A first home game for the 1st team
UWMCC welcomed Leeds Met to Cryfield for another important match in a very tight BUCS premier division.
Skipper Knott lost the toss, and was inserted to bat on an overcast and windy morning, opening up with himself and Dan Williams. Unfortunately, the start to the innings was not as productive as the game against Loughborough as Dan failed to react to a full toss – plumb LBW. A steady stream of wickets followed, as the opening spells from the Leeds bowlers tested the batsman’s techniques thoroughly. Knott applied himself well, with an innings full of wonderful forward defensives and leaves; despite being dropped three times he could only manage 17 however, as Warwick faltered at 60-4. Nick Edmonds and Miten Khatri rebuilt well for a number of overs, taking whatever runs became available against a very strong lineup which included two MCCU cricketers, one of whom bowled 10 overs for just 5 runs. Despite ticking along, UWMCC could not quite find their top gear and were bowled out in the 47th over for 127.
The new ball was taken by Dom Gill and Rory Annandale, both of whom beat the outside edge on a number of occasions. Despite the promising start, the number of loose balls outweighed the jaffa’s meaning the condition of the ball deteriorated quickly, something Gill tried to rectify by licking the ball like a dog. Annandale found the breakthrough as the opener feathered a pull behind to Khatri, who took what is perhaps his first catch of the season. However, this proved to be the killer blow as one of the two MCCU cricketers came to the crease and unleashed a devastating assault from ball one. What seemed a relatively average technique and lack of footwork proved to be good enough as he scored 66 off not many deliveries, including some of the biggest sixes witnessed in living memory at Cryfield, one of which easily being 100 metres+. Eventually his luck ran out, and UWMCC continued to plug away picking up wickets. In reality however, the total amassed was far too small to trouble an incredibly strong Leeds Met outfit.
In what was Simon Knott’s last game as Captain of the first team, I’m sure everybody in the club would like to thank him for the efforts he has put in, not only during the current Premier league season but also throughout this winter’s Varsity series.
Man of the Match : The Leeds Met MCCU batsman
Champagne Moment: The 100metre six
Dick of the Day: Thomas for wearing leeds met stash