Vanner’s men bow out of BUCS cup

The home side started inconsistently, with Martin at the top end delivering his usual probing line and length and Oldham at the pavilion providing Newcastle’s burly opener with a delicious buffet of short balls, before a sharp Martin’s inducker removed him. An Oldham rank longhop was then smashed to Murrils at point who took a fantastic diving catch, the highlight of his brilliant performance in the field. As the new ball softened and the pitch became increasingly placid, Newcastle began to score freely against Emmerson and Townson despite Vanner’s efforts to spread the field. Progressing at 5 an over Newcastle seemed to be setting a firm foundation for a score of 250 plus, furtherd by Barrat’s off spin leaking regular boundaries and skipper Vanner dropped an easy chance at slip of the bowling of Townson.

Suddenly the game turned, as Newcastle’s opener chipped back a catch to Barrat shortly after passing his 50. Then the middle order adopted a strange strategy of padding Barrat leading to numerous LBWs in quick succession. The off spinner finished with 5-45 as he ran through a weak batting line up. The classy Newcastle number 4 felt the pressure and holed out off the bowling of Townson, who is gaining a reputation as a bowler who only takes vital wickets. Despite a brief flurry from the number ten against wild bowling from Townson, Newcastle were bowled out for 211 after Martin returned to remove the batsmen’s middle stump.

With 50 overs to bat, 211 was a very chaseable total on a friendly pitch, but the 1sts had not scored above 200 all season. Openers Murrils and Oldham picked up where they left off against St John putting on 32 before Oldham ran down the wicket and was stumped, his footwork more reminiscent of John Sargeant than Sachin Tendulkar. Newcastle’s number 4 now troubled York with the ball, his off spin rarely erring from a fine line and length. Murrils’ off bail was then flicked off as he attempted to pull a full delivery and Barrat was then adjudged LBW pressing forward.

In came Emmerson and York began to take control of the game as he and Vanner asserted their presence. Out of nowhere Vanner lost his head, top edging a leg side heave sending him to the pavilion for only 35. Rupa came in at 6 and received a more than questionable LBW decision as the umpires eyed an early journey home rather than a tight run chase. Emmerson was then caught behind playing a pre meditated sweep shot leaving the lower order with a steep run chase to achieve unlikely victory. Townson, hot off his maiden University half century on Sunday, hit a sumptuous straight drive on the up that would not look out of place in the Test arena. His dismissal however would not have looked out of place on the Muppet Show as he was clean bowled by a knee high full toss. Hoggart and Martin presented brief resistance at the end but the 1sts were bowled out for 148.

Yesterday’s performance was nothing unusual for the cricket 1sts. They bowled well in the main, dropped comical catches and collapsed under the first sign of pressure with the bat. Undoubtedly if they had had Hudson they would have probably won but this was a disappointing loss with only 211 to chase. The top order, much like the rest of the season, are left ruing poor shot selections at vital moments undermining any chance of a successful chase. This loss marks the end of the competitive cricket season but the 1sts can look forward to Sunday’s MCC charity match for a chance to sign off the year on a high.

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