Lewis helps DAFS prevail at Lewisvale
22nd July 2023 @ Lewisvale Park
Murrayfield DAFS 140-9 (45 overs)
L Mulholland 70, S Shah 18, O Pickard 15, E Howe 4-32, M Poojary 3-27
beat
Musselburgh 95ao (36.4 overs)
V Devaraj 20, J Rubly 3-19, S Ullah 2-17, F Tracey 2-13
by 45 runs
While Europe burned, the DAFS were treated to a dreich Scottish cricket staple in Musselburgh. There’s nothing quite like turning up to a ground with the windscreen wipers at full tilt as you ponder, what would my life be like if I didn’t subject myself to this through the ‘summer’ months?’
With a break in the clouds, the kind not afforded to England on the Sunday, watchful batting from the openers meant a slow but steady approach early. More Australian orthodox than Bazball. As the freshly uncovered pitch settled, the score was built as the first change bowlers loomed with the drizzle settling in. Attention turned to the skies and direction of the wind, but the game continued on. Getting excited by the heady mix of drizzle and his first intentional boundary, Pickard looked to drive the next ball finding only the gloves of the keeper who did not need his windscreen wipers to take an easy catch. A rain break here threatened the days play as the covers were manhandled back to middle.
Mulholland and Shah continued to progress the score steadily as before the rain break until Shah was caught and bowled for 18. Mulholland perserved onto his 50 as wickets began to tumble around him. Peters and Tyagi adding 8 for two further wickets before Lewis eventually succumbed on 70 from 114 balls. A testament to digging in an earning your runs. There will be no further comment on this innings whilst the club investigation is ongoing to determine whether Mulholland has breached the DAFS code of conduct by batting in this way.
With 7 overs left to bat some handy additional runs added from Akerkar, Rubly and Tracey to bring the DAFS score to 140. Round 13 also bringing to end ‘Red Ink’ Ritch’s unbeaten season with a 5 ball duck which now elevates him to 3rd best average alongside 3rd highest wicket taker in the 1st team.
Now it was the turn of the young bowling attack who began their work through the Musselburgh batting line up. An early catch refusal by the author off the 4th ball whilst fielding in close fortunately did not set the tone of the innings. In the second over, Ullah was the first strike with his second ball bowling Kashif Naveed to get the innings off to a flying start. The incumbent Musselburgh pair dug in and began to put pressure back onto the DAFS bowling unit accelerating to 39. That was all good and well until the squashie filled giant reeling from his first dismissal of the year decided to dig one in back of a length drawing a loose, skyward shot to Mulholland who continued his fine day. As always playing for the name on the shirt.
It was now Tyagi’s turn to take a wicket before the young guns stole the show. Rubly and Tracey began their work. Rubly relishing the leg spinners dream of a wet ball took R Tufail with a sternum breaking ‘catch’ by Mulholland at cow corner. Tracey, backing his spinner up at the other end, removing A Tufail’s middle stump. Not to be outshone a few overs later Rubly bowling H Awan too. Not bad for a pair who spent the rain break clonking each other on the head and depositing tennis balls into the toilet. Rubly broke the pattern and got in next with an LBW which must have upset Tracey as he continued his personal vendetta on middle stump taking Ullah just two balls later. A returning DAFS Ullah then dismissed Howe and the ever-youthful Peters finished the innings on 95 after 36.4, finding the edge of R Awan.
An enjoyable game against a good opposition, thanks Musselburgh for the hospitality and positive nature of the game. The late finish worthwhile with a satisfying result for the DAFS after a couple of weeks without a completed game, admittedly with slightly less than a little urn on the line.
“The unnecessary dive” by Lewis Mulholland