Final Match of the 2019 Season

Final Match of the Season

For the final fixture of the 2019 cricket season the Wick Sunday XI hosted Old Actonians. After a beautiful sunny Saturday, rain threatened the fixture. The clouds cleared in early afternoon and the skippers agreed a 25 over contest.

Wick skipper Nick Dunmore decided to bat after winning the toss; a decision which looked mis-guided when the 4th wicket fell before 35 runs had been posted. Olly Cole (7), Jivraj Singh (3), Connor Hewitt (3) and Sashi Asoken (13) were dismissed during the opening overs. Zubair Ahmed (50*) and keeper Jack LeFeurve (18) led an excellent recovery with a stand of 58 as the Actonians skipper rotated his bowlers. Ahmed retired after a well-constructed 50 which allowed Mandeep Singh (19) and Ollie Morjaria (27*) to launch an assault during the final overs of the innings. Morjaria played a super innings, with one straight drive sticking in the memory, to take the team to a total of 147-6.

After a quick tea, the teams took the field hoping to complete the match before the light faded. With lots of slow bowling options, the Sunday XI had realistic hope of not having to field in the dark!

U13 Leo Morjaria accepted the invitation to open the bowling alongside Singh snr. Leo bowled with great control in only his third adult match and was unlucky not to find the edge if the bat. The first six overs of the Actonians innings yielded less than 20 runs and the tone was set. Dunmore was able to give everyone a decent game, whilst under no pressure from the required scoring rate. Wickets were shared; Singh snr (1), Dunmore (1), Graham Smith (1), O Morjaria (1), Coles (1), Hewitt (2) and Singh jnr (1). Actonians closed on 124-8 and the season was concluded.

Players from both sides retreated to the bar and balcony to enjoy the sunset and reflect on the match. Everyone agreed that the match had been played in the correct spirit for friendly cricket and that the two evenly-matches sides had enjoyed their afternoon. Plans were made for the fixture to be repeated in 2020.

And so, for the final time this season, kit was carried away from the club. A wistful glance over the shoulder at the ground, now in murky half-light ………. bring on April 2020!