Cambridge Tamil Sangam 138-10 (Raja 43, Raj 22, Brett 2-14, F Christie 2-14, Kavanagh 2-22, J Stinson 1-51) beat Jags 134/8 (M Christie 33*, O Savage 33, Barker 27, KK 3-19, Jeeva 2-12) by 4 runs
MOTM - F Christie/Brett/O Savage - I refuse to choose
Something went wrong with the scorecard - so it looks like Joe had the worst set of overs that ever happened in T20 - when in fact it was just really quite bad. I think he got dumped with some of Holmes' figures, in what was an eventful bowling spell for both men.
This was a nice game, against a competitive but friendly bunch united by a connection to Sri Lanka. Barker took the skippering duties and was told that the perfect result would be a tight defeat to put any lingering fears of promotion or winning the league to bed. He seems to be quite good at making things that I say happen based on this single data point, so I have made a note to be quite specific in future when I want to win or say get a 50.
We lost the toss and were put in to field. Stinson had kindly brought his mate Owen from the RAF to help us get to XI (he hadn't played in 14 odd years), and we had a debutant again (must be a season record this year for people on debut) in Ryan Smith.
Brett was very strong at the start, and tied the opener down using his 8 ball overs well. He got him bowled cleanly with a deliberate, beautiful, off cutter, taking middle and off with supreme control. Ryan started at the other end, he was quite taken aback at being offered the opportunity to open the bowling. He had also brought some revision with him - during summer time no less - to while away his time between playing spells. Diligent chap. His first over was fast and accurate, one wide aside, and he ended up taking a batsman caught by J Barker, I think to mid on. It was a very economic first couple of overs with limited scoring. Brett kept the pressure up with runs hard to come by, pushing the batsmen to a tricky single. O Savage in his IPL Cambs County kit again this week, swooped underarm and took the batsman with a great direct hit. The scoring was low and three wickets were done quickly.
We had set a very odd, almost weekend like field at this point, with two slips and two gullies- ish, and yet the only 4's off the bat came in this region, with a young man scoring two 4's through 3rd slip and Jeeva scoring through 1 1/2 slip. Muzzah behind the stumps could do nothing. The chat in the slip cordon such as it was, was being lead by Benjamin Kavanagh - absolutely determined to win the chat of the day award I offer each week.
Brett took the next wicket, bowling Jeeva with the exact same Off Cutter to top of off with less of middle this time. He was sublime, in full control of bowling today, and the oppo were 4 down with scant runs on the board.
Fraser twirled into the attack and was for the second time this week in total control of his Swan Lake routine, getting a healthy family combo wicket, taking the edge which nestled nicely in Muzzah's gloves with their granddad watching on, I suspect somewhat approvingly. If the slips had been in the game it would have gone for 4. Fraser got the next one two balls later, chipped up to Joe Stinson who took a comfortable-ish sort of catch. Kav continued chirping - and they were 5 down for 30 odd runs. This was certainly a week where pizza looked likely, given the probability of an early finish was high at this point.
Jake Holmes partnered Fraser for a short spell that was very the definition of eventful. You know things have gone awry with his bowling when Jake is muttering under his breath to himself - and so it was. Repeatedly. Two awful wides, were followed up by 4 wide 4. He stormed off, back to his fielding spot angrier than a man who has walked into a pub to be told it has run out of beer.
Fraser's second over couldn't quite match his first, but was still solid. Jake got slightly less awful, still bad mind. At 40 odd for 6 the skipper made an incredible game changing decision. He gave Kav a bowl. He sort of bowls, I want to say off spin, and he varies his length a lot, I wouldn't say deliberately. His action looks professional from the side, but the way the balls get treated suggests the batsmen quite like to face it. Despite some early tap, he got a wicket, chipped up for Holmes to catch in the ring. Stinson partnered Kav, and his first over saw 3 4's and a 6. Barker had a plan to concede runs and it was coming together nicely.
Kav dismissed the set batsman, with Ollie taking the catch - scoring had rapidly increased and it was looking like a competitive game might break out. Stinson bowled some variety, and got another one caught to leave them 9 down, with Owen Abbott taking it high in the slip region. Scoring had accompanied wickets, so Tamil were looking more competitive. Kav really found his bowling range in his third over, which was close to a maiden.
Holmes took the last over and boy was it a doozy. It was so eventful that the scorers gave it to Joe to spare Holmes' blushes. 6, 6 (both long off), two no balls, another 6 a wide and then with the last ball of the game he bowled the batsman to finish things off. Thanks for coming, Jakey!
Barker and O Savage opened the batting for us. The opening bowled was rapid for them, using a grunt at the point of delivery to give it extra oomph .J Bizzle took the decision to take on the other guy, wisely, and hit a 6 and a 4 to the legside. He also clubbed around the other guy at the change, and both openers generally just let the number 1 bowler hit his straps fast and outside off or keep him out when he strayed near the stumps. Barker eventually fell trying to go big again, bowled, for a sprightly start of 27 from 19. Ollie took up from where he left off on Monday, scoring with all the urgency of a grandad in a vintage MG going for a Sunday drive. He was joined by Owen, who pleasingly hit his first ball back for 14 years over the slips and almost for 4. He was bowled shortly thereafter, but a catch, no duck and some banter plus pub attendance meant he had ticked a lot of midweek cricket boxes for a late sub-in.
Fielding was generally quite good at this stage. Stinson joined O Savage and didn't quite find his range, scoring a few before falling LBW to Mr Purton helping out as umpire. Kav came in at 5 - scoring was brisk, but wickets were tumbling too. He took a few to get his eye in, then hit a massive 6 straight down the ground, an almost 4 (3), then went high and was caught for an eventful all action and rapid 10.
It was my go to stroll out at this point and ask Ollie if he wouldn't mind, you know, hitting the ball and running and stuff. I really struggled against Jeeva, so had to try and take the others on - and ran a few 2's and 3's for Ollie. I clipped a 4 behind square (tick in the box!), scoring was getting good and I finally felt I had my range when I was out to an honest to goodness phenomenal piece of cricket. I really connected with one for a certain 4 down the ground close to long off, but couldn't see the ball careening towards the boundary as expected, since the bowler had caught it one handed in his delivery stride at full stretch. I had to shake his hand, no choice, it was excellent cricketing ability to even think of it, let alone do it in real time.
Muzzah joined Ollie and they both scored in dribs and drabs quite effectively, but it was hard to get boundaries and the required run rate was shifting against us. Savage eventually fell run out - pushing for a tough 2 - and he had somehow managed to accumulate 33 runs, in midweek cricket no less, without hitting a single boundary. Brett was run out soon after coming in - with Muzzah clearly in a hurry. He seemed to be accumulating runs with little effort, with a backward square pull and a late cut 4 the only shots I can recall despite his impressive scoring rate.
Holmes joined Muz for a bit and did his best dance down the wicket thing to tip singles and get the main man on strike. We needed 19 off the last 8 ball over, and got 15, partially as the previously competent fielding turned into a bit of a shambles, with overthrows and misthrows and someone jumping over the ball allowing Jake and Muz to work full time on their cardio. They did defend their total, but one boundary may have made the difference and it was fun and comedy to watch them almost screw the pooch from the sidelines.
I prefer winning of course, but when games are this tight, it's great fun. Hands were shook, smiles all round and we had a rare old time tonight. It was darker than Monday and you can feel the sun fading fast.
Chat of the day aware comfortably goes to Christie Senior, who tapped Kav on the shoulder and said, "it's a good thing they got you to bowl, otherwise the other side wouldn't have had a chance and this would have been boring" or words to that effect. Great debut from Ryan, many thanks to Owen and a good game from this nice team was had.
Pub attendance was solid, the last time I'll likely be at the Red Bull in Newnham now until next cricket season. This was our last game at Queens as well, and the groundsman has done an admirable job in a difficult summer of keeping it playable.
A small postscript. Jake boiled my blood, much to his own merriment, in the pub by saying he was done with cricket, but happy to carry on doing "this sort of thing". I was livid. Midweek cricket is cricket Jake - you bloody heathen. The batsmen just showed you that by taking you to the bloody cleaners.
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