Hampstead CC vs Finchley CC U11s A

June 28th 2022

20 mins late, this is becoming a recurring theme. Swimming and sports day today, nothing like a bit of egg and spoon. Rushed here with the red scoring book, turns out not needed as we have Romil with his iPad. Hi tech, what the younger generation can do. Got a place in the Hampstead car park though - result! The sliding security gate here was a bit intimidating, we should get one of those at Finchley, that would keep Steve happy.

Right, chair set up, Sanchit has given me a beer, Jason reckons he’s started the report (might get that for catch up later though he reckons his vocabulary is limited so might not pass muster) and we’re away. Should be a less stressful and tense night than last night, still an important match but not like the cup final. What an evening that was! FCC won the toss and opted to bat. It’s 14 for 1 after 4 overs, Jake Schapkaitz was the man out, after a change of bowler left hand fast down the hill. Looks like a tricky wicket and conditions. Elliott Kennedy and Aarav Patel are batting, let’s see. Bit of a breeze behind our backs, but a lovely evening here at Hampstead. 16 for 1 off 5 and 21 off 6. An edge to first slip - who isn’t there - and a four for Elliott. 15 off the over and its 36 for 1 off 7. Second beamer in a row to Elliott’s head, he just avoided it and it’s a bye run. Don’t keep chipping like that though, there will be a catch – but a lovely square cut from Aarav through for 4, it hit the rope surely? No, just 2. 45 for 1 off 8. Elliott and Aarav building a nice partnership here, the 50’s up. Nicely off the toes to square for Elliott and a misfield gives us a four. And pulled to mid-on by Elliott for another. Beautiful, they’re in control now. Another smashed to square, and a cut to the offside. 65 for 1 off 10. Perfect start.

So, 71 for 1 off 11 and everything is calm. Some stories being shared about last night’s party - Aarav pulls one for 6, fantastic! - looks like we left a bit early. I’ll need to work on a strategy for celebration nights I think. 83 for 1 off 12, Aarav’s on 33 and Elliott 31. So, late nights on school nights, what’s the best strategy? Need to consider the domestic situation too, not always straightforward. Aarav pulls one, four, heading straight and fast for Romil’s beer - but with the reflexes of a cat and with the ipad in the left hand he collects it with the right before a spill. Awesome, despite the passing years, what a man can do when his beer is at stake.

These two have taken us to 93 off 13, they are really opening up now. Straight drive for four from Elliott, fielder makes a half-hearted attempt at a stop, but their heads are going down. 100 up! 104 for 1 off 14, Aarav’s retired to make way for Dawud Ali, fantastic innings of 38 off 42. Pull for a 6 over mid-on from Elliott and that’s his 50, amazing. And he’s retired too, making way for Rishi Mehta. Great batting Elliott, 53 off 39 balls. Its 114 for 1 off 15. Another 150+ is on the cards here. But Rishi edges one to third man and takes a risky second, almost run out. 120 for 1 off 16. One bounce for 4 to long mid-off from Rishi, he’s finding his range now. 126 for 1 off 17, time for the last 3 overs. Woody’s giving me a neck massage now, easy - thought it was Nico so told him to stop annoying me! Nice thought though Woody and appreciated, just not sure we’re ready for that yet. Buy me dinner first. Pulled off his toes for a four to mid-on from Rishi, nice. 137 off 18, 150 definitely on here. But Dawud misses a straight one and is bowled, so time for a cameo from Rayaan Alibhai. And he’s off the mark with a four lofted to mid-off. Turning ones into 2s and its 147 for 2 with one over to go. Four from Rishi and the 150’s up. And another. And a third, 12 in 3! A wide, that gets retaken in the last over. Four. And four. Sorry to be repetitive but what can I say? What an over, Finchley finish on 170 for 2 off 20 overs, with 23 coming off that last over. Superb. 32 off 16 from Rishi and 15 off 5 from Rayaan.

Matias Gura to open our bowling, the boys in the field look like they’re up for this one now. Push to square, sharp throw from Jake and a run out! Brilliant work and they’re one down already. But a misfield off an edge to third man allows a four. 7 for 1 off the first. Aman Raja next to bowl. Bit loose and a no ball, high. 16 for 1 off 2, runs are leaking a bit. Rishi picks one up and runs in, was that a bit of sledging?! 19 for 1 off 3, much better over. Appeal for a catch from behind off Aman, Rishi’s umpiring now having switched with Amit, so not given, naturally. But then a chip to Ray at mid-off and an easy catch, 2 down. Sharp work in the field keeping the runs down now, its 22 for 2 off 4. Dawud to bowl now. Sachin Tibarewala’s taken one in the face, a sharp bounce just in front of him. Is he OK? Rishi’s attending to him, but is he first aid trained? He’s back on his feet, well done Sachin.

Right, Nico Ponzoni Kirkham to bowl, having spent the first few overs in exile at third man. A play and a miss outside off stump, nice ball. But a loose full toss smacked for 4. Good comeback though next few balls, just 6 off the over and its 32 for 2 off 6, way off the rate now. Aryan Bavishi to bowl now, one short, one long, and a lofted 6 over long mid-on. But a great comeback and nearly a stumping. A nice over from Sachin and Aryan’s back into the attack, and it’s getting a bit chilly now. 46 for 2 off 8. And Aryan’s got his wicket, classic, pitch them up, get hit a few times, but persist and the reward will come. Fantastic. 50 for 3 off 9 now. Aryan’s found his length now, and David’s appeared with a new jug of beer. Lovely. But a clutch of loose balls allows a few runs to leak. 57 for 3 off 10, then 66 for 3 off 11. Nico back into the attack. Clean bowled. Beautiful. And naturally not on video. Just one off the over but the last ball a bit loose and dispatched for 4 to square, nice shot. Good over though. Rayaan to bowl now, spin. Couple of loose balls, one smashed for four to square, nearly a run out on Nico’s throw, it’s all happening now! 77 for 4 off 14. Good over from Nico and Ray’s back into the attack. Woody’s feeling the pressure, come on Ray, give your dad a break with a good over! Otherwise, I’ll have to give him a massage. Six…hmmm. Four then a great stop and throw from Nico to the stumps. 100 for 4 off 15, 71 off 5 is a bit much so this game should be done now. Big Rishi has now instructed little Rishi to bowl. This should be fun. Pace and line, but a nick through the keeper for 4, so quick and a short boundary. Bouncer, batsman can’t get near it. Four through third man - no, it’s glanced off the stumps and he bowled him! Fantastic ball, batsman had no chance. Five down. Next batsman in, Sachin to bowl and few big hits. But he’s fired up and takes his wicket, off stump out of the ground, great bowling. 113 for 6 off 17, Aman to bowl the 18th. Batsman gets his fifty with a single, well done. But Aman takes his wicket with the last ball of his over, clean bowled. 114 for 7 off 18. Jake puts one down off Matias’ first ball, unlucky! He’s fielded really well tonight though. Out LBW! But no, turns out there was a pre-match agreement that there would be no LBWs. Tough on the bowler that. Matias could have had 2 wickets in that over, but a dropped catch and no LBW scuppered that! Right, Jake to bowl the last over. He’s taken a sharp return and thrown at the wickets but just missed, that was out! But he’s got his wicket, middle stump goes flying, brilliant bowling. And another, he’s on fire! What an over to finish, that says out all. Hampstead made 127 for 9 and Finchley win by 43. Solid. That’s the league done, I think. What a team and what a season this is turning out to be!