 for 5 after 10. Sachin to bowl, and he gets his wicket with a peach of a delivery, clean bowled. 6 down. Aryan now beating the bat at will and they’ve only got 45 after 13. Rishi takes the next wicket, another clean bowled, and they’re 7 down. Everyone’s packed up on the boundary and ready to leave. Dawud’s back into the attack and the batsmen have woken up, a lovely pull for 4 and the 50’s up - but a bit late. 55 for 7 after 17. Now the umpires are checking the ball - who’s been tampering? Check the pockets for sandpaper. But no, (we’re not Aussies), it’s just a bit of damage and Jake’s soon bowling with a replacement ball. Aman to bowl the 18th and he’s smashed for 2 but the next 2 deliveries beat the bat. Last over and it’s 59 for 7. Sonny takes it. Beats the bat 5 balls straight then more comedy cricket on the final ball with a dropped catch and overthrows and they run 4. 63 for 7 after 20. Game over. Finchley win by 79 runs and stay clear at the top of the table. Great stuff.

*Farming reference
**Second farming reference
*** Match Report Credit - Paul Kirkham