Finchley CC u11s A vs North London CC

Monday June 13th

After the highs of the cup semi-final, a less intense league game at North London – but they are our cup final opponents so a good opportunity to check them out. Bit of a stand-off over pitch allocation but eventually we’re sent to the main pitch, nice but Astro. Might be some unpredictable bounce. For some reason scorers and parents decide to set up on the far side, by a pavilion which looks closed and just a touch too far from the main bar and food which is most definitely open. Strategic planning guys…

North London win the toss and choose to bat; may be the better option for us to be chasing after the tense finale on Friday when we were defending. And with New Zealand now five down in their second innings with a lead till below 200, could be a good omen!

Jake Schapkaitz to open the bowling on a beautiful June evening, down the hill. North London are mid table in the league but I understand have been on a better run recently. But Jake’s beating the bat consistently in the first over and - 1st wicket down, clean bowled with his fifth ball. Great start! 4 for 1 after the first. Judah Ndukwe up next so no respite from the pace for the batsmen but first ball wide. Third man might be in for a busy night. Not many runs off the bat here just a few extras keeping the score ticking, slowly. And I can’t see the scoreboard, we’re not live on PlayCricket, and their scorers look a bit irritable so can’t keep asking… LBW appeal from Jake, not given by Rishi. 17 for 1 off 3, mostly extras though. Ah, just seen the scoreboard but no one’s changing it, not sure that’s my job. Judah’s radar is a bit off, when he gets the line right its unplayable though. A crisp yorker followed by 4 byes past the keeper. And now a misfield, 4 more. Think there’s a bit of a hangover from Friday, the boys look a little jaded. 27 for 1 off 4 and Sonny to try to bring some control to the attack. Nice glance through short 3rd man for 4. Next one caught behind? Not given. Snicko please!

Dawud Ali to bowl and 4 more overthrows, what’s going on? Pulled to the leg side for 4 more, field’s in a bit of disarray. 45 for 1 off 6. Better from Sonny, just 4 from his next over and 49 for 1 off 7. Need a few tight overs here. Elliott to bowl his spin, 3 dot balls and a great bit of fielding off his own bowling, then nearly a run out, he’s beating the bat and finishes a great over with a wicket, clean bowled! Fantastic, Jason reckons it’s one of the best overs he’s ever bowled. Just to annoy him I say I missed it so can’t put that in the report…but it was in fact a fantastic wicket maiden which was much needed.

New Zealand are 224 for 7 at close, this is going the be an exciting last day at Trent Bridge. Free tickets apparently, a trip up the M1 early doors? To see an England collapse? Usually a safe bet but this is the proverbial new era of Stokes and McCullum. I’m still betting on the collapse though, with Leach and Anderson batting out the last few overs for a tense draw.

Aman Raja to bowl now, keeping it tight, just a couple of singles and its 53 for 2 off 9, much better now from Finchley. Elliott back in the attack and a looping catch just falls wide of the keeper, then two runs - 3 backing up the throw though, sensible after the earlier performance. Half-way and its 57 for 2, but 12 off the next over from Judah. Come on Mathias - first ball a dot, then one to slip that didn’t carry, much better over this but a cut to the boundary off the last ball. Extras top scoring at the moment, but a nice straight drive for 4 adds to the misery off Dawud. 83 for 2 off 13, could be a big score. Pulled to square for a catch off Matias but falls short. Then a pull to square for 4. This is dangerous now. No intensity in the field. Aarav Patel to bowl, plenty of hopeful appealing but no results, then Nico Ponzoni Kirkham into the attack. 97 for 2 off 15. Double wicket maiden is the cry, no pressure then - but second ball down leg side and helped on its way for 4. 8 from the over and 105 for 2 off 16. Keep them under 130 might be chaseable?

Here comes Sachin Tibarewala, his second ball gets past Nico for another 4. We’re going to need a good batting performance tonight I fear unless we get some wickets here. Finally, a catch and the third wicket down, well taken Sonny! We needed that, a good innings from their batsman out for 40 though. Next ball same shot but Elliot spills the catch, a good over and its 110 after 17. Aarav Patel to bowl and immediately three’s action - a wide, LBW appeal, a throw that breaks the stumps, one that beats the bat, everything but a wicket! Four from the over and its 114 for 3 after 18. And time for a Jake celebration - second ball of his return to the attack takes the middle stump if not out of the ground, out of its frame! Good death bowling now, great over, slightly spoiled by a four off the last ball clipped to square though, 119 after 19. Last over to Aman, left arm over. Hard throw in from Sachin raises anxiety levels on the boundary but good backing up, then a four to mid-off, nice shot. Chipped to square leg, out! Great catch. Then one clean bowled, Aman’s on a hat trick next match I reckon.

125 for 6 after 20 over, extras spoiled it a bit, but we can still get this. Two wickets each for Jake and Aman, and one apiece for Sachin and Elliott. Time for a beer… but there’s a bit of aggro on the touch line, Jason’s had his beers confiscated by the groundsman who’s being a bit tetchy, but the Chairman has returned them with an apology. Well done Sir! If I’d known I would have one of Jason’s instead of spending my kids’ inheritance in their bar, on principle, but there are licensing issues apparently. Good piece of half- time entertainment though and Jason gets to take his beers back home*.

Seyan Patel and Sonny Synett to open for Finchley, bowler looks quick, but a helpful 4 byes through the keeper. Nice cut from Sonny, just stopped on the boundary. Sonny apparently used to play here, which explains why Jonny is hanging out with the opposition. Not sure I approve. 13 after 2, run rate’s on track but not too many off the bat. Spoke too soon, Seyan is clean bowled for 1 and Sachin to the wicket. Extras keeping things ticking for us like their first innings. 19 for 1 off 3. Flashed to third man from Sonny, great stop from the fielder, just a single. Mr Tendulkar pushes one square for 4, beautiful. And another. Great over. Then over mid-off for another 4. Risky two, just in. 39 for 1 off 5, well ahead of the rate now. Lofted over mid-on for two from Sachin, then overthrows. That all helps. 44 for 1 off 6. Sharp caught and bowled though, unlucky Sachin that was a good hit, he’s out for 14 after some lovely shots. Second wicket down. Aarav’s in, a bit of a messy interlude here, risky singles and appeals, need to settle it down. Lofted for 4 by Aarav and past the fielder for 4. 51 for 2 off 8, rate has slowed a bit. Sonny wakes up and smashes one through mid-on for 4. Jonny reckons he learned that shot during his time here. 57 for 2 off 9.

Square through the fielder’s legs for 4 off Aarav, thank you! And another pulled to mid-on. This is good stuff. Aarav’s dancing down the wicket like Stokesey now and its 67 for 2 off 10. On track at half-way. Steady running from these two, knocking off the singles and another good over, 70 off 11. Bit of tight bowling next over slowing us down, only four from it. No panic though, we have time. Visitors on the boundary still chuntering about the beers, general consensus is it’s a rule that is never respected. Jury’s out. Sonny hoist one full and straight but stops short of the boundary. The outfield has slowed, maybe a bit of dew, and nothing is reaching the boundary so some good running going on. Sonny’s retired for 21 and Elliot’s in now. Cut to square for 4, great shot. 85 for 2 off 14, 40 needed from 6. Doable. Another 4 from Elliott, pulled to square, he looks in good form and these two are progressing well. 91 for 2 off 15. Next over offering some buffet bowling - did that go for 4? Not given, but the next one does from Elliott, straight drive through the fielders hands. Pulled for 4 from Aarav, lovely hit. And he dances down the wicket again for another straight 4. 105 for 2 off 16. Great over. And another 4 from Elliot to mid-off, then a full toss dispatched to the same place. 118 off 17 and Aarav’s retired for 33, great innings. Nico’s in for the last couple of overs, 7 needed. Risky single and he’s off the mark. Thought he would have blocked it. Then Nico uncharacteristically dances down the wicket, but just a single. Elliott’s run out for a smart 23! Jason’s not happy, convinced he was in, but Rishi’s given it. Matias in next. 4 to win. Nico on strike, and he’s smashed one to square. Sir Geoffrey would not approve of that but its game over and a win by 7 wickets. The unbeaten run continues, and Finchley are 27 points clear of Hampstead after 8 matches.

**Match Report by Paul Kirkham