Parasur stars as Fives win at South
Murrayfield DAFS 5s 154ao (38.5)
B Palaniswamy 24, R Parasur 24, K Pagdala 4-26
beat
Edinburgh South 4s 98ao (25.1)
S Kumar 28, R. Parasur 5-13, A Pyla 3-19
by 56 runs
Saturday 27th May 2023
(Inch Park Artificial)
Inch Park is a thoroughly miserable place to play cricket. In a city redolent with soulless cricketing venues, it scores especially lowly on the romanticism scales. Tucked away on the southern outskirts of the city beside a 1980’s shopping centre and the Braid Burn, it offers “dull communal playing fields” aesthetics in abundance. In terms of changing facilities, there’s the “Inch Park Sports Hub” which never seems to be open; instead, you get yourself sorted out in the largest collection of abandoned shipping containers found outside of a Rio hillside favela or a hipster craft market. Toilet facilities consist of a hedge, and for refreshments you’re heading over to Greggs. And then we come to the cricket. The Inch Park Artificial manages the rare achievement of making the Roseburn equivalent resemble the Adelaide Oval circa 2003. At times, when standing on it, you can almost feel it move around under your feet, in the manner of an alien life form from a low budget horror film. I’ve seen motocross venues which are flatter. Recently, it’s been “enhanced” with a large burn mark just back of a length from the Container Park End. This was explained to us as some considerate local deciding to use a disposable barbecue on the arti; given that the nets here were previously torched, we cannot rule out the possibility that one of the indigenous local tribes worships fire.
It was at this inauspicious venue that MUFS 5th XI arrived. Skipper Mulholland won the toss and confidently opted to bat first, with the new pairing (when isn’t it a new pairing?) of Mann and Parasur opening up. Following a brisk start and a flurry of boundaries, Mann chipped Broadbent to the opposing skipper Bhatnagar at short mid wicket for 7 leaving the score 16-1. Pyla was next in, and he and Parasur took the score along to 37 before Broadbent trapped Pyla LBW for 8. Parasur, batting confidently, survived a pair of dropped chances in advancing to 22 before he was cleaned up by a full inswinger by Jangiti. The youthful Bala, having shown good temperament and defensive technique, was then unlucky to be bowled for 5 by Jangiti from one which kept low. 68-4. Reasonable.
Blackhall, sporting perhaps the finest moustache since Tom Selleck was in his pomp, was joined at the crease by “Bristol Bill” Matthews. Their partnership didn’t last long however, with Bristol Bill sent southwards when bowled for 2 by South’s change bowler Kashyap. This, I can assure you, was a right arm over the wicket bowler and not an app you use to pay for services over the Internet with. Kashyap then induced Andrews into a caught and bowled soon after, and MUFS were teetering at 77-6.
Palaniswany, no doubt relieved that he didn’t have to captain this bunch for a change, joined Magnum PI, and together they put together a frequently unorthodox partnership which went a long way towards turning the game MUFS fashion. What Magnum lacked in technical perfection and elegance he more than made up for in guts and temperament. He accumulated 18 well deserved runs before eventually gloving Hunt, bowling in a cap and what appeared to be arm guards, to the youthful substitute wicketkeeper Richardson. The score was now 110-7.
Barnwal was next in and scored a quickfire 10, looking more than composed alongside Palaniswany, who was beginning to find some degree of fluency on the minefield of a pitch. He chopped on to Pagadala with the score on 137; importantly, the 7th and 8th wickets had added 60. Palaniswany had reached 24, which was to prove the innings top score, before also playing on to the same bowler, who was easily the pick of the South attack. Hewlett and Skipper Mulholland took the score past the psychologically important 150 marker before Pagadala cleaned up the latter to close the innings on 154 and leave himself with figures of 4 for 26, 10 of which were wides.
Tea was then taken. Or rather wasn’t. No tea was provided by South, therefore leaving them trailing in the traditional ranking of clubs visited by quality of tea provided, with a current score of -5000.
The main dish was however about to be served, as South set about batting.
Parasur, handed the new ball from the Container Park End, immediately cleaned up Hunt first ball, smashing his stumps with an inswinging yorker. He walked off with the expression of a man whose entire bank holiday weekend had been thoroughly ruined. 0-1.
Several balls later Shafiq confidently struck a drive back at Parasur, expecting the shot to bring him a few runs at least, only for the young man to insouciantly stick out a hand for one of the finest and calmest caught & bowled dismissals you could wish to see. 1-2.
In his next over Parasur again bowled full, and absolutely castled Brooks with another cracker. 11-3.
A couple of balls later skipper Bhatnagar, having survived a loud caught behind appeal straight up, was trapped plumb in front for 0, the third duck so far. 11-4. South’s innings looked a wreckage.
Kumar and Kashyap then took the score to 36, with Kumar in particular taking a liking to Hewlett’s bowling, before Parasur returned and once again tickled the timbers. Kumar gone for 28 out of South’s 36-5 and Parasur with a 5 for. To young to unfortunately pay for a jug, but he more than merited all the praise.
Richardson, joined Kashyap and following an early dropped chance the youngster moved along nicely. He scored 10 before being bowled by Bala, who showed a variety of skillful variations. 69-6, and the first wicket not taken by Parasur.
Pyla had been brought on from the Costa Coffee Drive Thru End, and with the South score on 77 he bowled Kashyap for 16. Jangiti, having smashed a quickfire 9, was caught by Parasur (that name again) off the bowling of Andrews, and soon after Pyla polished off the tail. Pagadala was bowled for 8 and soon after Broadbent was caught by Parasur (who else?) for 1 to leave South all out for 98 and MUFS victorious by 56 runs.
It's only correct that, although obviously a hard fought team win, praise should be given for individual performances in this victory.
Batting – R. Parasur
Bowling – R. Parasur
Fielding – R. Parasur
MOTM – R. Parasur
GOAT – R. Parasur….