Abinger Hammer'd

Not quite a Hammering, but a convincing Mandarins win

Arriving early for our game in the picture-perfect setting of Abinger Hammer, the lunchtime storm soon gave way to allow a reduced game of 30 overs a side. Winning the toss, Rakesh did what Ben Stokes should have done a few days before at Edgbaston, deciding that runs on the board was the way to go.

With that direction set, the second ball was a rather faltering start as Michael fell for a duck, before Jules soon joined him back in the pavilion for six, both bowled on what was quickly proving a slightly unpredictable pitch to bat on.

Called to the crease as Jonathan fell for the fourth wicket, your stand in match reporter formed a useful partnership with Paul, as we picked some useful runs, almost exclusively in well run singles. In attempting to open up though, I met my downfall top edging to square leg. Returning to the pavilion, I found out my partner had videoed that delivery, seemingly having hoped for a far better outcome.

As wickets fell, it opened the door to a match defining partnership as Rakesh and Kish dragged our total well past 150 as they ended on 66 and 59* respectively. Had we played 40 overs, a 100 would have been very likely and well deserved too. In the closing stages. John sneaked into the scorebook with a 1*, with the Mandarins ending on a very respectable 196

In pursuit of 197, Abinger started their innings cautiously, with boundaries hard to come by, and the extras column instead setting the early pace. It was Abinger’s struggle to find the boundary, coupled with some excellent fielding through the team that ensured that as they headed into the second half of the case the required rate had already reached 10 an over.

Despite this tough ask, James Rumble, Abinger’s opening bat led the effort admirably, finishing on 83 off 91, before finally falling to an excellent second spell by Tom and some quick glovework behind the stumps from Jonathon to have him stumped. With an almost guaranteed Mandarins win in sight, the game was sealed by a fine catch from Paul, (what a fielder he could be with two functioning legs) and a last over from Jules supported from some tight fielding to get us over the line.

As the sun began to dip behind the distant trees, we retreated to Abinger’s delightful clubhouse for drinks with our new members of the Mandarins fan club (my family and in-laws) to celebrate another excellent team performance.

Matt Brown