A Little Close For Comfort At Toton!

A makeshift MPCC XI (well 10 actually) made the awkward journey to Long Lane for the annual match up with Toton & Beeston Sycamore.

As usual, the Toton XI was full of young bucks looking to use Sunday cricket as means of breaking into the Toton league set up.

Having been asked to bat by the Toton skipper, it was left to Spike Davis and Pete Quinn to open (Eggy's watch battery had packed up again).

It was clear from the off that the bowling of the young Toton side wasn't quite as mediocre as the coach might have had us believe with Blunt taking the wicket of the ever impatient Spike Davis in the first over.

The middle to tail were finding themselves in the spotlight as, with Eggy still not on plot, Carl Gabbitas came in at 3. Pete and Gabby began putting a partnership together which was probably as frustrating to watch as it was to participate in. Despite thier best efforts, both batsmen struggled to get bat on ball and the rate began to drop to below 3 an over.

The pair stuck it out for 15 overs until Pete Quinn was clean bowled by Toton's Pepperday for 16.

Having finally arrived in his own time, Eggy strode on to the pitch with the whole team looking for the batsmen to step on the gas. Even opener Eggleston found it tough going however on an artificial wicket that gave very little but unpredictable bounce.

The pair tried to get a partnership going with some success but a mere 6 overs later, Gabbitas was making his way back to the pavillion having been clean bowled by Wright for a very useful 31.

Guest batsmen Craig Wathall was next and MPCC sensed fireworks. Eggy, riding his luck on a couple of aerial shots previously, found his luck had run out 5 overs later as he was caught off the bowling off Pepperday for 23.

Brian Costello was in next and with 13 overs to go the instruction was to hang around and bat out the overs. Despite a positive start with a boundary, Brian was dismissed 3 overs later off the bowling of Blunt for 4.

Rem Fiorini came in at 7, not doubt apprehensive about his role as wicketkeeper later in the game, his mind seemed elsewhere and by the 30th over, MPCC were 6 wickets down as Fiorini was caught for 2.

The familar collapse looked on as Graham Footitt took to the field, desperate to improve what had thus far been a pretty miserable season with the bat.

Graham started as he meant to go on and much to everyones delight, the ball began to find the boundary with regular ease.

Wathall's cameo came to end shortly after Graham's introduction, being caught going large in the later overs for 12.

Andy Lewin, a last minute fitness test selection that morning took to the field for the first time this season but was very quickly back again for 0.

Last man and guest star Ian Johnson came in with instructions to keep Graham on strike and keep him on strike he did as MPCC managed 150 runs in the 40 overs, assisted by an outstanding contribution of 35 not out from Graham.

The mood had changed as MPCC took to the field. Pete Quinn had relinquished the gloves to Rem Fiorini and the team were upbeat that this was a total that could be defended on an artifical wicket and slow outfield. This feeling was galvanised when the ever reliable Carl Gabbitas struck in the first over, causing Toton's Burman to top edge into Fiorini's gloves.

Only a few moments later, Toton's Ahmed was gone, clean bowled by Spike Davis.

Toton's Atkinson came in next and under the guidance of Toton's skipper Wright, a partnership was begininng to form. This was to short lived however as Eggleston trapped Atkinson LBW a short time later.

Sensing a collapse, the mood in the field was one of exhuberance. The carnival atmosphere was soon to be dampened however by the stubborness of Toton's Wright and Plumbley. The pair batted very well, despite a peppering from all concerned, they had contributed 74 of Toton's total before Gabbitas, returning for his second spell took Wright's middle stump.

Tidewell was in next for Toton, but was simiarily dispatched by the evergreen Gabbitas for 0 and MPCC began to sniff victory.

Dove was in next for Toton and yet more resistance. Plumbley scored freely as Dove held up an end well. It took the wizardry of Brian Costello to dispatch Dove just as MPCC began stare defeat in the face.

The game was there for Toton to win. 17 runs required in 7 overs with 3 wickets left should have been a breeze but chaos ensued (I think we've actually found a team that argue more than we do).

Pepperday stepped up next and it was clear from the offset that he was looking to open his big, butch shoulders and finish the game early. It wasn't to be. Clearly not built as nimble as Plumbley, the big man refused his colleagues call to run leaving them both stranded at the non strikers end and Rem with the easiest run out of the game.

Booth was in next and looked nervous. The infamous MPCC chirping at the batsmen came into play as they sensed an unneccessary urgency within Toton's ranks. Chaos ensued again as moments later, Booth was the subject of a controversiol run out decision for 0.

In came Chamberlain with the game still there to win with easy singles. By now Footitt and Eggleston had the responsibility to wrap the game up and the team came one step closer as Footitt delivered a killer ball to dispatch Pepperday and leave 10 and 11 to find the runs to win the match.

Nerves got the better of the tailenders. With the finish line in sight Chamberlain smashed one to his legside only for Andy Lewin to dive and make a fine stop. With the batsman stranded halfway down the track, Lewin threw the ball for Rem to remove the imaginary bails (private joke, Toton didn't bother with bails on Sunday????) for the third time that day and give MPCC the victory by 6 runs.

As the skipper walked into the dressing room, the match was summed up as perhaps the best and worst victory of the season so far. The worst in so much as we still seem exceptionally fragile when batting first. The best in that the team never gave up, played for each other and won the match against considerable odds.

In addition, the man of the match award for this game has probably been the tightest call of the season so far. Carl Gabbitas made an exceptionally strong claim with 31 runs and 3 wickets, and Rem Fiorini put in a decent shift behind the stumps. However, for his quickfire performance with the bat which gave MPCC a defendable total they didn't deserve and the accuracy of the bowling at the death to secure the victory, the man of the match goes to Graham Footitt.