Wide Balls & Dropped Catches Cost Police!

Some food for thought was definitely served up as MPCC took on Thorseby Colliery U18 in a 20/20 match played out in gloomy conditions at Fourth Avenue Edwinstowe. Taking to the field with only nine players to field first, MPCC had their work cut out from the start. But some strong, consistent, bowling from Carl Gabbitas soon settled any apprehension as it appeared early doors that Thorseby were perhaps not going to pose the threat with the bat that had been expected. Carl's accuracy was rewarded as early as the first over when Thorseby's C. Murphy chipped the 5th ball up allowing Rem Fiorini to take the catch.

Spike Davis took the opposite end to Carl and initially struggled to replicate the devastating line he has been producing in net's to the dislike of everybody's legs! Having started with a flurry of wide balls, Spike found his rhythm against left-hander Willis, clean bowling the batsmen with the last ball of the over.

Carl Gabbitas returned for his second over and picked up where he left off with great line & length which yielded another wicket for the bowling machine as Thoresby's Tyson edged one into wicketkeeper Pete Quinn's gloves for the catch. With the home side at 9 for 3, MPCC began. to believe that Thorseby were there for the taking.

After one more over, Spike and Carl were replaced by Darron Hall and Graham Footit, followed by Brian Costello and Carl Thurlby. Despite no lack of effort, the early work was slowly unpicked as a series of dropped catches and a horror story of an extra's column assisted the home side in putting on another 68 run's before the next wicket fell with Spike Davis taking the catch from bowling of Darron Hall. The run out of Thoresby's Walker followed with great work from Carl Gabbitas seeing him throw a direct hit at the stumps from his own bowling.

Graham Footit continued to contribute with a great two over spell at the death taking two catches from his own bowling and cleaning up Thorseby's Wiggleswade with the last ball of the innings to leave MPCC requiring 110 to win.

MPCC took to the field in confident mood but openers Darron Hall and Brian Costello soon found out that the home side were perhaps a better bowling unit than there their batting may have suggested. As the light began to fade it wasn't getting any easier and Darron Hall was soon to find himself walking, bowled by Walker, an ex-team mate of all people, for an uncharacteristically low 6 runs.

Brian, sensing what needed to be done held up his end well (fnarr!) and forged a useful partnership with no.3 Carl Gabbitas. Despite regular scoring however, the required rate continued to climb as both batsmen struggled to get the ball to the boundary consistently and it was one slash to far for Carl as he was eventually caught for 22.

Richard Blackwell came in at no.4 with a reputation as a big hitter. No doubt rusty at not having played for a couple of years, Richard too found it difficult to connect and the responsibility was quickly falling to Brian to make the runs. As per Gabbitas, it was not long for the catch came as Brian tried in vain to go over the top having contributed an impressive 33.

Pete Quinn came in at no.5 with the required rate at the point where only boundary's would suffice. With the light seriously in question and consistently straight, quick bowling, Pete only lasted 5 balls before being cleaned up taking a big swing trying to rescue the match.

Spike Davis came next only to see Richard Blackwell bowled in Quinn fashion almost immediately for 2 runs.

Rem Fiorini was next but the match was virtually lost with Police eventually ending up 26 runs short at 84/5.

As an exercise in blowing the cobwebs off the match was very useful and as we ease ourselves into the Summer ahead I am sure some of the flabby fielding and wild bowling will sort itself out. In total, the team gave away 26 extra's, an ironic number when one looks at how many we fell short. It is unrealistic to expect to play a game where no extra's are conceded (particulary if the wicket keeper continues to celebrate BEFORE the ball has hit the stumps, only to find it flying over the top and disappearing to the boundary rope for 4!) but I doubt anybody in the side will be happy with that figure.

As for man of the match, well, as usual there was more than one candidate. Brian Costello entered a strong bid with his 33 runs, as did Graham Footit with a three wicket haul including two caught & bowled. However, with impressive bowling figures of 2/16 off four overs, a direct hit throw for the run out and a contribution of 22 runs, the man of the match goes to a deserving Carl Gabbitas.