Crucial promotion battle won against weakened opposition

A poor weather forecast loomed over the key game in the lovely surroundings of Botany Bay. The weather had switched from glorious sun to windy and overcast. It was second place playing sixth place, with Botany Bay still having an outside chance of promotion, though not helped by probably only three teams going up this year. Limited availability meant that we only had 10 players, with Ben Crocker making his debut this season to help us out. The wicket looked green and damp and we were pleasantly surprised when the opposition captain chose to bat on winning the toss.

The Preston opening batsmen, John Skitt and captain Spencer Linsell, were greeted by our regular opening pair of Darshan Raval and Naz Asif. Darshan’s bowling has been improving as the season went on, and as his ‘run’ up has shortened and his trademark no balls have been greatly reduced. Darshan and Naz both bowled lovely spells, with the scoreboard trickling along at about 2 an over and the Bay batsmen clearly wanting to stick around rather than push the score along. John Skitt was first out in the 10th over, surprised and clearly not that happy at being adjudged LBW by the home umpire (20/1). This wicket brought on a mini-collapse as Raza Kazmi took a sharp catch at square leg to dismiss Spencer Linsell for 7 off Darshan’s bowling (20/2) and Naz bowled youngster David Stanley in the next over (20/3). At this point things were going very much to plan and an early finish and vital 30 points were looking well on the cards. Chris Manly and Ryan McMenemy then set about rebuilding the Botany Bay innings, with Manly looking resolute in defence and McMenemy trying to play the more aggressive role, taking the total on to 49 in the 22nd over before McMenemy was bowled by Naz (49/4). Simon Clark continued the recovery, playing aggressively for his 17 until falling LBW to Darshan (71/5), and walking off moaning about the number of appeals Darshan had lodged, a bit rich coming from a batsman who had used his pads more often than his bat! Incoming batsman Andrew Knight also managed to steady the ship until Manly’s resistance was ended in the 35th over off a leading edge to Jonny Gahan off the bowling of leading wicket taker Graeme Burton (98-6). Andrew Welch attempted a rearguard action though wickets fell regularly at the other end with spin twins Burton (3 for 21) and Kazmi (2 for 9) picking up the last five wickets to end the Botany Bay innings at 128 all out, with Jonny Gahan pouching three catches. A few drops of rain had fallen towards the end of the innings and the dark clouds looked threatening as tea was taken.

Zaf Basit didn’t fancy opening after keeping wicket, and neither did anyone else who was asked until Naz ‘Boom-Boom’ Asif volunteered and so the pinch-hitting pair of Naz and Lee Crocker started the Mill Hill reply, with the promise of quick runs and/or quick wickets in store. Fortunately, quick runs were the order of the day, though Naz surprised the sideline sweepstake by defending the first ball, then reverting to type being dropped at midwicket off the second ball of the innings. It’s not often that Crocker is the junior batsman in a partnership, but Naz took a particular like to the bowling of Simon Clark and dispatched his second and final over for 18. At the other end Ryan McMenemy was bowling some nice lines and he produced a lovely ball which clipped the top of off stump to end Naz’s short and sweet innings of 35 (48/1 from 6.2 overs!). Ben Crocker strode out to join his brother at the crease and immediately showed the benefit of Lee’s back garden coaching with a solid forward defence. At the other end, veteran off spinner John Jarvis had been brought on to take the pace off the ball, and took the wicket of Lee Crocker (15) caught at midwicket skying a mistimed pull shot (56/2). Zaf came in at number 4 and looked scratchy, clearly unused to facing spin bowling, and was out LBW to Jarvis for 11 (88/3). Ben Crocker was driving well until he was finally out caught for a valuable 26, comfortably outscoring his brother (98/4). Jonny Gahan replaced Zaf and looked comfortable, playing a couple of lovely square cuts before also falling LBW (harshly in his opinion) to Jarvis for 9 (105/5). The last 20 runs were then knocked off without further drama by Chris O’Brien (20*), clearly feeling comfortable in a place named after a penal colony, and Dave Flavell (10*).

Conclusions Darshan shortening his run up has lead to a dramatic improvement in his bowling, both in quality and quantity, bowling 14 overs to finish with 2 for 38. Naz Asif also bowled a lovely long opening spell of 12 overs, 3 for 35, to leave Botany Bay on 52/4 at drinks. Spin twins Burton and Kazmi then finished the job. The Botany Bay captain had made the mistake of believing the weather forecast, electing to bat on a tricky wicket, hoping to bat long enough for the rain to either finish the game or make batting much trickier, though we were also lucky to face a much weakened side with what was a pretty strong 10 players. Pinch hitters Asif and Crocker got the innings off to just the start which was needed and a win was practically assured after their initial battering of the bowlers. Another vital step in the promotion battle, also effectively knocking Botany Bay out of contention, though all the other contenders also won their games.

Next week, Knebworth Park Vs away.

Mill Hill Village IIs 30 points, Botany Bay IIIs 9 points.