ESCA Week 1 match reports
Sent out to bat on a warm opening day of the season, the Firsts got off to a blistering start courtesy some early fireworks from Lawrence Dingre and (31) and Pratyush Dadhich who (having been asked to open for the first time) anchored the innings brilliantly with a steady 29. Abdul Ghaffar (18), Gajander Singh (22), Marcus Cunnington (11) and Sharez Khan (11) kept the runs coming, but the regular fall of wickets hindered our progress and at 130 for 6 we looked like we might end up with a below-par score. However, a brilliant lower order revival led by Benji Risi, batting with a composure that belied his age for 22 runs, with support from Ajay and a phenomenal/match turning 10th wicket partnership of 29 between Tom Ritchie (10 n.o) and some terrific blows from Shahmir (13) propelled us to a formidable 194 off our 40 overs.
In response, the opening duo of Tom R and Kabir bowled well and after 2 quick wickets between Kabir and Sharez, we had our tails up. The turning point came when Kabir and Ajay combined brilliantly to pick up 5 wickets between them in the space of 7-8 overs to break the back of the Livi innings. Enter Gajji just before the drinks break and he cleaned up the Livi lower order with a fiery spell of 3 overs, 2 maidens, 2 wickets for 2 runs, with another special moment of the day when Gajji bowled a back of a length delivery, the batsmen only able to edge to where first slip should have been but instead Marcus dived full-length to his right to complete a stunning one handed catch! Benji had the final 'bragging rights' picking up the last wicket with yet another catch. This time it was Pratyush, running back at full pace from cover and stick out his hand out for a sublime one handed catch, plucking it out of thin air, juggling 3 times and then completing a diving catch.
A good day of cricket played in good spirit, attitude and approach.
The Seconds found things a little tougher in the match against Livingston 3. Put into the field after Paul Hutton customarily lost the toss, the 2s struck early with Ashish Parlani tempting the opener into a sweep and Hutton (redeeming himself for his terrible call at the toss) took the catch down the leg side. Livingston scored slowly, but steadily, and the second wicket didn’t come until Rajesh Domadia was brought on at first change, setting up the other opener beautifully with a couple of short deliveries before pitching one up into the blockhole, leaving the batter to chip it to short midwicket, where Abi Purayil took a lovely diving catch on his debut.
When lovely spells from Raj, Ed Hutchinson and Colin Siller reduced our hosts to 120 for 8, it all looked good. But some very slightly wayward bowling, some slightly tired fielding, and a few healthy swings of the bat got Livingston to 160.
The ‘Muir started slowly in reply, but were never far behind the required rate. The trouble was an alarming tendency to lose wickets in clusters, which meant maintaining momentum proved difficult. Irfan Mohammed batted well at the top of the order, but batting plaudits must go to Abi Purayil on his debut with a 45 off 28 featured 4 6s. Once Abi was bowled, however, Pete Connolly’s 18 was the only faint glimmer of hope. Losing by 33 runs, the 2s were left to rue the extra runs given away in the first inning.
The first ever game played by a Boroughmuir Third XI saw them fall to a narrow defeat by Winchburgh, playing their first game as a league club. Before the game Boroughmuir President George Dickson presented Winchburgh with a pennant to mark occasion. Having been put in by Winchburgh, the Thirds put on a creditable 155, with Zafar Iqbal the standout on 43. Despite having Winchburgh three down for 12 when Hassan Rizwan struck early, and again having them 49 for 6, the boys couldn’t quite clinch it in their first game, as Winchburgh’s middle order saw them home. An unlucky result, but it won’t be long before the Thirds are getting their first win.
Player of the week goes to Kabir Dhingra, taking 4 wickets on debut, including a hat trick. Honourable mention to another debutant, Abi Purayil, for his excellent 45 for Seconds.