Fours lose again...

It was a ferociously hot day as the team watched Usman attempt to win the toss. If he failed we knew we were fielding...

A few minutes later the team were trudging wearily out to field. Not a ball had been bowled and I was sweating cobs already. Phadake & Hashmi opened the bowling for Timperley against Sayers and 'Shaz' for Ladybridge. First blood was drawn by Hashmi in getting Shaz well caught by Usman at mid off from a steepler. Massey soon followed, bowled by Hashmi for 5, to make it 18 for 2. Sayers and Mathew then consolidated to 62 before Sayers feathered one through to the keeper off Sajja for 13. Moore joined Mathew and was to bat for the next 25 overs for a patient match winning knock of 54 not out.

Mathew scored quickly against some poor bowling and had reached 67 before the newly introduced Usman hooped an in-swinger through his defence to bowl him to make it 109 for 4 off 22 overs. This late swing also undid Nabi & Hess in similar fashion and with Tayyab cheaply holing out at mid off it looked as if the innings might wrap up early but it was not to be as Moore shepherded out the innings for 170 for 9 off 40. It was a good effort in the field by Timperley in seriously hot conditions. Phadake will bowl a lot worse and take more wickets. Pick of the bowling was by Usman taking 4 for 21 off 10, including 3 maidens.

Knowing full well that 4 an over or so would win it, it was fair to say that 9 for 2 off 3 overs was not the start wanted. Shah was caught in the deep trying to land the ball in Stockport and then Bhatti stroked a full toss to midwicket. Khan and Usman strove to rebuild and looked to be regaining the initiative when Usman spooned one to deep mid off to be held for 12. Sajja, promoted up the order, soon followed mis-hooking Hess to mid off for 5 and the innings was starting to fall apart. Fisher joined Khan but was soon out for 9 to a pathetic 'net shot' at Tayyab that would have looked good in practice but gets you easily caught in the covers in a match.

Hashmi was then bowled by Tayyab for 8, following it up with a fine caught and bowled off a full toss to remove Khan for 26. Phadake, Iverson & Raman had a bat but were left far to behind by the batsmen to win the game. Mathew (3 for 20) & Tayyab (5 for 21) must have thought it was Christmas, witnessing the lack of application and technique by the Timperley batsmen.

Spare a thought for Bangee who had the misfortune to umpire the innings. He was quietly led away after the match muttering to himself 'they only needed four an over'... 'They just had to take their time'...'We could have won that game'...Too right. A thorough post match psychological evaluation on the umpire revealed no lasting mental damage but it is fair to say that the team can & must bat better to at least be competitive.

A day best forgotten.