Sheldon Marlborough CC Blog

Latest news from Foliot Fields

I’ve just received a phone call from Nas Munir - it seems he’s joining Kam on the sideline having been involved in a nasty sounding car accident today with a suspected broken arm.

This leaves us one short tomorrow, on a day with a number of players already missing. Text messages have been sent to see who will step in at the last moment.

Meanwhile, here’s wishing Nas a speedy recovery.

At home, 1pm Start.

SQUAD: W Hemming, K Rondeau, M Weir, G Morris, N Munir, J Hemming, T Hemming, N Rughani, T Masood, S Baxter, V Parmar, J Shirley, T Westwood

Away - meet at SMCC 11:45

W Hemming, K Rondeau, M Weir, N Munir, J Hemming, T Hemming, N Rughani, T Masood, J Shirley, T Westwood, P Westwood, A N Other

SMCC needed just 4 wickets when rain washed away the fixture at Foliot Fields on Saturday. The visitors needed 56 for victory but a lively pitch was giving the quick bowlers plenty of help.   Tim Westwood took 3 wickets, Jim Shirley took 2, and Viz Parmar 1 as pressure was applied to the promotion contenders. Despite staying out in heavy rain, the game was eventually abandoned with Fillongley taking a Winning Draw on account of their higher run rate.

Fillongley skipper, Phil Hammond plays and misses

With five games to go, there’s still plenty of pride to play for as we visit another promotion contender, Wishaw, on Saturday. This is followed by Camp Hill visiting on Bank Holiday Monday.

In the 2nd XI, a win at Fillongley opens up their gap at the top of the table, with the division title now SMCC’s to lose.

K Rondeau, N Munir, M Weir, G Morris, J Hemming, N Rughani, T Hemming, S Baxter, J Shirley, T Westwood, V Parmar

1.00pm start for the rest of our fixtures in August. Meet at SMCC 12.15.

Poor form. Fear of fast bowlers. Family commitments prevent me from playing in this one, but I’ll be there later on hoping to see us take revenge for the defeat at Fillongley.

We were pretty close to getting an outright win over Stockton at their ground on Saturday. If I’d hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end off the last ball of the 49th over we would have had a run out and 24 points. Nevertheless, another excellent performance against good opposition.

Keith Rondeau finally got the half-century he deserved at the top of the order, Nasir Munir looked good on debut until he missed a straight one, and Guy Morris made a solid 30, whilst Jack Hemming’s unbeaten 80 supported by Neal Rughani’s 37 provided the partnership that took us from a decent score to a matchwinning one - aided by some indifferent fielding, it has to be said.

In the field we were pretty good but not perfect, with a few misfields and a couple of (difficult) missed chances. Tom Hemming’s pick up to run out opener Hughes was an outstanding moment. The bowling was good and there were very few wides. Viz Parmar ran uphill and into the wind, adding another wicket to his season’s tally - and then three excellent catches. Good spells from Simon Baxter, Jim Shirley and Tim Westwood saw them all take wickets, and often just as batsmen looked like they might settle. Keith Rondeau picked up a couple to secure the man of the match award, the umpires giving a special mention to Jack - who had a tough time behind the stumps on a track that looked very good but offered indifferent bounce.

In terms of the league table, we move level with Stockton in 6th place - but within reach of 4th and 5th (we are also mounting a formal appeal regarding our penalty points). Next week’s visitors are Fillongley who narrowly beat us on their own patch - one of the games this season we should have won. They lost to Bablake yesterday (as everyone has), whilst the following week’s opponents - Wishaw - thrashed Walsall YMF. Possibly the only surprise of the day was Southam beating Camp Hill, which gives them a cushion over relegation-threatened Bournville, and keeps Camp Hill only four points ahead of us in 5th.

Another win for the 2nd XI (by the small margin of 159 runs) sees them open up a 37 point lead in their division - and they travel to their nearest rivals next week and so can improve upon this.

It looks likely that the Sunday fixtures have been rained out as the weather reminds us there’s really not long to go until the end of another campaign. Make the most of it, everyone.

[UPDATED: So I got the Jack/Ronnie story about the Man of the Match the wrong way round. Oops.]

All of the bails have gone missing, as far as we know they are not particularly valuable for any other purpose than being on top of cricket stumps, however someone appears to have a particular fancy for them. We had to “borrow” some from the opposition for today’s U17 game. There safe return would be appreciated, although the budget for the reward will need to be spent on a replacement set, so gratitude will have to suffice. 

Meet 11:45 @ SMCC.

W Hemming, K Rondeau, G Morris, J Hemming, N Munir, N Rughani, T Hemming, S Baxter, J Shirley, T Westwood, V Parmar

Our first of two consecutive away fixtures saw a 153 run victory against Hampton who finished on 62-8 with one batsmen retired hurt, and the other having driven him to hospital. Clearly they are struggling for players which is a great shame given the superb facility they have available to them at their Solihull ground.

Whilst the top of our order struggled, we were treated to a fine stand between Guy Morris (now a 1st XI veteran at 26) and new boy Kamil Munir (16, playing his second 1st XI game). Kam’s nerveless 50 included a couple of big sixes - as ex-Warwickshire spinner Harold Turner saw the ball bounce off his groundsman’s shed. Guy batted as steadily as ever, and only fell as he tried to push the score on - something that Jim Shirley did spectacularly well with his 29* at the end comprising some great boundaries.

We wrapped up the Hampton batting in just over 23 overs - Jim Shirley found pace and bounce and would no doubt fancy bowling on that track regularly. Good catching in the slips and from Jack behind the wicket - our only miss was from Kam, who unfortunately fractured his thumb doing so.

Next week we travel some distance to Stockton as we start a crucial period in terms of looking to climb the table. Kamil’s brother, Nasir, is in contention for selection after hitting 62 and taking 3 wickets as the Sunday 1st XI beat Warwick.