Tag Archives: Northants

Cricket: What a Difference a Week Makes!

Metro cricket team group photo
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BCEW Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Cup
Semi-Finals

 Northants v Metro – 23  July!

Download: Scorecard  

Sadly, for Metro Devils, a lack of players in the club meant that they were forced to concede their match against Berkshire Stags, with four of their regulars playing for Metro in the Primary Club cup match against Northants. This meant that the Stags took the league title, and a friendly was played at Highgate, including guests from Kent, where two almost full teams enjoyed a very entertaining 25 overs a side match.

Download the Devils-Stags Friendly: Scorecard

Meanwhile, Metro posted just 45 more in 30 overs than they had managed in the T20 cup last Saturday, a score based around Matt Dean’s 159 from 96 balls, as he batted the entire innings before getting run out by Asif Ali on the last ball. It then looked as if the match might have the same result as, after 59 overs, Asif was again at the crease.

This time 22 runs were needed, so the task was a little harder, but surely Metro’s Asif was under huge pressure as this was just his fourth over of the season – the other three having been earlier in the match where he had conceded 25 runs. Credit to Asif as he was thrown the ball ahead of Gareth, who had bowled his five overs for 33 runs.

Mark Turnham was on strike for the first ball, but Northants took a bye to get Asif on strike; the next ball was Asif’s ninth six hit over long on.

Then came the change from the week before as Asif beat the bat to hit the stumps, and suddenly the emotions for the whole team must have changed as now there were 15 needed from just three balls, so the task was harder than the 4-6-4 that Asif had ended the game with and new batter Phil Hancock in his first Northants game of the season was on strike.

Asif had scored 134, several more than the week before; he had nine maximums and six boundaries compared with 7 and 11 the week before.

Phil got the ball backward of square for two, and now care was needed to avoid any extras, and Metro should win. Asif delivered a precious dot ball, and then the second innings finished as the first had with a run out – this time it was the Metro skipper, and this was just Phil’s third ball, and Metro had won by twelve runs.

The Metro team was Devil’s regulars Asif, Rob, Alan, and Prem, with Rory, Matt, Mo, Gareth, Amit, Andy and Nick. The cup final will be a repeat of the 2018 final, with Metro hoping to do better against Sussex than in their league fixtures this season.

Match report by Paul Toplis

 

 

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 lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org  07966 260089

 

Interested in volunteering?

If you want to try volunteering, please contact Lucy at lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org at 07966 260089

 

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Cricket: Northants Edge Nail Bitery

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BCEW David Townley DT20 Quarter Final

Northants v Metro – 16  July!

Download: Scorecard  

Northants reached the T20 cup semi-finals with three balls to spare at the delightful Badby cricket ground as Asif went like a train, a large, powerful 4-6-4 locomotive, from the first three balls of the last over to enable Northants to overtake Metro’s 208 with three balls to spare.

On a beautiful hot day where the shade of the listed trees just outside the boundary was essential for keeping the batting sides cool as they waited to bat and drinks being needed at seven over intervals both for the players and the umpires, all those watching were treated to a classic game.

It was a day for records with umpire Alan Pierce standing in his 1,000th match and more records to follow after the toss had been won by Northants who chose to bowl.

This was the first BCEW visit to a ground of a club that trace their roots back to 1855 and who were able to offer a background as green as possible in a scorching summer, the most generous hospitality, and that great boon of complete peace and quiet.

Northants opted to open with a total bowling the second over of the innings that went for just six as metro’s openers settled in their work.

They reached 50 from 34 balls, and Matt was starting to look dangerous when in Gerald’s first over, his lofted cover drive was caught by Asif on the boundary to bring the drinks beak one ball early with the partnership of 57.

After drinks, the over ended with Amit bowled to leave Gerald on a hat trick. Seven balls later, after Mo had started his innings with two boundaries in two balls, Nick carefully saw off the hat trick ball by defending on the leg side.

Three legal balls later, an elegant cover drive brought up his 1,000 career runs which he celebrated with back-to-back sixes pulled over square leg from a no ball and a free hit. The third wicket 50 partnership came off just sixteen balls, with Mo hitting eighteen from just four balls! Mo holed out to Howard off High’s first ball for a quickfire 32 from 10 balls with all the runs in boundaries.

The next 50 partnership was from a more pedestrian two dozen balls, Justin and Nick adding 77 in total as Asif bowled Nick for 91, having bowled Justin on a free hit ball earlier in the over, from the last ball of the innings.

A much-needed break with an excellent tea followed before Northants began a chase which offered to produce a close game. Metro did not use the Northant’s tactic of opening with total bowler, but started with Rory and Mo backed up by Nick, but skipper David and Howard still almost matched the Metro scoring rate.

At the start of the sixth over, they were just eight behind on 34 as Justin bowled to David, who skied one back at the bowler, who, after a juggle with hands and body, managed to complete a catch.

At that point, the innings mirrored the first as Hugh was bowled first ball to set up a second hat trick ball of the match. After seeing off the hat trick ball, Asif settled into a big-hitting innings with a six over square leg.

At the first drinks break, the difference in scores was just four runs, and the gap widened a little to 18 in the middle of the innings before Asif’s big-hitting matched Mo’s so that the gap was just 11 at the second drinks break with Metro having five partial and one total over to bowl.

Neither innings was chanceless, as the partnership reached 100 from 47 balls; there was a tough chance for Matt to take Asif and Howard was well caught by Nick in the covers on a free hit. The 157 partnership proved a winning one – as an exhausted Howard who had been hit by Mo was trapped LBW by Justin, so 18 were then needed off seven balls.

Gerald, cool as a cucumber, swept to the backward square leg boundary to leave that final over chase to Asif, who finished with 105 from 48 balls with 11 boundaries and seven maximums.

The sides meet again next Saturday in the Primary club 30 over the semi-final and will hopefully also manage to play their league game that was scuppered by the trains in June before the end of the season.

Match report by Paul Toplis

 

 

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 lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org  07966 260089

 

Interested in volunteering?

If you want to try volunteering, please contact Lucy at lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org at 07966 260089

 

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: A Win in Less Than Half a Full Game!

Group photo of the Metro Cricket team smiling with their 2019 BBS cup trophy and medals
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Metro v Northants Steelbacks!

Metro got their season off to a flying start by completing a victory over Northants almost before the teas were delivered to the ground. It was a cold, blustery day, with the wind making life difficult for the bowlers especially perhaps from the scoreboard end. Rory won the toss and naturally elected to bowl although Mo had not arrived to complete the playing XI as play got underway promptly.

Rory’s first over was a dream start to the season – a wicket maiden that saw the stumps flying backwards on ball three. The following over was then the most productive of the innings for Northants as Rob struggled with accuracy and David Howells struck a boundary through mid-wicket that just eluded Matt Dean on the boundary.

However, it was the end of Rory’s second over that made it an excellent start to the game for the home side. The ball was hit firmly into leg side where it was blocked by Amit before bouncing to Mark Bond whose accurate throw to the bowler was safely gathered allowing a run out to be secured to make the score 13 for2 with both openers dismissed. The visitors seemed unable to give their innings any momentum after that start.

Mo started his spell in the next over by knocking over the stumps and conceding just four before Rory completed his spell to end with one for four. At the start of Mo’s next over Amit took an excellent athletic catch so that the visitors had two totals batting with score on 19. Mo almost got a second with two successful LBW appeals only for the second to be overturned as the square leg umpire called a no ball on length.

The pair of totals had a 15-run partnership before Mo was able to complete his LBW wicket finishing a spell with two more wickets than Rory but having conceded three more runs.

The partnerships for the next two wickets were both 10 runs and both were ended with catches to the keeper; first from Nick Ebbeck’s bowling and then Hassan Khan’s; after which drinks were taken with the fifteenth over in progress. Some may have questioned the need for a break especially as the penultimate wicket was taken just four deliveries after the restart with Matt Dean safely taking a catch at mid-wicket.

Mark Bond ended the innings as after a half out LBW he had Hugh Spence give Rory his third catch with only 59 runs scored. High had batted almost the whole innings having walked out a ball four.

Metro needed 60 from 44 overs and completed the task in less than 44 legal deliveries as Matt Dean and Damion Corrigan both scored 21 and Nick Ebbeck chipped in with two boundaries to make the chase look easy. With five boundaries it had looked as if Matt complete the chase alone until he skied one to square leg where Asif was able to hold on to a difficult chance.

Northants wondered if they might have a chance when Nick was caught by the keeper two balls later only for Damion to lead the chase home supported by Andy Law. The chance of a third-wicket was thrown away as a nick to the keeper was dropped so Mike Harrison completed his spell with just two for six, surely wondering how he was on the losing side with such a great bowling display.

Metro start their cup campaign on the 7 May against Somerset again at Highgate.

Match report by Paul Toplis

 

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 at h.khan25@googlemail.com 07792 004838 or contact lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org  07966 260089

Interested in volunteering?

If you want to try volunteering, please contact Lucy at lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org at 07966 260089

 

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 
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Cricket: The Lord Gave And The Lord Has Taken Away

Metro with 2021 National League Trophy
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BBS Primary Club Heinrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup 2021

Download: Northants Vs Metro  –  Excel format

Metro hung onto the BBS Primary Club Heindrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup, despite some suspect handing, on the trip up to Northampton County Ground for the 2021 cup final.

Metro had held the trophy for two years after taking the trophy with its new name for the first time against Somerset in 2019. However, during the game, their hold failed as their opponents’ safe hands took eight catches to dismiss Metro 24 runs short of the total needed for victory.

In an exclusive, our well-placed source can reveal, one of the three nick behinds taken did come off the body, not the bat! Amit stood in disbelief as he was given entry to the Primary Club and had almost to be dragged from the wicket by his runner. The small misjudgement was only admitted later our source can reveal. Gerald held two other catches – Hassan to leave Metro in trouble at 13 for 3 and the final wicket of Damion who made 90 and ensured an exciting end to the match.

After the game Metro’s impressive league cricket was celebrated as they received the 2021 BCEW National League cup having secured the title before playing their final game which is away in Manchester on 19th September. So just one cup to bring home, not the prayed and hoped for double – that will have to wait for another season.

 

Playing in their first-ever BBS cup final Northants got off to a good start by winning the toss, Metro will need to work on improving this aspect of their game as this has been an all too frequent result this year. Opting to bat Northants started with their Hassan and the dangerous David Howells.

First blood went to Northants on the pitch as Hassan scored 11 from the opening over bowled by Amit. Metro roared back into the game with Mo and Rory bowling; Mo delivering a double-wicket maiden in his second over as Matt caught David at mi9d-off and then Hassan took a sharp chance to dismiss Mark Turnham.

The Ali brother then came together and batted carefully before Hassan was trapped LBW as Justin bowled a wicket maiden in his second over. So after 10 overs at 47 for 3 Metro were looking good but Gerald and Asif put on a 90 run partnership in the next 10 overs before Hassan and Mo combined again to dismiss Gerald.

This slowed the scoring rate again the remaining overs went almost exactly like the first 10 with Northants adding 50 for the loss of three wickets; Mo took at catch off Damion and Rory had the Northants skipper out hit wicket and then a final over nick through to Justin behind the stumps.

On a good pitch, it seemed that a chase of 188 ought to be within the capability of Metro with Damion adding strength to the batting that had scored 233 against Somerset. There were huge cheers as David Keeling’s first ball was smashed to the mid-wicket boundary by Matt. Dave was bowling looping deliveries with a lot of spin and got his revenge two balls later as Matt repeated the pull but up into air to give a fairly simple catch to Asif.

He teased all at the ground with a juggle but clung on to boost Northants in the field. Things got worse for Metro as Dave took a wicket in each of his first three overs, with David Howells catching Justin and that first nick behind by Hassan.

With Damion at the crease, things did look a bit brighter as the Metro worm overtook the Northants one in the seventh over and stayed ahead for the whole game. Nick and Damion gave Metro their best partnership of 59 before David took as second catch in Dave Ks’ fifth over, after the surprise of finding he had not taken a wicket in his fourth.

As he completed his second spell of three he was back in form, taking to one wicket that fell to simply good bowling as he bowled Mark. That is not to say that the Northants bowling was poor, simply that shot selection and offering catches contributed to all the other wickets.

Well that is apart from the horrible mix up that saw Rory run out, Matt running for Damion had no interest in a two with the ball heading to Asif; but Rory had turned and started before being sent back but was unable to make his ground as the wicket was broken.

Nine down but Ahmed saw off the final two balls of the over and with six left including three total overs and two from weaker partial bowlers the next over was key. Asif got one to bounce outside off stump and a tiring Damion could onto edge it to huge cheers from Northants.

It was a game played in a good spirit with some final individual performances, Damion’s 90 from 65 balls; Asif’s 82 from 64 balls and 5.1 overs, maiden and three for 12, Mo’s 6 overs, 2 maidens three for 11, but overshadowed by David Keeling’s 6 overs, five for 22. That places him second on the list of stellar cup final bowlers, ahead of Dave Samuels 5 for 25 from 1997 and the remarkable Heindrich’s 6 for 7 in 2001.

There was a consolation award for Matt Dean as BCEW partially sighted batsman of the year before a trip out to drop sorrows and plot for the Lancashire game and the 2022 season.

The Lord Gave And The Lord Has Taken Away – Job 1:21

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: Fantastic First League Win of The Season!

Metro Cricket Team Players laughing together as they retire from batting
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 Northants v Metro – 18 July 2021

BCEW Scorecard here:  Northants V Metro –  Excel format

On a very hot day of bright sunshine, Metro benefitted from time spent on practice as they held a good number of catches to win despite having lost the toss and been invited to bat.

Nick partnered Matt in a fifth opening pair for the team in as many games. This changed worked well as the pair put on 121 before Matt Dean was out for the first time in the season and his first score under 100 0nly 71, as he was well held at silly mid-on by a total.

Nick took on responsibility for the innings and reached 92 from 78 balls before he was the fourth out at 229. Hassan Arif saw off a hat trick ball from Hassan Ali as Rory got a first baller and here were a few runs for Mark Bond. So clearly almost nothing for anyone else as Metro declared after 30 overs on 245.

There was an excellent tea and then a hint of a breeze as Metro took to the field needing to find a way to get ten wickets to win the game.

To take you through those wickets:

The start was as good as anyone could have wanted as Mo’s first over went one, three dots and then an LBW. Mo was involved in the second wicket as Mark Turnham chipped the fifth ball of Amit’s first over to him at square leg. That was 23 for two. Then just three balls later Mo took an even better catch off Hassan’s second ball as the ball was hit low and hard to square leg where he took a great tumbling catch.

This is not all the Mo show but in his third over he knocked the stumps over with his second legal delivery and followed that up with a half out LBW. The next wicket was perhaps crucial as Nick summoned the energy to have his batting to bowl the fifteenth over. He was hit for a 6-second ball but got his revenge on David Howells three balls later as the batsman tried the same shot again but this time a bit lower and into Matt Deans arms at deep square leg. That left Northants 90 for 5 halfway through their allotted overs.

The next over Amit completed his three-over spell by bowling Gavin Griffiths off a little edge, and Metro was scenting victory. There was a great bit of teamwork for the next wicket as the ball was defended to the off side, bounced and was then flicked by Hassan before setting in Andy Law’s hands to give Rory a wicket.

The Mo & Amit combination was back for the next wicket but with bowler and catcher reversed as Amit took a good catch at silly mid-on. Three wicketless overs followed before Amit took another catch to give Gareth a wicket and leave just one wicket needed for a win and eight and a half overs to go.

They were not all needed as after some debate between the umpires a catch behind for Nick off Gareth picked up the last wicket.

This was the second match of the season against Northants, after the drawn game at home and hints at a good game to come when the sides next meet on 4th September in the BBS cup final.

It was Metro’s first league win to add to the win claimed over Lancashire who could not raise a team to travel to London for the league. Before the BBS cup final Metro complete their league fixtures with trips to Lancashire and Somerset but their next match is the DT T20 quarter-final against Sussex at Highgate on 31st July; a game followed by the Devils trip to Dorset for a T20 semi-final on the 1st August.

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 Links & 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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