An under-strength BMRB side was soundly beaten by an MRG team in the first match in this season’s triangular cricket series.
On a day when most things went alarmingly and surprisingly right, the MRG team even won the toss, and put BMRB in on an excellent wicket in bright sunshine in West London.
In only the second over, Angela Carter hammered home her cricketing credentials in this otherwise male-dominated game by taking a fine catch to dismiss May for just four. This brought BMRB skipper Nurton to the wicket and he proceeded to release an array of strokes which MRG have become all too familiar with over the seasons, finally retiring at 53, which included six 4s and two 6s.
Unfortunately it was a day when the rest couldn’t match their skipper – not even collectively – and the innings fell away in the face of some keen fielding, very solid catching and sharp bowling. Myring bowled two very lively economical overs and Weston, making his debut in this fixture ripped out the middle order with a spell of 3-2 in his two overs, Warne grabbed the key wicket of Evans, foxed by his wrong-un, and Shirley’s wicket keeping display contributed to four wickets – two sharp stumpings, one run out and a catch behind.
Only once did the MRG performance dip below these unusually high standards – when Hiddleston claimed the wicket of Golabek with a ball that bounced a dozen times and never threatened the wicket, or a two-yard area around it. Golabek was stumped in all senses.
So, the MRG needed a fraction over five an over to claim victory, and BMRB needed an inspired bowling display. Again the fielding was lively and solid, and runs were never easy to come by, but the bowling did not have the required penetration, and openers Dromgoole (25) and Jones (38) were able to ease MRG to a comfortable victory, sealed by a few appropriately lusty blows by Guppy (25 runs, 25 years old, phone number on request).
Even the weather obliged (almost), with just the final few balls being bowled as the forecast rainstorms finally arrived.
A seven wicket win for the MRG and on to game two on July 30th.
