Bloomsbury Royals edge through the Passage
Faizan, Michael, Stan, Higgo, Bish, Salman
Amit, Ziaur, Dan, Paddy, Tanjeen
As days go on Millfields, it was alright. We arrived to face Bloomsbury after a quite hilarious innings defeat to them in a friendly a few weeks ago. A friendly group of guys, but only a handful of the Passagiati arrived on time.
This was a toss we had to win, and win it we did. The Passage batted. After a well-predicted request from Mr Alexander to be moved down the order to cope with his Greenland-induced hangover, Paddy and myself strode out to bat.
As the Red Arrows flew overhead to mark the King’s Birthday, the day had a rustic feel. Stan Grant had a grumble.
The Millfields pitch is the very essence of ‘village variable’. At the Clapton Natural Wines end, the ball has a tendency to jag back into the right hander like a phone thief going for a second pass. By contrast, at the Small Plates end, full balls can appear around one’s impeccably musically cultivated earholes.
None of this mattered to poor Paddy, who was bowled early by a scorcher of an inswinging yorker. For Michael Scantlebury, the up-down Hinge date pitch was his undoing, as he cut a chest-height ball onto his stumps.
Faizan came in at 4; possibly the most cheerful lad you could ever meet. He and I steadied the ship a little, as their opening bowlers made good use of the facilities. We were just getting into the swing of things when the Bloomsbury Royals first change got through me with a - and I am not exaggerating - genuine pearoller. I promise. I departed for 21 and the Passage looked a bit thin on 54-4 off 18. New signing Tanjeen came out and was immediately laid upon the BBQ as Faizan looked to curry favour with Mr Alexander.
Yet lo from the bowels of the briny deep, something stirred. Muscleman “the Kraken” Dan ambled to the crease at 6. Is it reasonable to compare a left arm spinner to Graeme Swann’s batting prime? God this guy put it away. Balls got acquainted with bushes all around Millfields as our man got a feel for batting with the Passage. Faizan kept up his end, watchfully seeing out his overs and rotating the strike until a quite unfortunate caught and bowled meant he had to come back to the sidelines.
The Passage now stood on 100-5 after 27, with Dan hitting a glorious, pure six to get us over the marker. Now accompanied by Amit, the two made the Bloomsbury bowling look a little more East Ham. Until, drama. Amit played forward to a stock medium delivery and was struck between bat and pad. Nobody appealed but the bowler. UP WENT THE FINGER. Other Bloomsbury players were just as bemused as Amit. All maintained he’d hit it. Amit trudged from the field, Paddy shouted at the umpire. Hands were waved. Next man Bishop took guard. The Bloomsbury Players, to their credit and under strong pressure from us, withdrew the appeal. Amit returned and, after Dan departed for a career-best 39, Amit made an elegant, diplomatic 49 (including taking one over for 25 runs) before holing out to long off. Stan Grant, ever the calmest player to don the cap, saw us out alongside Ziaur and Bish. The Passage batted the overs. 176 to win.
A complement of seamers is a rare thing in Passage games now. Once limber shoulders sanded away by night feeds and Madri. Not today. Salman and Stan Grant opened the bowling. Both bowled as well as I’ve ever seen them, or anyone, bowl as a partnership for us. Stan hit a ruthlessly consistent line with just enough swing and seam from the less variable end. Salman burnt through the oppo with raw pace and movement in off the seam. Opener Hiru was sent packing by Stan for 6 after he spooned it to Amit at mid off. Superb catch. Then Salman had the other opener LBW. Then Salman had the 3 LBW. Suddenly Bloomsbury were 25-3. Then 27-4 after Ziaur took a wicked grab at cover. Then five, then six, as Stan and Salman got one bowled each with identical balls swinging out and seaming back in to hit the top of off.
We were massively on top. 125 runs in the bank and 4 to get. Yet cricket has a way of hurting you and hurt us it did. The 7 and 8 put on a staggering 100+ partnership to bat us out of the game. Earnest bowling from Jack Bishop (great bounce and turn), Michael, Dan, Tanjeen (spicy bowling with a broken leg) couldn’t break the partnership. Only cramp could do it, with their 8 retiring injured. Tanjeen got a debut wicket, again a stunning catch from Amit, yet we walked away empty handed. They did it with 2 wickets and 5 overs to spare.
A close-fought game. That’s how it goes.
Passage 175-8 after 40
Bloomsbury Royals win by 2 wickets.
