Veni, Vidi, Wicky: Keeper Imperator in win for MUFS 4s
Murrayfield DAFS 4s 140-1 (28.1)
D Woodhead 72*, S Bhadra
beat
Bass Rock 2s 136-9 (40)
P Dunn 51, W Higgs 24, B Haylock 2-15, S Bhadra 2-24
by 9 Wickets
Saturday 10th June 2023
(Roseburn Artificial)
There was no stopping wicketkeeper Dave Woodhead on the march for victory, as he compiled a faultless run-a-ball 72* to steer the side to victory.
Captain Baskar on his long awaited return from injury was not quite so fortunate however, losing the toss, and being asked to bowl. Fortunately he came prepared with two gun youngsters in Jaseem and Ragurham to open the bowling. Both bowled excellent opening spells, Ragurham (1-8) being rewarded third ball with the wicket of the opener, clean bowled.
First change bowler Rajendra (0-12) came on to join Jaseem (0-15) and bowled tight lines, squeezing the batting side to just 9 runs off 6 overs. Ben (2-15) then came on and stole their rewards with a big juicy long hop smacked straight to point. Continuing he botched a guaranteed direct hit run-out from Jaseem, and collected a caught and bowled from a rank full-toss. Truly the enemy of decent cricket.
Sailesh came into the attack just before drinks and the opposition barely laid a bat to him, bowling excellent lines and lengths. In the 27th over he finally had his reward, castling the number 5. He finished his 8 overs with the excellent return of 1/23, and would have had 4 or 5 if the batsman got a bit closer to the ball.
It all went a bit wobbly for the opposition from the 30th over, with Neil collecting a good run-out. Not to be outdone, Sunny threw down the stumps in the next over for another. James (0-26) and Subhranil then bowled well to close out the innings, Sub (2-24) bowling the big hitting Higgs, and picking up another chipped to mid-on two balls later.
In the final over the opposition number three, Dunn, raised a well deserved 50, finishing not out with the score 136/9.
Opening the innings Sub and Dave showed no ill effects from the slightly too excellent teas, crossing the hundred partnership near drinks. While Sub was more circumspect he still played an array of excellent shots, hitting 8 boundaries before being bowled for an agonising 49 with the score on 117.
However, there are few things in life more enjoyable than watching someone bat with as much elegance as Dave. Treating anything on his legs to a quick departure and driving anything full with authority, one feels that even with the slightly more agricultural slog-sweeps, he is harvesting from only the finest vineyards.
Admirably aided at the end by Sailesh (8*), he finished the game in style, belting his 15th boundary to secure a comfortable, but much needed, win.