Yes, our first venture into the 20/20 game. On a Wednesday evening, we managed to get ourselves to Brondesbury Park to play our first ever 20/20 match. It was unknown territory to many of us, but enjoyable.
We bowled first, and it has to be said that we performed well with the ball. Our opening pair of While and Curtis (0-26) kept the batsmen quiet, both unlucky not to collect wickets in their first spells - While’s came later as you will see. A quick piece of thinking in the field by Shofiq ran out their opener on 8, and the opposition knew we were up for it. A good partnership ensued. The fielding was good and the run rate, which some thought would be eight or nine an over after watching the television games, stayed under seven.
Fawaz came on to bowl and he broke the stumps of their other opener when he had reached 28. Runs were obviously flowing, and one boundary was fairly small - the other quite massive. Shots did go in the air, but always seemed to be just out of reach or falling short of the fielders. While (1-22) came back on to break the partnership, bowling their number four when he had hit 36, and the last wicket to fall was claimed by Fawaz (2-30), again knocking over the sticks of their number three on 44. Shofiq (0-30) was unlucky not to pick up a wicket, as was Bielby (0-32).
Finally the 20 overs were up. The score book was “the worst I have ever seen” claimed Curtis. “The bowling and batting did no add up by a long way”. There was nothing we could do about it. We were chasing their score of 144-4. It did not start well. Our 20/20 opening partnership of While and Mendis did not last long as While was bowled in the third over on 3. He was soon joined in the pavilion by Whitmore who edged a catch to the wicketkeeper on 4. A brief stand of 43 then ensued, giving us hope. Mendis was ticking along, and Stockinger, looking for a good score, hit a quick eleven. However he was caught at midwicket on 11, and Shofiq followed him back in after a first ball duck, seeing his stumps broken.
We were now running quite short on the run rate, and it appeared the game was moving away from us. Bielby lasted sixteen deliveries for his 7 before being stumped going for a big shot, and the collapse was on. Poor Mendis could only watch at the other end as he next four wickets fell. Curtis (2) - dropped on his first delivery - and Hardisty - another golden duck - were bowled, and Scott was caught at cover for the same score. Henderson was ran out on 1, leaving Mendis and Fawaz together.
Mendis who had hit two 6s and 2 4s was the last to fall, being bowled on 44. Our score 95 all out. Yes, I might have been a disappointing result, but it was our first time playing this type of cricket, and it was good for us as a club to start branching out. We have one more match in our group to play - this to be held in June - so we might not last long this year, but maybe we should be looking for more competitions next year to take part in. Committee take note!!!!!