5s show heart and fight in defeat to league leaders Accies

13th May 2023 Roseburn Park (artificial)

Murrayfield DAFS 5s 111ao

(R Mann 29, H Khan 26 Bhanushali 3-10)

lose by 136 runs

Edinburgh Accies 3s 245ao

(A Sehgal 43, D Patel 51, H Khan 3-36, A Velagapeludi 3-30)

There are times, throughout the cricketing season, when you start to question the very purpose of the game, and indeed life itself.

After 5.2 overs, with the opposition just missing 3 players from a side that played in Division ! a couple of years ago, and with the score already 52-0 on a hot day, the mind subtly wonders to potential means of escaping this hell.

A surprise rainstorm sweeping away all before it?

A herd of invading buffalo?

A pitch invasion by Just Stop Oil?

Thankfully, none of this proved necessary, and things started to pick up.

Sehgal, opening the batting for Accies, had unleashed merry hell on the MUFS opening bowlers before Khan, in his opening over in his opening game, had him caught in the deep by Mann for a hard hit 45 off 26 balls. Two overs later, he induced Khade to chop one up to Amit “Geldof” Veladapudi for 11, and MUFS felt this might seem more of a contest than it initially looked. Next at the crease was Dahiya, batting in the manner of someone in a hurry. After smacking 3 boundaries he was given plenty of time to consider his options by youthful Bala, who just about comes up to the height of adult stumps these days, and who induced the batsman to chip one up to Jaseem for 14. 96-3. Not ideal, but when the score was 52-0 the overriding emotions are of being grateful for small mercies.

Accies skipper Clayton joined Patel at the crease, and a combination of Patel’s correct batting and Clayton’s obduracy took them to 133 by drinks. Immediately afterwards Geldof cleaned them both up; first Clayton for a Tavare esque 3 off 34 balls, then Patel for a well made 51. A worthy innings, but the kind that leave batsmen throwing empty glasses at the wall in the evening bemoaning that they blew a ton. “It’s sitting there waiting…”. Just like that time the barmaid gives you her number.  Next thing Jaseem, in the midst of an often threatening spell on debut, trapped Salian LBW. 133-6. Get in. Piece of piss this.

Unfortunately not. One of the striking things about this group of Accies players, in whatever numerical guise, is that they tend to bat very deep. Rajyaguru and Jaswani took the score to 164 before Geldof dismissed the latter for his 3rd wicket, caught behind by Barnwal. He then caught Rayjaguru off the returning Bala to leave Accies 170-8 and sparking scenes of delirium unwitnessed since Freddie Mercury walked out onto the Wembley stage at the first Live Aid in 1985. Not long after Srivastava cleaned up Bhanushali with a yorker and the score was 178-9 and at least we would get to tea pretty shortly with a gettable target.

This of course, didn’t go to plan. Poojari and Sukhadiya, Accies #10 and #11, then proceded to smash the bowling around Roseburn for a last wicket stand of 67 at a rate considerably better than a run a ball. After Poojari had defecated over much of the bowling attack, the MUFS Own Scottish Borderer Khan returned to have him caught by Tekale. 245 all out. At the very least we had maximum bowling points, always an advantage in case you have to look over your shoulder for relegation, in a division with no relegation.

Following a lengthy tea, MUFS took the field in pursuit of a daunting target of 246, or more realistically trying to maintain cricketing dignity, with the unfamiliar pair of Mann and Srivastava opening up. Srivastava departed quickly for 0, skying one off Rayjaguru, to be replaced by Barnwaland he and Mann obdurately took the score on to 34. Barnwal nicked behind off Khade for 8, before Jaseem was trapped lbw by Sukhadiya, leaving the score 39 for 3. Mann, having scored 29 off 50 balls, was then grubbered by a Roseburn Special off Khade, and when Tekale saw his furniture rearranged by Sukhadiya in the next over, the score read 50-5. Grim.

Skipper Palaniswamy, joined at the wicket by his son, and eager to do something which would take away from the depressing possibility of a car ride home with said son bragging about how much better he had played than his dad, took the attack to the Accies bowlers. Having sent Poojari to the boundary 3 times in a row, an attempt at a fourth saw his stumps clattered. His assault took the score to 77. The youthful Bala then edged behind off the same bowler, to the loud delight of the Accies fielders… Geldof on debut was then caught off Bhanusali, and the score was 83-8.

M.O.S.B. Khan then proceeded to bat very well for an unbeaten 26 off 21 balls, and he was aided and abetted by Jackson, who held up an end very well in Leach style fashion. Two full balls from Bhanusali finished the Mufs resistance, cleaning up Jackson and Matthews in successive deliveries and leaving M.O.S.B. Khan frustrated at being 3 runs away from top scoring on debut. MUFS closed on 111, losing by the small matter of 134 runs.

The score doesn’t tell the full story though; 8 points obtained against a collection of players far too good for the level they were playing at was rewarding, and despite five (FIVE) ducks the batting didn’t crumble. It’s as well Swampy, Chris Packham and their mates stayed at home