29^th July

Well for only one Metro player returning from the visually impaired rugby, three nil, “whitewash” of the All Blacks, as Metro’s other rugby player was not available partly as the result of a rugby tour injury. However, cricket with seven and three totals is a less enticing prospect so the team were pleased to find that the opposition only had nine themselves.

The Lancashire skipper is bowling to the Metro skipper, the ball skids through low and a huge appeal has the umpire raise their finger and say “out – lbw”, which has the Lions celebrating as they take a wicket. However the next words from the umpire are “over and time”, and the celebration subsides. Gareth has been denied the chance to bat as the Metro seven grabbed a hard earned draw. They had batted through thirty-one overs to score 91, with a massive thirteen of those from the bat.

The day had started well for the side, who had travelled for two hours on the train to what should have been a home game, as they won the toss and so were able to bowl and field first. The worst of the day’s weather was at the start of the game with a few spots of rain falling on the already quite wet pitch that was the cause of the ball often skidding on for much of the day. There was a further success as first Rory snared an opener leg before with the first ball of his opening wicket maiden over. On as first change Amit then bowled the number three batsman with just five more runs having been scored. Sheraz then came out to join Tahseen and the Lions started to take control as this pair put on over 100 for third wicket before Sheraz became Rory’s second victim as Charles took a well-judged diving catch behind the stumps. Metro were chasing hard in the field and Andy Law, in particular, in the total cordon made several important blocks. The bowling, mainly from Gatreth and Rory was tight and accurate making Lancashire work for their runs by giving away little in extras, but as Wasim joined Tahseen the runs continued to flow with a second century partnership pushing the score on to 217 from 26.2 overs. A further twenty one were added before a declaration on 238 leaving Metro the balance of the sixty to get through. Tahseen carried his bat finishing with 138 including 17 fours.

The attempt to bat the full game out did not start that well as Ryan, who had looked calm and assured, was caught by a diving catch from Rob to grab a well-played defensive prod from the last ball of Arslan’s opening spell with just three runs on the board. Charles joined Amit and they both showed the application and patience needed for longer formats of the game as they blocked the straight balls, and apart from a few wild swings left those not on target to reach the 15 over drinks break having dragged to score up to 34, with 32 extras and the two from the bat contributed by Ryan.

This pair carried on calmly after drinks taking the score past the 50 needed for a batting bonus point, Charles have taken a further three runs off the bat; and shortly afterward Amit drove into the covers for four. Perhaps his patience was wearing thin as just eight balls later he was bowled, giving Lancashire hope of a breakthrough. The next man in was the one wanted in a defensive cause- Hasmukh striding to the cease. He quickly lost two partners – Charles nicking a quick ball from Arslan to the keeper and Andy caught off Sheraz’s bowling. Metro were left with 4.2 overs to face as Rory came in and blocked two balls. The next over seemed never ending as it included 17 extras; the next was tighter to Rory with just two extras but then the first boundary of the Metro innings as Rory caught one down the leg side and helped it to a very fine, fine leg boundary. A less stressful eleven ball over followed and then the excitement of the final over.

A great performance from all seven of the team – hoping to be joined by four more next Saturday at Highgate for the T20 Cup quarter final,

Stat Attack

Metro bowled just 12 no balls and 17 wides in their 29 overs.

Amit faced 77 dot balls, Charles 63 and Hasmukh 21 in the Metro innings.

Report by Paul Toplis