What a difference a week makes; from 34 degrees and blinding sunshine to cold grey and raining, it has been a crash back to British summer reality. The turning point seemed to be on Friday when our game against the touring Motley Crew CC from Peterborough started in extreme heat but was cut short by spectacular thunder and lightning.
Anyway, our nomadic season took us to our latest home ground at Percy Main, and a new opposition in Cleadon CC. England’s fixtures at Chester-le-Street and wherever the football was played, had an impact on the attendance rate; just five regular mallards turned out, with Despot Taylor opting instead to umpire.
Mallards lost the toss and batted first, stepping out in a light rain that would persist for the remainder of the match. Ringers (and soon to be recruited Mallards) Philpot and Young got the innings off to a bright start, seeing off the opening bowlers, before an inspired bowling change in drew blood from the first ball. Philpot out LBW for 17.
Burns and Young kept things moving before Young holed out with the score at 37 after 6 overs. The youth of Tindale and Burns tried to bring the energy on an increasingly difficult pitch before Tindale holed out in the 12th over.
Cox and Burns tried to keep up momentum but tight bowling and a lively deck meant they were content with getting through to the close. Innings closed on 75/3, opinions divided on whether that represented a good score or if we’d be home for an early night.
Another new Mallard Aigaran opened the bowling with good pace and quickly settled into a good rhythm. At the other end, Cox was also getting into his work. Cox struck first in the 3rd, leg stump clean out of the ground. Then again in his next over, middle stump similarly flying. Best sight in cricket, that!
I’m writing the report, so I can indulge in a little self-congratulation.
Anyway, 28/2 after 5, and things starting to turn our way.
Time for the spinners, Holland and Latif enjoying what was by now a decidedly muddy track , both hitting a challenging length and finding turn straight away. However 75 takes a lot of defending, and the wet outfield meaning the wet ball difficult to grip for both fielders and bowlers.
The score kept ticking along, despite both spinners taking wickets. After 14 overs , and at 65/5, it was a return to the pace of Tindale and Burns, both looking impressive. Despite a final wicket to Burns, we just didn’t have enough runs in the bank and defeat came in the 17th over.
Kudos to both teams for soldiering on through the rain, cheers to Gareth for umpiring the full match, and to those who turned out Mallards for the first time – may it be the first of many. To the Cleadon guys, thanks, and see you for the return fixture next week. -DC