Game two of the annual three-match MRG/BMRB cricket series took place last week, and left everything set up splendidly for the decider, as BMRB grabbed a seven wicket victory in the highest scoring game to-date.
The MRG side was much weakened from game one (see Sharp All-Round Performance Puts MRG One Up), whilst BMRB was able to call on its strongest batting line-up so far, with the dangerous Wicken not due in until number 10!
In fact it was Wicken whose efforts (rather unwittingly) dominated the first ten minutes of the day. First he claimed the wicket of Carter, when her powerfully struck pull, that seemed to be heading for the ropes, was somehow plucked out of the air by Andersen. Then he spilled a fast and hard chance off his own bowling from Guppy, only for the ball to roll on to the stumps at the bowler’s end, running out the advancing Jones.
With other usual first-string batsmen absent, MRG needed a big score from Guppy, who obliged with an elegant 50. Less anticipated were the fine contributions of Golabek (on loan from BMRB) and Myring, who struck 33 and 37 not out respectively to take the MRG to a commanding 162-5 from their 20 overs. Only Nurton (1-4) and Anderson (0-10) could claim respectable bowling figures.
BMRB needed a fast start, but Maniar and Farooq bowled four lively opening overs, and it was only later in the innings that the batting pace picked up notably. Poustie was bowled by a beauty from Alavy, and a catch by Golabek (almost as good as Anderson’s earlier) accounted for Silman just as he was beginning to open up.
The crucial moments followed, as MRG skipper Jones failed to take a difficult chance offered by his fellow skipper Nurton, and May rode his luck occasionally to support his skipper splendidly in the match-winning stand. Both players notched fifties and, although Guppy skittled Roderick and worried the other batsmen, MRG’s bowling lacked the depth to make a close finish into a really tight one.
Evans and Brown guided BMRB home, with Evans striking the winning boundary off the first ball of the last over.
Back to the Old Actonians ground now for the decider on August 29th, with both sides likely to be near full strength.
