Concorde v Pyestock

Match Report

This was the sort of game we play cricket for! Plenty of runs, some great individual performances, a heart warming cameo and a tight finish that looked at various times as if it go either way finally ending in a win for Concorde with only two overs to spare.

Perhaps Pystock have been paying too much attention over the last few years because on winning the toss, they put us in. Once, our openers, Nikhil and Edgar has recovered from the shock of having to pad up at so early a stage in the day, they proceeded to bat in an assured but clinical manner in putting on 60 for the first wicket. Indeed, it was a major surprise when Edgar, leaning back onto his favourite pull shot, failed to get the desired connection and was caught at deep midwicket for 26.

Nikhil was joined by Nick Freeman who did not have time to adjust to the slowness of the wicket before he was out and Ashley strode purposefully to the wicket. These two then played beautifully in taking the score beyond 100 and up to 150 before Nikhil, having passed 50, tried to manoeuvre the ball across the line and was bowled for 57. Ashley continued along his merry way, striking powerfully straight and through cover being joined briefly by Rob Symondson, who made a swift 13 including a 6 and a 4, and then Jerry Wright.

These two took the score beyond 200, due mainly to Jerry giving the strike whenever possible to Ashley who then took a savage toll. Ash reached a glorious 100 on the stroke of tea at which point the innings was immediately closed with the score on 228 for 4.

Not content with his heroics with the bat, Ash took the new ball (the old one actually but new to us). Perhaps unsurprisingly, he lacked the nip of last week but still induced the batsman to hit one back at him which he could not cling on to in his follow through. It proved an expensive miss! Pat Wells gamely agreed to open the bowling at the other end despite not having played cricket since he was 11 and it was a real bonus when, with his second ball, which admittedly bounced twice, he hit the stumps as the batsman aimed probably the worst shot of the day over square leg. He then bowled a four over spell of good and bad which was all the more dangerous for its unpredictable nature.

Nikhil after his 6 wickets last week came on and immediately tied up an end but George was having difficulty with his grip and after 3 overs, gave way to Edgar who immediately slipped into a good length although, as is always the case with leg spinners, pulling down the odd ball which was despatched through square leg for 4. Both batsmen looked settled so it was a surprise when Ed got one to turn and bounce and the no 3 stopped his pull shot and succeeded only in giving a simple catch to Jerry Wright at midwicket.

At 60 – 2, the match was well balanced but the tall opener and the number 4 began to take command, mixing watchful defence with some excellent attacking shots and the score began to rise moving past 100 and then 150. It must be said however, that neither batsman was looking confident against Nikhil which meant that they were having to take chances at the other end to maintain the scoring rate.

Needing to try something different, it seemed a good time to give young Ben Westen (13) a bowl and is so often the case, the batsmen’s concentration cracked against what they probably perceived to be an easier challenge. To Ben’s second ball, the batsman aimed a lofted drive to deep mid off where Father, Ashley, ran fully 30 yards to take a stunning running catch, no doubt all the while, mindful of the abuse he would take in the car from his son on the ride home had he failed to do so.

This was the opening we needed and we settled into a pattern of giving the opener a single and concentrated on bowling as much as possible to the new batsman. He, faced with the pressure of trying to get the runs, was bowled by Ben trying to go over the top and his successor was then caught,again off Ben, by Nikhil at Mid on.

With the door ajar, Nikhil now began to reap the rewards of his pressure as batsman after batsman began to lose composure. The Opener having completed a superb fifty was beautifully caught at the third attempt by Ashley who finally completed the catch with ball wedged between his thighs. The final challenge was presented by the powerful no 7 who, in the past, we have seen hit the ball a long way but we were able to frustrate him with some deep fields and tight bowling until he was bowled by Nikhil whilst seemingly in two minds.

With the last pair at the wicket, Pystock needed 34 to win but the more pressing matter was that we were running out of time to bowl them out. With two overs to go, Nikhil dragged the batsman forward and Nick Freeman completed a masterly stumping to give us the win.

Nikhil finished with 5 – 35 from 16 overs, the first time I can remember successive 5 wkt hauls at the Sendholme ground, and Ben finished his match changing spell with 3 – 27 from 5 overs. Ashley completed a triumphant day for the Westen family with three well taken catches to go with his earlier century.