Men’s cricket 1sts miss out on place in final

Unfortunately the Men’s 1sts did not come to this tie with a full strength side. Keeper batsmen Davies was missing owing to tendonitis, as was Wilson with bruised toes, and Barrat and Martin had to bat low down to protect their continuing hand problems. With their normal middle order decimated York had a tough challenge ahead as Newcastle comfortable knocked them out in the first round last season.

With plenty of rain around in the preceding days the pitch carried a green tinge at the start of play, and skipper Martin won the toss and opted to bowl. Newcastle dashed at the ball daringly, wielding the willow with wanton abandon, scoring quickly but losing both openers to Martin and Felgate. In came Newcastle main batsmen Ullyot at 4, as the innings entered a critical phase. Hudson delivered his ever unerring line and length but was not supported in equal measure by the usually reliable Oldham. Barrat bowled to his field but York failed to get the wicket they badly needed to stop a Newcastle launch later in the innings.

Martin returned later but his spells were reminiscent of a Garden of India Jalfrezi – it was good the first time but its return delivered serious runs. Oldham found it equally difficult as he to felt the wrath of Ullyot’s seemingly widening blade on a flattening wicket. Despite finally removing the opposition captain for 94, York’s bowlers were punished for bowling to full with Newcastle finishing on 251/7 off their 50 overs. It has to be said York’s fielding left a lot to be desired with Memon dropping Ullyot off Oldham on around 70 and some questionable boundary patrolling by Wimshurst, failing to aid York’s toiling bowlers.

Such a score is normally a big ask on York’s placid pitch, but today it had more pace and 5 an over was eminently chaseable if York’s weakened batting line up could hold up. Hudson and Oldham made a decent start as the opposition belittled their opponents by opening with a spinner and changing the bowling every over or two from the Pavilion end. Unfortunately Oldham top edged a sweep and was dismissed for 6, bringing Kirkwood to the crease against his biggest foe: slow bowling. Meanwhile Hudson was looking in fine fettle but a well timed flick of his leg was taken by a stupendous diving catch at square leg.

York’s makeshift middle order had to deliver, and things got off to a bad start as Memon wildly flashed outside his off-stump and was caught behind for 0. Both Felgate and Wimshurst failed to assert their batting pedigree for 11 and 8, quickly followed by Hoggart for 0, leaving York to wallow at 120/7. York’s middle order collapsed, leaving any remote hope in the hands of the tenacious Rupa and the valetudinarian Barrat and Martin. Barrat hit a quick 23 before departing whilst he and Rupa got York back in the game, with the latter passing the half century mark. Martin came in at ten with York needing 75 at around 9 an over. It was an innings to which Martin had to discard the principles of his usually polite batsmanship, as his injured top hand was replaced by a swingeing bottom hand. As boundaries began to flow, the arrogant chatter from Newcastle started to quieten as Rupa and Martin stayed up with the rate for 5 overs, putting together a partnership of 50.

However the return of the opener saw as shorter length to which Martin struggled to engineer with his restricted play. As the rate increased more risks had to be taken and Rupa was run out for 68 after a mix up with Martin. With one over to go Martin was finally dismissed looping a leading edge to cover as he strove to grab an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat. But it wasn’t to be as York fell 25 runs short of their target.

It was sad to see this BUCS campaign finish, as the 1sts had engendered a wonderful team spirit that fuelled their success. Lingering regrets will remain with the middle order’s failure to support Rupa, and thoughts of what could have been if all players were fit and available. Nevertheless the Men’s 1sts should be incredibly proud of this achievement, as their cup run is a far cry from the relegation woes of last season. The 1sts will lose their talisman Hudson and skipper Martin for next year’s campaign but the improvements of this year should have sowed the seeds of future success. The season now closes with the annual MCC game on Sunday, where York will hope for a win to round off a truly memorable season.

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