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Village cruise to opening day victory as Smith and Cara star in Luton rout
Week 1 match report: 1st XI make light work of Luton Town & Indians in a one-sided encounter, writes Jay Nandha
The league season was finally upon us and the 1s bravely ventured up to Luton. Despite the location’s high crime rate, the only crime on show today was the home side’s performance as the Village coasted to a comfortable win in this Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League Division 4B opener.
Skipper Devraj Ray lost the toss and the opposition decided to bat first. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon with the conditions perfect for batting: Luton Town & Indians 2nd XI started well and were regularly finding the boundary on this lightning-fast outfield.
Thomas Smith’s lack of warm-up showed (or maybe he was just tired after a long night in by himself the night before), but he was being hit all around the park, going at 9.33 an over. At the other end, Sam Smith was keeping things tight with some very good line-and-length bowling, drying up runs at his end. His persistence paid off, removing one of the openers with a fine delivery through the gate.
Luton Town & Indians’ Abdul Malik was piling on the runs for the home team despite what was going on at the other end. He was given a few chances, though – the most memorable being a full-on Laurel and Hardy moment when Sam Smith and Alam Khan both converged to drop an absolute dolly between them.
The home side were going at a healthy rate at this stage so a change was needed, provided in the form of Marcus Cara and Obaid Ur Rehman. The danger man Malik was then removed, with Jay Nandha making catching look simple - and from there the home team collapsed. Marcus Cara ended with a well-deserved fifer and Ur Rehman bowling some beautiful darts to pick up four of his own. The crumble was complete and Luton Town & Indians were all out for 117 after only 24 overs.
The Village chase began in style with Sumit Jadav, fresh from last week's ton, showing he’s allergic to singles and dealing with the scoreboard in fours. Daniel Potter at the end supported briefly before being trapped LBW for seven. In at three was Devraj Ray to steady the ship… or so we thought. Struck on the pads there was a raucous appeal given not out but whether it was nerves, anxiety or an out-of-body experience, the skipper decided to channel his inner Forest Gump and just start running. An easy runout ensured and triggered some hope for the opposition.
Sumit Jadav (34) then hauled one straight to mid-on and all of a sudden the Village were three down with still half the runs to get. Time for composure. Enter Marcus Cara and Sam. After a brief, watchful period getting their eye in, the in-form batsman Sam Smith decided enough was enough. He opened his shoulders and peppered the boundary with style and control, with his partner at the other end rotating the strike well for 17 not out. The runs started flowing and the Village were on the brink of 30 points and in true style, Smith sealed the victory with a glorious cover drive to the boundary to finish on 56 not out.
So the 1s get their league campaign off to a winning start with a decent performance despite a few sloppy moments. In all honesty, they never really needed to shift out of first gear and showed they will be serious title contenders this season. Sam Smith took the man of the match with a great half-century and tight bowling and he was rewarded with a well-deserved pasta bake when he got home. Marcus Cara also gets a special mention for his fifer and he certainly can be forgiven for forgoing beers back at the Village post-match.