Max Pawar, I Am Ligin, and SuperMann to the rescue
16th July 2023 @ Roseburn Arti
Murrayfield DAFS 5s 92ao (38 overs)
R Mann 16, R Pawar 12, B Haylock 12, M Viswambharan 3-11
beat
Tranent & PV 4s 67ao (27.3 overs)
L Matthew 3-20, J Gutteridge 3-9. M Hewlett 2-22, R Pawar 2-6
by 25 runs
After last weekend’s aborted demolition job of Marchmont 4s, the 5s were back in action under the glorious leadership of Rob Mann. Sporting a surprisingly capable looking bowling attack and a slightly more dubious batting line-up, Skipper Mann of course chose to bat first on a Roseburn artificial outfield that resembled a backdrop from The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Newly minted opening partnership Pawar (12) and Kumar (3) took to the task with aplomb, with Rohil looking particularly fluent in the early exchanges. Unfortunately, it was short lived as the wind held a powerful Pawar cut shot in the air for a fraction longer than expected, handing a simple catch to the cover fielder. Number 3 Towns (0) departed shortly after to a “generous” LBW call (read: middled forward defence) and was quickly followed by opener Kumar skying one to point.
This brought Mann and absolute ringer Ligin Matthew to the crease and they set about rebuilding the MDAFS innings with some lusty blows, judicious defence and capable running. Having built something of a partnership, Ligin was then bowled playing his first injudicious attempted heave. Andy joined Rob at the crease for his first innings in a good few years and proceeded to reel off a string of lovely attacking shots, before one shot too many proved his downfall, albeit to a wonderful catch at extra cover.
Bisset (brilliantly run out) and Gutteridge (grubbered) came and went without troubling the scorers before Cullen and Rob put together a gritty partnership of 19. Cullen eventually succumbed to the pressure and was well caught, before Ben and Rob added a sharp 9. Rob, having stoically seen out the best part of 30 overs, finally played a shot in anger and was bowled for a crucial anchoring innings of 16 before last wicket pair Haylock and Matt Hewlett added a vital 16 runs with some excellent running and shot-making.
The 5s finished on a seemingly below par 92, but with an outstanding bowling attack it was clear this would not be a simple chase for Tranent.
Ligin and Matt opened up and both were immediately right on the money. Matt was the first to strike, removing dangerous opener Matholi with Lindsay taking an excellent grab at second/third slip. Tranent then compiled an ominous-looking partnership with number 3 Muhammed striking some very clean boundaries.
Fortunately, ringer Ligin had the answer, cleaning up opener Ali to break the partnership. Matt capitalised on the breakthrough with the wicket of the number 4, a skier held brilliantly by Louis. Ligin then produced a moment of magic, clean bowling the dangerous Muhammed and following up with a sensational first ball caught & bowled dismissal of the number 6 to leave Tranent reeling at 39-5.
As Ligin and Matt began to tire, Skipper Mann turned to the left-right swing bowling combination of Pawar and Gutteridge.
Despite some initial resistance in the face of highly disciplined and accurate bowling, Rohil struck with a jaffa to bowl the obstinate number 7. James followed suit with a bail-trimmer to remove the number 8. Wickets then began to tumble in quick order, James clean bowling the number 5 with one that swung late to clip off stump, Rohil removing the number 10 with Matt taking a comfortable grab at mid-on, and James finishing proceedings by bowling the number 11 to wrap up an extraordinary comeback win.
Another excellent victory for a 5s team growing in confidence and skill with every game, and a proper all-round team performance with everyone contributing, whether with the bat, the ball or in the field.