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Match Reports 2022

Mallards v Durham Staff July 12 @ Riding Mill

What I’ve done here is left it too long after the match before writing the report. This could be quite short and might not rank amongst the most accurate recollections of the truth that this fine website has ever hosted. And that’s saying something.

On one of those funny summer days that constantly looks like, but never turns into rain, two familiar teams gathered at the Mill for a spot of cricket. One thing of note was that for the first time in living memory, Tony Cleaver opted to forego a shot at the Friendly Fire trophy and played for Mallards against Durham. He didn’t have to wait to get stuck in either as Mallards were to bowl first.

Cleaver was into his business straight away, not able to find the breakthrough but not giving the batsman an inch. The third ball of the innings saw DCSCC opener Whitfield pull up lame with a calf injury that saw him helped from the field. Taking the ball at the other end, Boyce was also bowling well but fell victim to a couple of misfields on this lightning fast outfield to spoil his figures.

Neither bowler was able to find a way through, though if memory serves there were a few drops that night. Things are too hazy to apportion blame with any certainty but I’m sure the perpertrators know who they are… After both had completed their spells, they’d done well to hold the score to 46/0.

Change bowlers Latif and Cox were similarly unsuccesful in getting the breakthrough, and it was starting to feel like one of those nights. However, the run rate never really got away, hovering around 6 rpo throughout the innings. Latif and Cox were replaced with Holland, S. and debutant Anand. Anand bowled with pace and movement but it was Holland who finally lifted the curse, having DCSCC number five, Nathan (numbers 2, 3, and 4 all reaching 30 and retiring) stumped by McCaffrey for 13. Just to rub it in, Holland struck again as Boothroyd I was caught by… I’ve forgotten, sorry.

Innings closed at 124/2, so the runs had been curtailed despite a  lack of wickets. All to play for.

A strong looking batting line-up got off to a poor start as Boothroyd, S removed opener Holland E for nowt and first drop Cox for 5 to leave Mallards at 10/2 after four overs. Things picked up quickly however as debutant Anand, batting at four, sent four of his first five balls screaming to the cover boundary. Inevitably, he retired shortly after on 31, with the score at 50/3 in the 8th over.

Things were much better placed at this point as Green and another newcomer (I say newcomer, but he’s been at RMCC for donkeys), Marks started to build a sound partnership with both timing the ball well and rotating the strike, despite Marks hobbling noticeably. After 14 overs, Mallards were one run ahead of Durham at the same stage, so this looked like it was going to turn into yet another classic between these two teams. However after Marks departed for 12, and Latif’s attempt for quick runs failed after a promising start, things started to tail off a bit.

Boyce tried to keep rotating the strike with Green but both were dismissed and we were unable to keep the momentum going, ending on 112/7 after our 20, a loss of 12 runs.

As per tradition a strong beer and bullshit session followed as the sun set on another enjoyable fixture between these two teams – the 42nd recorded fixture since 1998, long may it continue.

Match Reports 2022

Mallards v Stamfordham CC July 27 @ Stamfordham

 Pulling together a full team has been a struggle of late due to a mixture of holidays, injuries and plain old age and so it proved again as just 9 Mallards turned up at Stamfordham to find a green and
softish looking wicket following some wet weather out of keeping with the majority of a fantastic July.
Stamfordham only had 10 and generously agreed to lend us a couple of fielders as we started with 8 due to Mr McCaffrey being held up in traffic. Skipper Butcher strode out to the middle, well halfway, determined to win the toss and get first use of a batting track that was surely only going to get worse. Of course, he lost the toss and Stamfordham jumped at the chance to bat first themselves and also suggested we should both bat through our allotted 20 overs regardless of how many wickets fell. Ever the gentleman and being a believer of home team, homes rules, Butcher agreed.
With regular opening bowler Cleaver unavailable, no doubt still recovering from his 5 wicket haul and hat-trick heroics from the previous week (somewhat mischievously absent from the match
report!), young Ed Holland opened the bowling and immediately had Stamfordham’s skipper questionng his decision as “Rambo”(according to their score book) spooned the very first ball of the game in to the grateful hands of Butcher. At this point I should point out that Stamfordham’s scorer had a somewhat unorthodox approach to scoring so let’s not concentrate too much on figures,
statistics or names (good luck at the end of the season with this one Coxy!). Suffice to say Ratty and Angry Andy settled things down for the hosts and started to score steadily in the face of some tidy
bowling from Holland (E) and Bell on a pitch that was generally keeping low. AA fell 1 short of his 30 in the 10
th with the score on 60 (ish), the first of what was to be 3 wickets for Holland (S) who had taken over from Bell. “Dino”, “Razor”, “Duke Nukem”, “Ryan”, “Biggun” and “Creature” all came and went cheaply while Ratty fell some time in between to Nish for a well-made 22. Nish bowled especially well to the right handers (they had a few lefties) and took 3 wickets as did Coxy who bowled a couple of overs from either end. The late clatter of wickets meant that the host Skippers suggestion came in to force and Rambo got a chance to atone for his first baller. He took the most of his chance smashing 4 4’s while “Teeth” hit a couple as well to take Stamfordham’s total to 119 (for 10 wickets), a very respectable total on a difficult pitch.
Mallards reply started well, in comparison to Stamfordham’s, as it took until the 5th ball of the first over with a couple of runs already on the board before Butcher played across a straight one from
Teeth (now called Jaws in the score book!) and was rightly dispatched LBW by Umpire Cox.
Sadly he had barely reached the pavilion before Wilson was following him, falling victim to the next ball.
Holland (E) played out the next over safely, adding a couple of runs before Teeth got the chance to complete his hat trick with the first ball of his second over. Pleas from (Mr)Teeth’s team mates not
to let him achieve said feat fell on deaf ears as McCaffrey was clean bowled. Judging by Teeth’s reaction and that of his teammates this was a first for him. Incredibly this was the 3rd Mallards game
in a row where a hat trick has been taken (thankfully the other 2 were by Mallards bowlers!). The score book gets particularly confusing at this stage, but Holland E fell shortly afterwards before Cox and Nish restored some semblance of calm, scoring steadily to take the score to 49 of 10 overs. Nish was next to fall for 16 or 22 depending which score book you choose to believe! Bell hit a nice 4
before departing for 7 and was soon followed by Holland (S) and Beacock. This gave Wilson a chance to atone his first ball duck which he did (kind of!) this time surviving for at least 2 balls before being
trapped LBW by Teeth! Butcher got another go as well and after surviving a very good shout for another LBW to Teeth managed to hit a few runs. Cox finally fell for 22/28 (choose your scorebook!)
and then McCaffrey got another go soon followed by Holland(E). Seasoned Mallard Coxy had wisely left his pads on and was called upon to help see out the final over. Amidst the chaos it was hard to
keep track of the score but somehow the scoreboard showed we needed 6 to win of the last ball.
Butcher only managed a single after which the score board declared we had finished 1 short on 118!
On inspection of the score books it appears the score board operators were “taking the piss” or at least “on the piss” as (thankfully) both score books showed Mallard finished on 86 (for 12 wickets!)
A slightly bizarre game but one played in a fantastic spirit with both teams having a lot of laughs.
Everyone had a bat (some twice!) and most had a bowl, with Stamforham’s bunch of 15/16year-olds acquitting themselves very well. Thanks to the several Stamfordham players who fielded for
Mallards at some stage. Beers were taken in the excellent clubhouse, with glasses being raised to Bill Telfer who had resurrected Stamfordham CC in the 50’s (having been originally formed in the 1870’s) and was still president of the club at the age of 95 before he sadly passed away last week. While tonight’s game may not have been one that Bill had imagined when he started up the club again,
hopefully he would have approved of a bunch of lads both young and old having a great time while occasionally playing some cricket! I am now away for a lie down and a think about what “home rule”
I can dream up to level up the playing field for return fixture at Riding Mill.
Uncategorized

Mallards v Wearmouth CC 20 July @ Wearmouth

 The great thing about Mallards’ match reports is that reporters get the chance to write history as they would like to perceive it, sometimes with reality being completely thrown
out of the window. And why not?
As a club, we’re blessed with some notable members who are published authors (fiction and non-fiction), experienced reporting hacks, many who just enjoy a chance to write something that’s not yet another work-related document and finally a few who, well, have a need to share their surreal view of the world with the rest of us occasionally. Long may our reporting tradition continue.
That diversity makes for rich pickings and a way to mitigate those out of season blues – as well as helping Buxom remember what the hell went on in the season when it comes to compiling the end of season awards shortlists several months later!
Yet another great thing about match reports is that sometimes they give the reporter a chance to indulge in a little bit of narcissistic bragging when they do something remarkable that hasn’t happened in quite a long while. Especially when it comes to the aforementioned awards shortlisting. Of course, some players may be just too modest to indulge in such conceit or maybe it’s that they just can’t be arsed to contribute to Mallards in this way. Who
knows?
In this particular case however, neither of these apply as I am of course referring to the return of your despot to the field of play, for what I hope will not be my only game of the season.
Arriving in reasonably good time, your despot was greeted by the meagre handful of Mallards who had managed to make it before 6pm. Changing into whites – ecstatic in the discovery that they still fitted – your despot meandered out and was promptly asked if he
would like to conduct the toss or wait for a vice captain to turn up, being still five short of a starting ten at this point. Not to be deterred by such trifling deficiencies in actual number of available bodies, an executive decision was taken, the toss duly lost [no change in that
department then– Ed.] and Mallards invited to field, with the Wearmouth team generously donating a surplus player (who was a surprisingly decent bowler).
Fortunately, the cavalry arrived in the shape of McCaffery, Ramsay and Butcher – the latter also acting as a taxi service for newcomer Nish and our very own Jonny Binstow as he has now been dubbed. A quick change and the game finally ready to get underway 20 minutes
after opening time.
Now at this point, both vice captains demurred from taking on the skippering role, citing the unwritten law “he (or she) who does the toss takes the chalice”. A moment of catatonia passed while your despot had flashbacks involving feral cats dressed in whites and then a pause while long archived memories of what skippering involves (being at least 5 years since last undertaking the role) were dredged up, as a field of some sort was set and the match
could begin.
Mallards openers were tidy, with Peter Bell being especially miserly going for just 7 runs in his first spell of 3 overs. However, it was at the other end that a bewildering clatter of wickets fell to some atrocious shots, despite the despot suggesting to the procession of
incoming batsmen “think about it, have a cup of tea and then play your shot”.
By the 6th over Wearmouth had scraped to 26 for 5, with a special mention to stand-in keeper McCaffery for a particularly fine caught behind making it look like he almost know what he was doing. Could this be a historic Mallards performance in the offing?
Sadly no.
The last over in the opening spell from the top end proved to be particularly expensive, as Wearmouth’s opener finally got a chance to take strike. Supported by skipper Ram a productive partnership started to develop with Ram in particular, after a slow start, going up
the gears and retiring on 30. Browne bowled 3 eclectic overs to finish on 22 off 3,while donated player Premraj was somewhat targeted by his usual teammates and apart from earning a wicket from a fine catch by Browne at cover, finished his 3, going for 25.
By the end of the 13th over, Wearmouth had recovered to 92 for 6 with 2 back in the hutch should they be needed. And needed they were, as wickets continued to fall. Latif taking just one wicket off 3 expensive overs, albeit the returning Wearmouth skipper who failed to add to his 30 – with McCaffery taking full advantage of the fact he was wearing gloves to take a skier and his second of the innings. Mallards newcomer Nish looks a tasty prospect however, clearing out the tail with a sharp run-out and a clean bowled for just 15 off his allotted 3. That saw both retired batsmen back at the crease. Opener, Brigham sensing a half century was in sight, but with only one wicket remaining, dashed down the wicket just one time too many to Bell, who was returning for the last over of the innings, to be clean bowled on 49. The innings closed 2 balls shy of the allotted 20 overs, but the final score a far more credible 140.
Having made a rudimentary batting order to assist the two wonderful scorers who completed both books in both innings immaculately, the despot was petitioned by several players keen to fix their position in the roster as far away from the top order as possible. So, the original list was scrapped, a new one drawn up, and this will explain why there is an almost blank page in the score book.
(Real) Youth seemed the order of the day, so Binmore (aka Binstow) and Ramsay were invited to start the Mallards reply. Binmore taking first strike, made full use of some wayward bowling by Wearmouth opener Donkin – just a shame that we don’t play free-hits for no-balls. Ramsay succumbing to the rush to get the runs moving at his end as well was a just bit assertive early in his innings and was unlucky to offer a well taken catch to depart for just 1. However, Butcher next in at 3, showed what a bit of experience can do, blocking 4 balls before unleashing a trademark cut to the cover boundary.
At 29 for 1 off the first 3 overs could the run chase be on, with Mallards well ahead of the required run rate? Sadly not.
Binmore, batting like a man possessed by his near namesake, was bamboozled by one that got through from Roopesh for 25 and likewise Butcher fell victim to the same bowler, out to a good catch for 13. With Nish showing just what an all-round find he is (thanks Hamid!), the other end saw a steady procession of wickets. To be fair, the light by this point was not great, and even though the despot persuaded the home team to swap to a pink ball at the halfway overs point, it did little to stem the loss of wickets. The end saw the despot coming in at 11, smashing the Wearmouth skipper over cover, only to see the ball hit a depression in the outfield and come to a halt 3 feet short of the boundary for just a single. However, that

was enough to see him carry his bat, as Nish, conscious that the major run-scoring burden would be on him was finally caught for 29 at the end of the 16th over and the game was over with Mallards all out for a creditable, but losing 90.

All in all, a good game played in a great spirit by both teams. The Wearmouth lads are a really decent bunch and possibly we may be able to squeeze in the non-event fixture from a few ago before the end of the season.
With a wake going on the clubhouse bar, and it being nearly 9.20pm, a drink at the end didn’t seem appropriate – even though there was the obvious excuse to celebrate your despot’s return.
Pas de changement alors.
So, instead, it was off home and dreams of what could have been.
Next time …
Match Reports 2022

Mallards v Davipart July 13 @ Riding Mill

Davipart won the toss and elected to bat, sending in seasoned campaigners S Sandhu and G. Dhillon to open the batting.
Watson and Bell opened the bowling for Mallards with both batsmen proceeding to play their shots and putting the fielders under pressure with quick singles before Sandhu drove a well
pitched ball from Bell into the waiting hand of the Mallards stand-in captain Malik at long off.
Any hopes that this wicket would slow the run rate down was quickly dashed and G. Dhillon and Seth were soon back in the club house with their feet up retired on 30 each. Watson 4-0-0-27 and Bell 3-0-1-24 were then replaced by Goldsborough and Malik who both ran in hard and bowled a good line and length. Goldsborough was eventually rewarded with a wicket as A Sandhu skied one towards Boyes who not only called that the catch was his but also caught it (always a good combination).
A Dhillon also retired on 34 after a flurry of boundaries. The match was briefly halted when Malik attempted another wonder catch at long off and sustained a hand injury but after application of the
magic sponge was judged to be fit to play. Goldsborough 4-0-1-28 and Malik 4-0-0-37 made way for the “pace off” combination of Boyes and Latif.
After a disappointing start in which Latif bowled 6, wide, 1 and 4 he produced his Gatting ball and bowled Azam around his legs.  Six balls
later he induced a slice from Gillfillan which fell into the safe hands of Mr ‘two catches’ Boyes who then proceeded to prove that he doesn’t just catch balls by blasting out the tail which was just
as well as it looked like J Ward was trying to excavate a trench across the popping crease.
A fine bowling display from the second change saw Boyes finish on 3-0-2-17 and Latif 2-0-2-22 and an excellent wicket keeping display from Colin McCaffery
A score of 155 to win, not impossible but 7.75 runs an over against a largely spin attack was a tough target.
Ankush and McCaffrey took to the field to face the spin twins of Thompson and Bodera. Ankush unfortunately couldn’t repeat his 157 run innings a mere 5 days earlier and perished in the first
maiden over giving a lollipop catch to square leg.
McCaffrey followed 8 balls later for 1 leaving Mallards 2 for 3. Thankfully Binmore and Ramsay took the attack to the opposition hitting a flurry of boundaries before Binmore retired on 32 and Ramsay was bowled by J Ward for an excellent
11.
Malik was then bowled by Gilfillan for a duck. Thankfully the partnership of Hardy and Latif steadied the ship and the ball once again started to race across the boundary rope with the Davipart spinner Aryan taking a bit of tap and conceding 28 runs off 2 overs. Hardy retired on 33 and Bell entered the fray only to be dismissed first ball. It was at this point that Ankush took over the score book and things start to get a bit hazy.
During a break in play in which no batsmen were padded up Micky Collins attempted to take the field in shorts, T shirt and without pads to keep the game going but luckily a batsman appeared from the dressing room and Collins returned to the safety of the bar.
Latif (17 n.o.) soldiered on sheperding the tail of Boyes (0) and Watson (2 n.o.) taking Mallards to a very creditable 120 from 20 overs.
Player Profiles

Ed Holland

Age: 17?

Specialism: A pacy bowler who seemed to gain several yards overnight. Or maybe everyone else lost several yards, which does seem more likely.

Profile: Likes nothing more than overshadowing his dad (a bit of a Mallards theme) and arguing with his brother.

Favourite colour: Orange

Nickname: Tulip

 

Player Profiles

Calumn Binmore

Age: 24. Like six fours. Or four sixes. None of which has he showed signs of hitting yet apart from in nets (see below).

Specialism: Batting (in the nets).  The firm striker of the ball seen in pre-season practice has yet to materialise on the square. Not being afraid of modern coaching techniques we’re thinking of adding a little net to the rim of his cap so he thinks he’s still back there.

Profile: Keen as mustard. His youthful enthusiasm hasn’t been stifled by the team’s dodgy start to the season or his lack of good stats. Give it time and he’ll be as jaded as the rest of us

Favourite colour: Dirty grey (like what nets are)

Nickname: Dusty (Binmore)

Player Profiles

Laurence Standring

Age: 22? As in Catch 22, which is about 22 more than he’s caught so far.

Specialism: Thought he was a bowler but might also be a batsman. Which is generally considered to be showing off if you’re a Mallard. Give it another month and we’ll train him out of that.

Profile: Can get a bit cross. Could be because he clearly doesn’t eat enough in comparison to his more rotund team-mates . Might have to get Tom Browne to bring an extra pre-match pasty for him.

Favourite colour: Red (rag to a bull)

Nickname: Mr Hangry

 

Player Profiles

Tom Edge

Age: All these new boys look so young. 14 maybe?

Specialism: Swinging.  And he likes to move the ball around as well.

Profile: One of the new posse of young Mallards. Tom impressed so much in the nets that Riding Mill immediately tried to poach him. Now they’ve seen him play on the field they’ve stopped asking.

Favourite colour: Yellow. (Big Coldplay fan)

Nickname: Edgy

Player Profiles

Ankush Kumar

Age: Probably lower than his batting average

Specialism: Quick runs. Not quick running. In fact he’d prefer not to run at all hence his attempts to hit every ball to the boundary.

Profile: Given the choice he’d open the batting and bowling and probably keep wicket as well. Likes to be involved and is a constant source of advice to whoever the captain is (regardless of whether advice is required)

Favourite colour: Purple (He’s a massive Prince fan, which explains the hairstyle)

Nickname: Kush

Match Reports 2022

Mallards v Benwell and Walbottle June 6 @ Riding Mill

After a comprehensive defeat against a very strong Benwell and Walbottle side just a few weeks ago Mallards hopes of redemption were hardly raised when we arrived at the ground to find a youthful looking opposition already being put through their paces in the outfield.

Thankfully it appeared a few of the league players from last time had better things to do this time around although we were reliably informed by our man in the know Micky C that they had a couple of very handy County youngsters instead!

Having lost the toss and been invited to field, evergreen Cleaver opening the bowling with a maiden followed by a tight over from Standring going for 2. A great start that got better as TC bagged 2 wickets in his second over, G Robbie (Robbie snr) who had reached his retirement score with ease a few weeks ago, clipped the ball into the grateful hands of Standring at square leg and Marrow edged behind to wicketkeeper Ankush even though TC didn’t hear the nick – fortunately everyone else did, including those in the pavilion!

Standing kept it tight at the other end and took a catch off his own bowling in his third over leaving B&W on 12 for 3 off 6. Regular readers will know not to get too carried away just yet and so it proved as young S Robbie (Robbie jnr)) was now at the crease and started to get his eye in, taking a particular liking to Standring’s last over to turn brilliant figures of 1 for 4 off 3 in to a still very respectable 1 for 22 of 4 while TC finished with 2 for 14.

Bell and Edge took up the bowling mantle and both went for around 6 an over with Tedge cleaning bowling Nanu (older readers can insert their own Mork and Mindy gags here!).  B&W on 77 for 4 off 14 with young S Robbie now safely back in the pavilion retired on 34 but not before he hit an Exocet like off drive that Butcher managed to stop with his knee to audible gasps from as far as the pavilion as the sickening thud echoed round the ground. Cleaver’s suggestions that he should have used his hands were met with a “ that’s what I was f****g trying to do” through gritted teeth!

Rumours that young Master Robbie’s older sister Margot was going to make an appearance were sadly unfounded which isn’t surprising as I just made it up and it’s probably for the best anyway as being an Ozzie she would no doubt have knocked us round the park and given one or two of the older Mallards a heart attack in the process (for those readers who don’t know who Margot Robbie is or what the fuss is about, just watch The Wolf of Wall Street although maybe not with your wife/partner or even worse in young Alistair’s case, parents!)

Latif bowled the 15 th  and took a wicket with his first ball in somewhat  fortunate fashion as Dickinson who had batted well up to then for his 21 smashed a ball straight at his batting partner at the non strikers end who only manged to succeed in knocking it gently up in the air off his arm for a slightly bemused Liaquat to claim a simple catch. Fortunately the umpire knew the rules (which is more than can be said for most Mallards) and as the ball hadn’t hit the non strikers helmet, correctly gave the unfortunate Dickinson out.

Collins bowled quickly from the other end also taking a wicket with his first ball, this time  a more conventional caught behind and continued to beat the bat on numerous occasions (and the keeper on one of them as well!). Latif took 2 more wickets in his 3 rd  over to finish with a fantastic 3 for 8 off 3 to leave B&W on 93 for 9 off 19 overs and hopeful of keeping the target below 100. Unfortunately the late flurry of wickets had let Master Robbie back to the crease and he continued where he left off hitting a couple of 6’s straight down the ground, albeit one of them was nearly miraculously caught by Wilson (Junior, in case you were wondering!) who ran about 15 yards and then launched himself superman style through the air to get his finger tips to the ball but sadly couldn’t quite cling on to it, very nearly catch of the century! Robbie finished on an impressive 48 (no surprise to here he plays for the county although more surprising to hear later on that he is mainly a bowler) to take B&W to 109 for 9 off 20. A few more than we had hoped but still very gettable and a great bowling and fielding effort.

Skipper Hamid and Ankush opened Mallards reply with Ankush off to his usual rapid start but unfortunately falling for 6 at the end of the first over, beaten by a fast ball that maybe kept a bit low. Wilson junior was up next hitting his first ball for 2 and tried to keep the run rate up, swinging lustily and running hard, surely a winning combination. Hamid started to accumulate steadily and after WIlson had fallen for 5 at the end of a chaotic over of aerial bombardment from Draper the score was 34 for 2 off 7, in comparison to B&W’s 18 for 3 at the same stage. Again regular readers will know not to get too carried away and again they would be proved to be right as the scoring rate slowed dramatically in the face of some rapid bowling from  Robbie (jnr) and some fine leg spinning from Nanu. Robbie accounted for Collins who had been denied both bowling at and batting against Draper much to his disappointment and Nanu kept it tight from the other end regularly beating the bat with prodigious turn. 16 runs ahead of B&W score after 7 had become 16 runs behind after 12 as Butcher and Hamid struggled to score fluently. The run rate then climbed as Draper brought himself back on and again struggled to find his line (and occasionally the batting strip) allowing an invaluable 12 runs off the 13 th. Another good over in the 15 th  saw Hamid retire on 31 after hitting a great 6 but he was soon followed back in the pavilion by Butcher, Wilson (snr) and Bell all bowled by balls keeping low (or so they all said!).

Standring had now joined Latif at the crease and kept the scoreboard ticking over, hitting a fine 4  in the 18 th  over to leave Mallards on 89 for 6, still a tall order but 1 ahead of B&W at the same stage. The order got taller as Robbie then bowled a maiden to finish his 4 overs with 2 for 8 to go with his 48 not out – a very talented young cricketer.

So 21 needed to win off the last, surely too much even (or should that say especially?) for the mighty Mallards. Standing, unhindered by the baggage of previous Mallards campaigns clearly didn’t think so, smashing Bateman for 6, and then after a scampered single, a 2 and a bye he then knocked the 5 th  ball out of the ground as well! Down to the last ball which had looked unlikely after 12 overs and even after 19. For those of you who have lost count, 5 needed to win, 4 to tie, he couldn’t could he? Again regular readings will know……..etc, etc. To young Bateman’s credit he held his nerve and bowled a full ball which Laurence who had advanced down the crease could only fend off, meaning your valiant Mallards lost by 4 runs. A fantastic effort by all and especially Standing against a good side and an exciting end to a great game of cricket. A special mention must go to our old friend Mr Extras who was joint top scorer with Hamid on 31.

Both sides stayed to use the excellent Riding Mill facilities and conduct the usual post-match post-mortems while partaking of  the usual post-match beers. Unfortunately we couldn’t make the third game against B&W in a few weeks a decider but Mallards  pride is still very much intact and with the pre season  youth development policy looking like it’s paying off there is much to look forward to for the rest of the season.

Nanu Nanu fellow Mallards