UWMCC started their Cov Indoor campaign against feared arch-rival Warwick CC. With new skipper Murphy having only encountered the odd fresh at nets, Ballo and Bozza found themselves called up, joined by freshers Akash, Hassaan and Ash. Despite a jumpy start, and some hideous rush hour traffic, captain Murphy started his reign successfully with a stall-less drive to the Connexion arena.
Upon arrival UWMCC won the toss and Murphy made the fateful decision to bat first, with freshers Ash and Hassaan to open up. What happened next was a batting collapse of epic proportions, with Ash, Ballo and Hassaan all registering ducks within the first 8 balls (Bozza running out Hassaan with a suicidal call from the non-strikers end). UWMCC finding themselves 0-3, with supposedly gun bat Ballington finding himself out missing a straight one. It thus fell to Bozza and Murphy to get UWMCC off the mark, both playing conservatively against a sharp Warwick CC bowler (Bozza in particular edging at least 5 past the keeper).
Murphy tried to up the tempo, hitting a clean straight 4 before becoming the third batsman out of four to see his stumps rearranged trying to heave across the line for 9. Immediately afterwards Akash was also clean bowled, leaving Boz as the last man standing with 5 overs left. The next five overs passed with Bozza blocking out, determined to hang in there, eventually being run out for 32, UWMCC 47ao.
Warwick CC’s chase was relatively uneventful, steadily knocking off the runs for the loss of only two wickets. Akash was the standout bowler with some good line-and-length outside off. UWMCC will look to work on this performance and get some more fresh involved as the competition goes on. The drive back was a little more eventful with Murphy nearly breaking his arm trying to pull the handbrake, and then driving into the petrol station with the boot open as people tried to get their kit out of the back.