1xi vs Sinjun Grammarians - Match Report

"I'll show you some red ink, muthaf..."

“Ol red ink Myers” (M.Davies)

Scorecard

Buoyed by victory the previous week and facing a side that struggled to retain status in the Surrey Champ last year the wick were feeling in confident mood.

A new sense of cautious optimism had entered the dressing room as well as Tongy has selected a changing room DJ for each week. This week should have been Fin Murray but he remembered late in the week that he had an exam on the Monday so Tong jnr stepped up and choose a bit of Kasabian to get the dressing room rocking. Blank faces from Ali, Rashid and Fahad but Kilner whistling along seemed to approve.

Riley’s lucky coin didn’t work this week and Sinjun decided that runs on the board were the way forward. As with last week Aqeel still looked a little short for match practice and the Sinjun openers took advantage of him and a slightly weary Tong jnr (ask him about his antics in a back alley off the Strand the night before…). Despite this the Wick were able to pick up early wickets and the big wicket of Ali Zaidi to a debatable LBW decision meant we had the key breakthroughs.

The change of bowling to Tanveer and Tong snr meant the pressure was applied and Fahad bowled 10 on the spin despite not having slept for 36 hours (how does the guy do it???), only conceding a remarkable 17 in the process. Kilner and Rashid also had a go and successfully claimed wickets and then when Ali entered as 5^th change bowler there was really no let off for the oppo. Catches were held and skipper Tong managed a direct hit run out from mid-wicket in a very slick fielding and bowling display. End result Sinjun all out for 138 in 47 overs.

The deck had been a bit juicy and the ball had moved around right up to the 40^th over. This wouldn’t be a straightforward chase. It was then made even harder when the Wick lost Ali and Rashid with only 8 on the board.

The Tong partnership was once again required to propel the wick along. Well not so much propel as splutter as both Tongs were dropped twice and played and missed regularly. This Sinjun bowling attack will cause damage this year and are far improved from previous seasons. The Tong boys dug in and put on nearly 50 to break the back of the chase. However a rare bad delivery wasn’t fully punished by Tong snr and he spooned to mid-on to the delight of Sinjun. Kilner joined the party and seemed more in control along with Tong jnr but Sinjun kept working hard and picked up Tong, Kilner and High in quick succession to a series of poor strokes. Always difficult to put the bad ball away when you are so intent on keeping so many good deliveries out.

5 down and 50 still needed, nerves jangling and skipper Tong's finger nails were fast disappearing. Surely after such a promising start the boys couldn’t throw this away? Fortunately new recruit Paul Myers adds some solid middle order Northern grit to the team. Not out in both friendlies and the 1^st league game, he didn’t fancy giving his wicket away in this one either. Always composed and happy to take time to get settled he and other new boy Jamal saw the Wick home. It was tight but it had been done. The depth of the Wick batting was key and could be for the remainder of the year. Another bonus point win achieved and the Wick were top of the league. Bring on Dorking next week…..