Tag Archives: T20

Cricket: Wicket! – Or is it?

September 1, 2021ArticleBerkshire stags, Blind Cricket, Cricket, Cricket is a Simple Game!, Metro Devils, paul toplis., scorecards, T20, vi cricketSaul Wynne

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!

Metro Blind Sport: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Metro Blind Sport membership: more info or Join here

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

August 23, 2021Article, NewsBerkshire stags, Blind Cricket, Cricket, Cricket is a Simple Game!, Metro Devils, paul toplis., scorecards, T20, vi cricketSaul Wynne

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