4th XI derailed at Trafford Metrovicks

Match report from Karl Iveson.

It was the Saturday after a week that started with balmy temperatures so as you would expect we arrived at Trafford Metrovics ground to the good old Mancunian rain looking like it would at the very least delay the start of play for some time.

1pm had arrived and the rain was still coming down but appeared to be getting lighter so the skippers decided it was a good time to get the toss out of the way. Timperley winning and putting Trafford Metrovics in to bat, in what seemed a no brainer due to the conditions.

With a green top that would make the majority of fast bowlers lick there lips, Openers James and Saxena strolled out and the first few balls were put in well despite having to dry the ball after every one bowled. There was then a flurry of chances that could have easily had Trafford Metrovics 2 down but a mix of seriously questionable umpiring decisions and a number of dropped catches, skipper Mo shuffled between his opening bowlers and 1st change to try and get the breakthrough.

The openers struggled on and before we knew it a decent stand was being built reaching 90 for no wicket at the end of the 16th over.

A frustrated Tayabb then banged in a good short ball which was hooked high in the direction of Iveson at square leg. A well needed wicket and well taken. A solid if not extremely lucky 37 made by the opener James. Stirring words at the huddle from Haroon seemed to pick the whole team up and by drinks at the end of the 20th over two more wickets had fallen another one for Tayyab taking the other opener Saxena for 47 and Mo coming up with good to remove Qazi for 5.

Things looked even better after drinks with a mix up between batsmen Deepanker and Krovindi resulted in a smart run out from Tayyab. Wickets then came regularly with Tayyab taking another two wickets and Bhatti making amends for an earlier dropped catch running Deepanker out having looked dangerous. Trafford Metrovics were now 142-7 and looking like a collapse was coming.

But some good clean hitting and further dropped catches took Trafford Metrovics to 209-9 at the end their innings.

A mix of a wet ball at the beginning of the innings making it difficult for the bowlers to have anything near the consistency that we have come to expect this season, umpiring that would offend the best and a very poor display in the field had Timperley trudging off the field feeling like what if?

During the interval there were further stirring words from Haroon who seemed quite upset that he over heard a number of Trafford players talking about us being rattled and he now didn't want to lose to the che.... I'll leave that to the imaginations of the readers.

210 was the target set for Timperley.

Bhatti and Parekh were sent in to open and began the innings circumspect and patient reaching just 9 from the first 5 overs. Bhatti then had a rush of blood and played across and was bowled by Kandukuri for just 2 runs.

Kabir then entered the field, beginning patiently before unleashing a huge six over mid off and a four just a few balls later. But as he had seemed to have found his mojo, bowler Daniel's took a smart caught and bowled the very next ball.

Coming in next was Mo. Who tried to rotate strike with the young Parekh before Parekh was caught by a smart catch at mid wicket from Deepanker.

Waseem was next in and a partnership with Mo was steadily built with both hitting some lovely and at times brutal shots from both. This was until Mo going for another big shot didn't quite get hold of it and it was taken by Malik at deep mid on smartly from the bowling of Deepanker. Tayyab then came in and as quickly as he arrived he was quickly leaving the fielding with a serious bout of cramp.

Push then came in and played well for 19 before going to the plucky spinner Deepanker, Krishna also came in looking good only to go for 7. Things were looking grim for Timperley so a rejuvenated but stiff Tayyab made his way back out to the middle. Iveson was quickly in and out with out troubling the scorers missing a straight one which barely seemed to bounce from Sai. A couple of lusty blows then came from Tayyab including a big six and a nice four before falling to Sai.

Timperley now in dire straights at 137-9 were now just desperate to get to 150 to hopefully gain an extra bonus point. A couple of good shots and from Maharaj brought Timperley close but was caught going for another big shot on the boundary to end the innings at 146 all out.

It was a disappointing display from Timperley in every aspect of the game with 6 dropped catches adding insult to injury. Timperley were out played and out fought by a mid table Trafford Metrovics side who celebrated winning the game like they had won the league taking group pictures next to the scoreboard.

It had been coming and Timperley were warned. It was going to happen eventually, but this loss may possibly spur the team on for the next two weeks with tough games against north east Cheshire and Wilmslow coming up.