Tag Archives: Berkshire stags

Cricket: Wicket! – Or is it?

Metro Devils Cricket Team
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Metro Devils vs Gloucestershire Growlers  – 28  Aug  2021

Download: Devils vs Growlers Scorecard  –  Excel format

The Devils thought they had a fifth Gloucestershire wicket as Shiv’s ball thudded into stumps, only to hear the square leg umpire call “no ball” for too many bounces. It was a shame because one more wicket may have resulted in a much more exciting finish as the Growlers better sight, clear calling and strong running allowed them to complete a win with 8 overs to spare.

Sheona, the reprieved batter, ending with a career-best 38 not out with Luke Boulding on 18. The innings had started so well for the Devils as on the fourth ball Ed nicked one from Jack to the keeper, and then Alan bowled the other opener with the fourth ball of the second over.

Prem then held onto a nick from the visitor’s skipper, to give Alan a second wicket, leaving them on 16 for 3. That was to be the high point for the home side as Matt and Alec put on a partnership of over 100 runs before Matt had to retire on 50.

The partnership had been built on a good mix of alert and confident running and cleanly struck boundaries. Hope did rise when Alec was dismissed as Joe, on debut, fielded well to run him out and so deny him a 51 not out as he did not complete that attempted two.

It had been hard work for the Devils in the field with just three partials supported by three low partials and four totals meant there were gaps and opportunities to run not only twos and threes but also more than one four.

The difference is clear in looking both at the dismissals – as the home side had three run-outs including Alan, who had to walk out to the umpire as a non-striker and watch just one ball from there as he was run out without facing a ball.

That was the middle of a team hat trick, following another run and followed by Sheona bowling Ahmed first ball. It was also the case that the Devils scored more boundaries 10 including three 6s to 9 from the Growlers, with no maximums.

All had been worried all about getting a full game on – as both teams had struggled to find players on a Bank Holiday weekend, and both had been assisted by Berkshire players on loan to be able to field 10 players.

There had also been some spits of rain before the game and at times during the afternoon the skies had darkened and enough rain had come down to force the scorer to use their brolly to keep the scorebook dry. It had been first blood to the Growlers as they called tails to win the toss; and asked the Devils to bat.

The start of the game did go well as a new opening pair of Shiv and Everton put on 100 before an exhausted Everton was able to celebrate his retirement. He had a fair amount of running to do but would have had more if his six boundaries had not gone for 30. Sam, from Berkshire, came in as he retired and the Growlers suggested he retire with his strike rate intact after sweeping his first ball to fine leg for a boundary 8.

That was really the high point of the Devils innings as then squeezed by tight bowling backed up by good fielding runs were harder to come by, the loss of Prem, the top-scoring batter of the season run out off a no-ball to spark that team run out a sign of how well the Growlers put the squeeze on.

This game ends the Devils shortened season – Metro have the cup final in Northampton next week to look forward to and some Devils are travelling to Leicester for the development competition the week after.

The stats show prem having a great season in the field with 6 dismissals as well as the leading the batting with 146 runs at an average of 73, ahead of Everton with 81 at that average and shiv with 40 at an average of 10. The top bowlers were Alan with 5 wickets and an economy of 5.9 followed by Asif and Chris Blake with two each and economy of 4.9 and 10.2 respectively.

Match report by Paul Toplis

 

Upcoming Cricket Events

Full Cricket Event list: bit.ly/MBSCricket

 

Metro Devils – The Development Team

Would you like to play cricket? We are always happy to welcome enthusiastic new players, so if you are interested in playing this season or taking part in training sessions, please contact Hassan Khan at the Metro Devils h.khan25@googlemail.com 07792 004838 or contact Charlie lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046

 

Interested in volunteering?

If you want to try volunteering, please contact Lucy lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.

 

Metro Blind Sports Social Networks

Get all the latest blind & partially sighted event information & news as soon as we do!

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Cricket: Hat Trick Ball – Why Not Take Drinks?!

Photo of a batsman about to hit the ball and a team photo of the metro Devils and a photo of current team skipper Hassan Khan
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Berkshire Stags vs Metro Devils  – 22  Aug  2021

Download: Stags Vs Devils Scorecard  –  Excel format

Welcome to a match report from the beautiful Maidenhead and Bray cricket club, a ground overlooked by a screen of trees behind which could be glimpsed a very English stone church and an imposing brick mansion.

The weather was almost as beautiful, despite the poor forecast, as for much of the game there was warm sunlight and a largely blue sky just trimmed by fluffy clouds.

On the fourth ball of the thirteenth over of the first innings Chris hits strongly to mid-on, where a great catch is taken by Rob; Shiv was next in and his shot was a carbon copy and caught by the same fielder.

The bowler is on a hat trick and the umpires call for drinks – is this the first time that a drinks break has broken the bowler’s rhythm when on a hat trick? A break for drinks was needed as this game had got off to a very rapid start after Hassan lost the toss and the Devils were asked to bat.

The first over went for three but Prem and Everton then raced to 50 from just 4 overs, as they put on 68 for the first wicket before Everton was bowled by the home skipper. The score was 123 for 5 at drinks; with Asif also having claimed a primary club membership when caught at short 45 off one bounce by Camile.

Was it drinks break that made Alan’s task easier in facing that hat trick ball – who knows but it was a wide. Alan did become Dion’s fourth victim when he was also caught off one bounce as the home side did well in the field to take seven wickets for 54 runs and leave the Devils at 151 for eight.

Hash then held up one end while Nick raced to 25 and Prem came back to add another 22 to the 50 he had before retirement, with an array of shots all around the ground that included six boundaries and a six over square leg. This strong hitting allowed Hassan to declare on 201 after 24 overs.

There was no tea prepared by Berkshire but food was available in the pavilion, although the service was not quite fast enough to enable the Devils to be able to order and eat a pizza during the innings break. Back on the ground there were 28 overs to take the nine wickets needed for a win.

Asif and Alan opened the bowling and despite the home captain sweeping the ball for a boundary 8, he was then bowled by Alan and the Stags had half the devils score after 4 overs.

There was fantastic fielding from the whole side to back up the bowlers over the next 10 overs with no more boundaries conceded until the fifteenth over.

By that time Chris had taken a great catch at mid-off from Asif’s bowling and Prem had held a nick off Alan’s. The home side had just 79 at the half way stage in the chase.

However the game looked to be swinging their way as 57 were added rapidly for the fourth wicket before Prem look another catch behind the stumps – this time off Ahmed to break the partnership; was there to be another twist.

Nick took two catches at square leg after having previously missed some half chances and so with six overs left the equation was the Devils needed three wickets and the Stags needed 54 to win.

The home side then gave a wicket away as Camile was run out as Rob was attempting a third run as Nick ran down the pitch after bowling to break the wicket at the keepers’ end. When Rob reached his 50 and had to retire with the score on 160, Devils sensed an opportunity.

The score was 170 as the opening bowlers returned to complete the innings and with his second ball Asif beat Ruth and Rob had to come back. Three balls later he drove into the waiting off side cordon of total fielders where the ball went into the skippers hands and then onto the floor! Rob carefully steered the next ball to square leg for a single before seeing out a maiden for the final over.

The Devils end their season next Saturday with their first home match!

They host the Gloucestershire Growlers – while a week later Metro aim to complete a league and cup double at the BBS Cup final in Northampton. Yes – the double as results this weekend have guaranteed them the league title before their final away fixture at Lancashire.

Match report by Paul Toplis

 

Upcoming Cricket Events

Full Cricket Event list: bit.ly/MBSCricket

 

Metro Devils – The Development Team

Would you like to play cricket? We are always happy to welcome enthusiastic new players, so if you are interested in playing this season or taking part in training sessions, please contact Hassan Khan at the Metro Devils h.khan25@googlemail.com 07792 004838 or contact Charlie lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046

 

Interested in volunteering?

If you want to try volunteering, please contact Lucy lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org 07956 292046.

 

Metro Blind Sports Social Networks

Get all the latest blind & partially sighted event information & news as soon as we do!

Metro Blind Sport:  Facebook   |  Twitter   |  Instagram   |  LinkedIn

Metro Blind Sport membership:  more info or Join here

 

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Cricket: Hat Trick! Hat Trick?

Metro Cricket Team
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To begin then in the middle with the final over of the Cheshire Cobras innings against Metro in the first round of the BBS cup.  The visitors to Highgate were on 167 for 8 and the dangerous Howard Greenhill was on strike for the final over, on 110 not out that included three sixes; two scored off the home captain’s bowling.

Matt Dean came on to bowl and it was perhaps a surprise that Howard took a single off the first legal delivery; to leave the number 10 on strike. A no ball was followed by three dots and then a straight one – bowled; the final ball of the innings was a repeat of the previous one. This leaves Matt on a hat trick next time he gets to bowl – perhaps against Kent at Highgate next Saturday in the first league home game for Metro.

Mention must go to those who helped restrict the Cobras score – Mo who bowled his six overs for just 13 runs and picked up the wickets of both opening batsmen; Gavin to a brilliant diving catch by Andy that must already be a contender for catch of the season.

The modest target looked straightforward to chase down until in just the eighth over Howard took a fantastic catch to dismiss Matt for just 14 allowing the visitors to put pressure on Metro, the scoring worm dropping behind the visitors in the twelfth over. Not until Andy Law was bowled by Gavin Griffiths, and Simon Ledwith joined Nick did the rate increase to leave Metro exactly on the required rate at half way also just one ahead of the Cobras at that stage.

Sensible batting was the order of the day and this pair put on 63 from 133 before Simon was bowled by John Prasher; hope flickered again for the visitors when Nick finally fell for 51 with just four more runs added – but this was in John’s last over.

Mark Bond and Hassan needed to get 33 from the final six overs with all the Cobra’s top bowlers having completed their allotted six overs. Mark steered Metro home with 19 balls to spare as he reached 29 from just 19 balls to set up a quarter final against Warwickshire on the 9th June at Highgate.

So that was win two for Metro after their tense 157 run victory – with just one ball to spare against Sussex on 21st April.So as one hat trick hangs in the balance can Hassan skipper the Devils to a win in Berkshire to make it three wins from three and a great club start to the season.

Metro Devils Cricket Team

The weather played its part delivering another warm, sunny day with little breeze at the charming Binfield ground. Hassan certainly made a good start by winning the toss and putting the home side in to bat. However with many bowlers having not bowled for months there was no early wicket for the Devils and both of the Stags openers scored at a good rate, reaching 107 without loss when drinks were taken after twelve overs.

Richard had to retire shortly afterwards and then the Devils wicketkeeper eventually completed a Dave S run out with both runners at the far end of the pitch to dismiss the other opener just short of 50.  Everton chipped in with another run out and then good bowling backed up by energetic fielding – albeit with Hasmukh only blocking two shots where a catch was on offer – slowed the scoring rate. The Stags made use of the full 28 overs available to them to reach 202.

The following main event at Berkshire – tea, lived up to the anticipated high standards; although Dave & Gary had limited time to enjoy the excellent cakes as they had to open the innings.  At drinks the rate of 8.5 had just been kept up as wickets again appeared hard to take on a good pitch for batting; Dave retired, just one ball after tea, with the score on 106 and Hassan came out looking to up the scoring rate.

Having swept to midwicket for two he unfurled an elegant off drive only to see his runner short of his ground after a good throw in from deep mid-off. Jack joined Gary briefed to up the scoring rate and did just that; it looked as if he might overtake Gary but there was not quite enough time for that before Gary retired with this pair having added 59.

So when Jack hammered the ball back waist high to be well caught by Tom Gray, the bowler, with the score on 180, Aemonn and Chris had 20 balls left to score the remaining two dozen runs. Aemonn was swinging and missing but Chris remained calm and with two boundaries to square leg scored 14 off 9 balls while facing just two “dot balls” to gain victory with 11 balls to spare.

A fantastic hat trick of victories – can Metro follow up against Kent and the Devils at the cradle of cricket on the 26th May?

 report by Paul Toplis

 

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Cricket: It’s a Washout!

Metro Devils Cricket Team
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22nd July

Half past three on a Saturday afternoon at Highgate – the open space full of people enjoying the fantastic open space, relaxing with friends, jogging, sunbathing, walking the dog, playing games, cricket in progress on the square. Just normal life happening, but not this week.

Huddled under the limited shelter offered by the trees and the tiny canopy of the scorebox the wet and chilled players from Metro Devils and Berkshire were asking “where is everybody?” as they looked across the deserted open space. There was a children’s party in progress with everyone squeezed into the veranda of the café but the rain had driven everyone else away. A huge disappointment in a summer so full of hot, sunny, glorious days well suited to cricket.

There had been cricket, starting just a few minutes early as the Devils were encouraged onto the field as the heavy cloud cover was menacing three hours earlier and so every effort was being made by the umpires to get as much cricket as possible played.

Dave was back in charge and skilfully flipped the coin to win the toss, choosing to bowl and so give the Devils the best chance of a win. A finish time of seven was agreed to allow time to be lost to the expected showers and David Burt was given the responsibility of opening the bowling from the scorebox end. It was not long before the showers started, although at first the rain was gentle and as the scorer was well protected with a brolly the game was able to carry on.

There were times when a heavier burst arrived, but only for a few balls and so drinks were reached at 15 overs with no time lost. The score was 100 for three but the rain now started to take charge and the drinks break was extended as a result.

At last there was a break in the rain and the teams returned to the pitch but with just one more over bowled for six runs and no wicket the rain returned. The players came off and tea was soon taken early as the steady rain continued. A pitch inspection revealed small puddles on the wicket, which was very slippery on the bowlers run ups. The weather forecast was now predicting more of the same, so the captains agreed that waiting around cold and damp until six 0’clock was not worthwhile and agreed to abandon the game.

So then to bring you the three critical overs that gained the Devils their bowling bonus point.

12.55 David Burt from the scorebox end

The visiting skipper is looking to take anything straight to the leg side and gets off the mark with a two to backward square. However the field is well set and when he repeats the shot but with the trajectory rather higher the well placed Everton jogs in, steadies himself, and takes a good catch. The batsmen cross and Tom learns the lesson that the ball needs to stay low as he takes two boundaries to end the over. 15 for 1

Over 3 David Burt from the scorebox end

A couple of wides to the visitors number three and then a straight one that has the umpire worried that he may have to make a lbw call, The ball beats the bat then manages to find a way through the legs as well to hit middle stump; so an easy decision and the visitors are 19 for 2. David keeps it tight for the rest of the over, a single to the new batsman and then restricting Tom to just two from three balls. 22 for 2

Over 9 Chris Lewis from the scorebox end

Hobbling in from two paces as a result of his knee injury Chris is still bowling well – just a touch two long in his last over where he did hit the stumps but from a no ball. He pins Amar down with a good series of dot balls and then gets the batsman pushing at one just outside off; the ever reliable Hasmukh at short extra gobbling up the catch. The new batsman eases in with a wide and a dot to end the over. 47 for 3.

Alan and Rob both bowled well from the other end, Alan conceding just 11 from his three overs and Rob bowling with good pace and getting the batsman nicking – but although Chis got to one despite his knee, the hands were not as soft and honey-sweet as Hasmukh’s and so there was not a second bowling bonus point to be had. Tom scored 52 in the visitors total with the Devils pleased with the limited number of extras.

Their final game of the season is on the cliff edge in Dorset, the final Highgate game for Metro is on the 5th August when they face Northants in the T20 cup.

Report by Paul Toplis 

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