Winning the toss it was a true no-brainer to bat first, given the heat and what looked like a batter's paradise of wicket. As usual, the trusted pairing of Daz Hall and Neil Eggleston took to the field to open the batting and set up the foundations for what everybody hoped would be a big score.
Starting steadily, the pair began to build a partnership by not taking too many risks and feeding off bowling error rather chasing the runs. The heat was harsh and with boundary's proving hard to come by, the pair appeared to feel the effect of the constant trudge of running regular one's and two's. Drinks came with the opening pair still at the crease and everybody looking forward to Eggy and Daz pulling the trigger with bigger shots as the overs went by and MPCC kept wickets in the hutch (oh yeah! I watch Cricket A.M!!) It was not to be however as just after reaching the 20 over milestone Daz was trapped LBW for 17.
Spike Davis came in at 3, minus the patience implant we all hoped he'd had fitted over the Winter. Thank heavens it was missing! Spike started as he meant to go on, hitting hard and far and bringing some welcome boundary's to the scorebook. Inspired no doubt by Spike's Gayle esque big hitting, Eggy sought to come down the track at the bowlers. Whilst the right thing to do in response to some ridiculously slow, flighty bowling, it was to be his undoing as a big swing and a miss saw him stumped for 37.
Glenn Longden made a welcome return to the fold at No.4 and with two hitters at the crease, the rest of the team sat back and waited for the fireworks. The fireworks came but were shortlived as despite finding the boundary a number of times in short succession Spike didn't quite catch one and found himself caught for 23.
Pete Quinn came in at No.5 looking to build on the fairly respectable start he had made with the bat the previous week and soon found himself in the box seat as Glenn was bowled only five balls after his arrival looking to go big off the bowling of Upton's Gillian for 16.
Pete Quinn fell 2 balls later, cutting a delivery beautifully from the bowling of Anderson only to see it caught at knee height in the covers by probably the oldest man on the field!
With the team having only just crept into three figures and with 16 overs of the innings left, the expectation upon the shoulders of Carl Thurlby and Brian Costello to steady the ship mounted. It wasn't to be however as no sooner had Pete Quinn got back in the dressing room to remove his pads, he was joined by Brian, caught for 2 having mistaken a fielder for an umpire.
The collapse was well underway as Rich Blackwell strode onto the field, carrying his bat a little like a lumberjack might carry an axe. Rich and Carl tried to get something going but it began to feel like too little too late as their efforts were only rewarded by the fall of further wickets with Carl bowled for 5 and Rich departing in identical fashion for 3.
Graham Footitt and Rem Fiorini represented the tail and MPCC's last hope of salvaging a decent total. Graham was dispatched quickly, bowled for 0 leaving last man Graham Allen to join Rem for frankly whatever we could get out of it.
The pair played well together, with Rem in particular striking the ball true and calling the runs. Graham made a valiant attempt at matching Rem's enthusiasm for runs but was bowled hitting across a straight ball for 4 leaving Rem to retire 10 not out and Police all out for 141 in the 34th over.
MPCC took to the field for Upton's innings knowing they had a mountain to climb. With regular new ball merchant Carl Gabbitas overseas, the captain looked to Spike Davis and Graham Footitt to open the bowling.
Both started well with Spike in particular demonstrating a much improved line from the previous week. Upton have some very useful opening batters and the despair was there for all to see as Spike had two very convincing LBW appeals turned down in quick succession. Luck just didn't seem to be with Police as Graham too got nick after nick which either fell short of a fielder or squirted to the boundary.
Looking to mix up the pace, Daz Hall and Brian Costello were brought on. Brian bowled with his usual ease which despite the odd (and in some circumstances very harshly called) wide ball slowed Upton's openers down. Daz struggled to find his rhythm and was clearly frustrated as everything he tried seemed to be matched by the batsmen.
The heads began to drop and the reality that this was Upton's day began to sink in.
The gloom was lifted temporarily as Brian, bowling his whole allocation straight through as per the previous week dispatched Upton's Beaumont, making the catch from his own bowling.
Eggy was then brought on to inject some pace, which he did and which was rewarded with the second wicket in quick succession as he found Jones middle stump.
The game by now was over however and Upton cruised to victory by 8 wickets with 14 overs to spare.
It is easy to point the finger at umpire's or blame conditions but having had time to reflect, this game could, with a little more luck, have been so different. There were some real positives to take away. The fielding definitely continues to improve, with Rem Fiorini and Graham Allen in particular being the standout fielders. The batting, despite the collapse, was born far more out of panic than not being able to cope with the bowling. The bowling on another day would have yielded earlier wickets and the game could have been different.
As a team we need to accept that we are not the strongest batters but resist the temptation to put all the responsibility on Daz and Eggy's shoulders. The openers will get out, it's a fact, it will happen most matches and therefore the rest of use have to be prepared to go in after them and finish what they started, not panic and hit everything across the line in pursuit of quick boundary's and be bowled out inside 10 overs like this match.
As for man of the match, the decision was not made purely on statistics but on attitude and what should have been. Despite not achieving the highest score of the day, the manner in which Spike Davis took it to the bowlers gave the whole team a lift and without that quick 23 we would have been in a much worse position. In addition, Spike's bowling definitely had the batsmen in trouble and on another day would have given us exactly what we needed to turn the match around. As such, this weeks man of the match goes to Spike Davis.
Bowling Figures
Spike Davis Overs - 5, Maidens - 0, Runs - 25, Wkts - 0
Graham Footitt Overs 4.5, Maidens - 0, Runs - 26, Wkts - 0
Daz Hall Overs 4, Maidens - 0, Runs - 35, Wkts - 0
Brian Costello Overs 8, Maidens - 2, Runs - 23, Wickets 1
Neil Eggleston Overs 4, Maidens 1, Runs - 20, Wickets 1
Batting
Daz Hall - 17
Neil Eggleston - 37
Spike Davis - 23
Glenn Longden - 16
Pete Quinn - 0
Carl Thurlby - 5
Brian Costello - 2
Rich Blackwell - 3
Graham Footitt - 0
Rem Fiorini - 10
Graham Allen - 4
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