Masham v Middleham

Match Report/Information

A delightful evening at the MCG greeted Middleham and their evening got off to a flyer when skipper Ewart won the toss and proceeded to delight the Masham captain by suggesting the home side had first use of the track. Batley-batter Heke tucked-in and ably assisted by Howard plundered 50 of 39 balls. This brought Sturdy to the crease who had the expectant crowd's collective heart in its mouth as he made Sturdy senior's performance the previous week look positively spritely. Soon realising that 44 yards is too much like hard work, Sturdy started to carve boundaries with 26 of his 43 coming without so much as hint of his leaving the crease. With Howard's committed contribution brought to an end by the veteran Yates, Jerermy Smith hit 10 from 10 balls before falling to Gaze and Smart 17 from 14 deliveries, the only highlight of his innings being the mid-run tango he performed with the leaden-footed Sturdy immediately prior to the latter's run-out. Fortunately, Masham's leading cricket commentator, Sturdy senior, saw the action and confirmed that there was an easy two despite the strictly-come-dancing, and that even a post-op Derek Chapman would have made the second. Blindfold. But this shouldn't detract from a great innings and Masham will be looking to Sturdy to continue his form next week and beyond.

Cameo performances from Isaac Jones, T-Rod and Ewan McKewan completed the innings and Masham had set a reasonable 147 from their 20 overs.

With the return fixture in mind, Masham put their faith in the junior opening duo, Gill and first team leading wicket taker, Broadley. Gill's pace and bounce did for Murray and having belted a boundary over Sturdy at mid-off, Tom Horn chipped the next ball straight to him. After 8 runs from 11 balls, Sturdy had got the Horn at mid-off. None of the Middleham batsmen got going, boundaries became scarce. Gill finished an astonishingly accurate spell backed-up by some excellent fielding from the senior players with 4 for 11 and at the other end Broadley had turned the ball square and proved the perfect foil. Enter Howard. It's been a while since the second team skipper has turned his arm over but you'd never have known. Like a teenage Ambrose, Howard made the most of the available run-up and removed McRobert with his first nut of a wicket maiden. There's no substitute for express pace and Howard needs to grace the MCG on Wacky Wednesdays more often! Then, as if Broadley's flight and guile hadn't been enough excitement for one night, Masham unleashed right arm spinner Isaac Jones. A handful of unplayable deliveries later, Yates had succumbed and Ewart saw his off-stump tickled by a ball that must have pitched a full foot outside his off stump. Shields and Peacock contributed towards the end of the innings but such was the accuracy of Jones' spin, Masham were afforded an attacking 9-0 offside field. A rarety in any form of the game.

It was another tidy performance behind the stumps by Johnny Coombes and a welcome return to Tom Rodney whose wit capped-off another enjoyable evening; as the vertically challenged Gill and Smith ran off to field a ball at deep backward point, Rodney commented, "how far away are those two?" Quality.

Drinks and chilli followed and Masham look forward to next week's derby.