10th July, 2021 | Chelsea Arts Cricket Club | Harrow School, Nth London Chelsea Arts CC 195/3 (48.3) lost to ACME Cricket 196/6 (38.4)
Sandeep Storm blows away Chelsea Arts in Harrow
Sri Vathsan Sarma writes;
This was a rare Saturday fixture for ACME, but the prospect of playing at the prestigious Harrow School's ground had excited many ACMErs which ensured we had a strong team even after 'Test and Trace' kicked a few players out of ACME's bio-secure bubble.
The weather forecast predicted more than 50% rain in Harrow but a quick visual inspection from the writer's flat in Wembley allayed all fears of rain interruption.
When the first batch of ACMErs arrived at the grounds, they were greeted by a series of beautiful and well-manicured playing fields fortified by locked gates and not a soul in sight. Subsequently, the opposition captain got the keys from the security and we were able to enter. The pavilion that was allocated for the teams was the furthest from the pitch that was allocated for the match which added to the delay and eventually, at about 12.30PM, we were ready to start the match.
ACME's skipper Haris Mashkoor won the toss and elected to bowl.
Opening the bowling was former ACME skipper and all-rounder Nick Miles who was playing his first match in a few years. His opening partner was Louis, the junior Masterson.
Chelsea Arts's experienced opening pair C Kulasingham and D Amin started steadily but Louis broke the partnership in the sixth over, clean bowling Kulasingham (11 runs) with a fast straight delivery which only managed to slightly slant the firmly hammered-in middle stump. We didn't think much of it at the time but later when ACME's spin king David Prest's delivery took Amin's inside edge and cannoned into the off stump, neither the stump nor the bail budged.
The 2nd wicket partnership between number 3 J Arnold and opener Amin was worth 60 runs and marked by some hard running between the wickets and solid defense but the entertainment was provided by Chelsea Arts's mascot and their skipper's pet, Lockie the dog.
A well-timed square-cut by Amin was intercepted - before the ball reached the boundary - by Lockie who grabbed it and took off! The fielders were joined by the opposition skipper, umpire, and leg umpire in the great chase but Lockie was determined not to 'drop' his 'catch' or get caught. Finally, it was a well-timed dive and a gentle tackle from Prest that persuaded Lockie to cough up the ball. The umpire declared that the shot was worth 3 runs. The whole saga was filmed by ACME's own TikTok star Dil Akhtar who, we're sure, added another few thousand followers to his already popular and rapidly growing channel with this priceless content. In any case, we're now confident that Prest will re-produce that dive at first slip in the coming matches.
The dogged partnership between Amin and Arnold was broken by a clever piece of plan concocted by Prest and the wicket keeper Sarma. Prest indicated that he was going to bowl one very wide as Amin was dancing down the track to almost every delivery. The plan was executed very well and when Sarma completed the stumping, Amin (30 runs) was well short of the crease. Arnold was then joined by Hosford-Tanner and together they ensured that no further wickets were lost till Lunch break which was taken at around 2:15PM When play resumed the batters batted with caution partly because Steve Masterson, Sandeep Goel and Mashkoor bowled accurately without giving many scoring opportunities. Arnold batted very well and made sure that the scoreboard kept ticking. Finally Prest trapped Hosford-Tanner (25 runs) LBW and ended the 81-run partnership. R Phillip (6*) joined Arnold and together the batters showed some urgency and at 4:15PM, with the score reading 195/3 (48.3 Overs), Chelsea Arts made a sporting declaration immediately after Arnold (100*) completed his wel-compiled and thoroughly deserved hundred. In their reply, ACME's openers Bahy Kandasamy and Akhtar started with contrasting styles, defense and attack, respectively. Akhtar (2 runs) was the first to go, bowled by a straight delivery from Kulasingham. In at number 3 was Goel. The second wicket to fall was Kandasamy (2) who was strangled down the leg side and was well caught by the keeper off the bowling of S Balasubramaniam. This brought Miles to the crease. Goel and Miles combined and had a rapid partnership of 68 runs off only 64 deliveries. Unfortunately 'Storm Sandeep' ended when Goel was bowled round the legs by Arnold for 63 off just 33 deliveries with the score reading 81/3. His innings included 11 fours and two towering sixes. It also eased the pressure on the rest of the ACME batters. Miles and Sarma, who was in at number 5, ensured no further wickets fell till Tea time which was taken at 6.00PM and the score read 119/3. When play resumed at 6.30PM, ACME had 20 overs to get 77 runs with 7 wickets in hand. Chelsea Arts had withheld their regular opening bowlers C Puthupally and T Matthew until Tea and unleashed them in the post-tea session. However, Miles and Sarma put together an excellent partnership with Miles crossing 50 in the 30th over of the ACME innings. Sarma was soon trapped LBW by T Matthew for 14 and the partnership of 76 runs off 96 balls ended with the score reading 157/4 leaving ACME needing another 39 runs off 61 deliveries. In at number 6 was Lawrence D'Silva who looked very comfortable at the crease. However, Miles was caught by Balasubramaniam off the bowling of Matthew and departed for a well-made 59 off 99 balls with 7 boundaries. Number 7 Karim Khan joined D'Silva who played a really good innings and dealt a few lusty blows and the scores were level by the end of the 38th over. Khan unfortunately was dismissed and skipper Mashkoor scored the winning run for ACME. D'Silva remained unbeaten with 31 runs off 28 balls with six fours. It was a satisfying victory for ACME and Goel, for his economical bowling and explosive batting was named the Player of the Match.
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