1864'S START WELL BUT SUFFER A SURFEIT OF EXTRAS AT A WET & WINDY COWGATE.

25th Jun 2025

1864'S START WELL BUT SUFFER A SURFEIT OF EXTRAS AT A WET & WINDY COWGATE.

      Sat 21st June 2025: NTCL Div 5 Central: SNCC v Cowgate (a) (40/40)

Cowgate 203 ao (35o) Tahir Saleem 41, Momand Shahzeb 46, Shinto Sebastian 15, Amjad Ali 14*: Varun Gudipati 2-47, Jacob McCord 2-12, Will Oliver 0-13, Zach Henderson 0-23, Joseph Dresser 0-11, Jacques Graham 3-31, Archit Upadhye 0-12, Aadi Bethanabatla 1-9.

SNCC 1864 95ao (25o) Belinda Wewalage 14, Jacob McCord 34, Joseph Dresser 15, Jacques Graham 9: Amjad Ali 1-27, Almahzai Marofkhel 2-19, Saqib Khan 1-21, Shinto Sebastian 5-18, Shahzad Ahmed 1-6.

Cowgate won by 108 runs - 30 points, SNCC 1864 6.

A tough day for the very youthful 64's boasting 9 players under 18 led by Joseph Dresser in Patrick's absence through injury, against a Cowgate 2ndX1, second in Div 5 Central at start of play.

Winning the toss the 64's chose to field. A strong crosswind & with the threat of rain apparent, Varun Gudipati & Jacob McCord were faced by Ahmed & Ahmad. The ball was swinging & in over two Ahmad (0) edged Jacob to w/k Elliott Mee, 4-1.

In over five at 14 Ahmed (11) drove Varun to cover where Will Oliver took a neat catch. Two overs later Khan (4) drove but edged hard Varun to second slip where Joseph took a good catch, chest high, 25-3.

In the next Mahmood drove Jacob high over cover where Belinda turned & ran 10 yards to take a wonderful diving catch, at full stretch in two hands.... the champagne moment of the day!! 34-4 after 8 overs....wow!

Thereafter the partnership for the 5^th wicket of 115 in 19 overs showcased the benefit of obdurate defence & patience from Saleem & attacking, good use of the feet & a bit of luck from Shahzeb. Sadly, they were helped by rain for 25 minutes making the ball hard to bowl with & to field, (no cloths were evident) 16 wides, some untidiness with 2x4 overthrows, a 5 run penalty as the ball hit the helmet behind the w/k, several misfields, chances not taken & 21 byes as the variable bounce off the wicket & in the outfield made it unpredictable & therefore essential to get the body behind the ball as well as the hands.

Spells from Will Oliver, Zach Henderson & Joseph Dresser were unable to make the breakthrough. Eventually the rain cleared enabling the spinners to be used & it was Jacques Graham who got the important wicket in over 27, his 5th, bowling Shahzeb (46, 50b 6x4,1x6) as he aimed to force off the back foot, 149-5. Four balls later he gained an lbw decision against Sherzad (2) awarded by umpire Thewlis, 155-6.

At 183 in the 31st Sebastian (15) was bowled by Jacques & in the next  Marofkhel (0) was lbw to Archit in his second over. In the next over Saleem 41,(82b, 135 minutes, 4x4), a vital backbone innings, was run out as Varun's throw from third man was received by Archit who effected the run out as the batter returned for two. Saleem's patience on an uncertain surface was a lesson for all as events were to show.

Aadi conceded 2x4 in his only over as Ali drove, but from the last ball, some redemption for w/k Elliott who caught an edge to dismiss last batter Baghio (1), 203 all out, including 61 extras (34 byes,16 wides, 6 leg byes, 5 penalty runs) after 35 overs. Jacques 3-31 from 8 overs the steadiest performer with the ball.

The chicken biryani was delightful after which Aadi Bethanabatla & Belinda Wewalage faced the seam of Ali & Marofkhel. Ali yorked Aadi (0) second ball. Elliott drove nicely through mid wicket & glanced for 2 but would not have been proud of the waft that saw him caught by w/k Sherzad for 6 in the 6^th over off Marofkhel, 19-2.

Belinda & Jacob then took the score to 30 in the 10^th when Belinda (14) aiming to leg, was lbw to a full delivery from Marofkhel, 3 down. Jacob & Joseph then put together the best partnership of the innings until at 55 Joseph (15) got one that crept from Sebastian & was unfortunate to be bowled, 55-4.

Two overs later Varun (0), half forward it seemed, was bowled by Sebastian, 5 down. Will Oliver (5) glanced to fine leg but in attempting to repeat was bowled round his legs at 71 by Khan, Jacob, batting responsibly & driving straight when possible, 34*. 

At 20 over drinks the score was 82-6. Sadly in over 21, two wickets fell as first Jacob (34, 37b, 7x4) unexpectedly & disappointingly, lofted to Ali at cover off Sebastian & three balls later Zach Henderson (0) mowed & was bowled, 82-8.

Jacques (9) had batted sensibly cover driving Khan for 4 but in attempting to hit Ahmed's off spin to wide long on, skied & Mir took the catch moving right towards mid wicket, 93-9.

Dominic had inside edged Sebastian for 4 to long leg & then stroked through point for 2 before his attempted pull was caught & bowled by Sebastian, 95 all out in 25 overs, 4 leg bye extras.

A cautionary tale for a young side & a tough day to be a captain. Lessons to learn perhaps, ensuring a back up if throwing for a potential run out (or not throwing if there isn't one), body in the way on an uncertain outfield, hands will be insufficient, possible boundary cover for the w/k if bounce unpredictable, patience when batting, staying calm not attacking until more certain of the surface or bowler, batting all the overs, the runs will come.

Onward to Sat 28^th June SNCC 1864 v GEMS (h) 40/40 from 1300 we hope you can be there to support the team.

Duncan.