So with the nights closing in and the clouds overhead the Mallards made the trip over for one of their traditional end of season matches away at Bill Quay. Bill Quay has significant place in recent Mallards history partly due to the number of bizarre injuries and once the home team not turning up at all. This time Brown appeared wisely (given earlier in the season) wearing a helmet muttering about being hungry and suggesting he would be back (he did not re-appear clearly food was hard to find). Ankush also brought his dog who actually looks a lot like him especially when he lets his hair and beard grow out a bit (Ankush that is). Having said all of that the BQ folks were as ever welcoming reciprocating the style of friendly cricket that we strive to bring to our game – win, lose or draw. And so it was and as usual with this fixture at this time of year we agreed a shortened game of sixteen overs and as is usual at every time of year the skipper lost the toss.
Bill Quay elected to bat with Rathinam and Nair opening the bowling. Rathinam demonstrated his all round ability early taking the wicket of Averill for 4 in the first over. It looked like the Mallards might be off to a flyer but it was batters Reader and Fletcher for the home team who plundered quick runs with Fletcher bowled for 20 in Nair’s final over. Bill Quay were 44 for 2 from 6 at the first change. On came Latif and Ankush who soon got into the action with Latif having a chance dropped in his first over and Ankush clearly distracted by trying to quit smoking dropping a catch from his own bowling. Soon however the dot balls began to mount up and with Reader retiring for a solid 26 the pressure told and Latif struck with two stumpings in consecutive overs due to brilliant glovework from Skipper Buckley. The Quay were 78 for 4 after 12. Who would the Skip put onto to bowl to finish the innings? Buckley turned to Butcher the ‘Butcher’ to popular acclaim who took a wicket with his first ball in both his overs with his new ‘slow-chop’ action mesmerising the batters into false strokes with both being bowled for 0 (finishing 2 wickets for 3 runs conceded). Dobson from the other end also helped further put the dampeners on the run rate taking a wicket in his final over with BQ finishing their innings becalmed on 87-7 from 16. A good performance in the field from the Mallards on a tight ground with some short boundaries and despite one or two other dropped catches which on another day might have stuck we kept the opposition down to a potentially achievable target.
Ankush and Sharukh were sent out to open the batting in response. Kush still suffering from nicotine/canine deprivation appeared to be distracted and after a bit of an unusual struggle was caught LBW on a loopy low bounce for 7 in the second over. Sharukh however took a liking to Reader’s bowling in particular and swiftly ramped up the the score with a series of savagely struck boundaries with Park supporting. Park looked like he had the measure of the bowling but another example of loopy low bounce method bowled him for 4. Onto the field came Wilson (erstwhile Opening Batter) who was quick off the mark from (which was a surprise given his average was 0 this season). After 4 overs Mallards were 34-2. First change of bowling saw Sharukh soon retire for a smashing 27 bringing Latif K to the crease. Wilson and Latif K kept up the momentum with well timed yet somewhat jiggly running between the wickets interspersed with boundaries. Latif K striking one particularly fine four with laser precision between the fielders on the boundary and Wilson cuffing some wayward legside bowling away finally being bowled for 20. Mallards were 80-3 after 10 overs with victory in sight and with all rounder Rathinam at the crease the game was safely stowed with Latif K finishing on a fine 16 not out and another Mallard victory in a season when there have been far too many to comprehend. Many smiles at the end of the game with the jolly home team and encouragement for them to join us the Mill next year.