Old Minchendenians News

OMCC enjoy good start

OMCC beat Cockfosters 2XI by four wickets in the opening game of the season.

THE unusually sunny April weather provided the inspiration Minch needed to get out of the rays and into the bar, all inside 40 overs. After skipper Steve Eveleigh won the toss and elected to field, Minch took wickets at regular intervals, eventually bowling their near neighbours all out for 89. Five wickets were shared between opening bowlers Shahid Khan and James Ward, before debutants Matt Collinson and Matt Smith took centre stage and were involved in the loss of the final five wickets, including two rather calamitous run-outs. Minch old boy Chris Stead finished unbeaten on 21 for the hosts, closely behind top scorer 'Extras' with 22.

In reply, Minch opening pair Pavan Patel and another newcomer, Asim, enjoyed a solid opening stand before the latter was caught out by a spectacular one-handed catch on the boundary. Patel went on to score 16 before also being caught at mid-wicket. Further cameos followed from Umesh Agarwal, Dinesh Reid and Eveleigh and Smith, who scored Minch's first six of 2010 before being bowled. It was left to wicket-keeper Tim Brocklehurst to shore up the innings, and having successfully avoided a couple of balls that whistled just past his nose, he remained unbeaten on 16 when number eight bat, Collinson, scored the winning runs with a delighful flick off his pads for four.

OMCC play Rosslyn at their Bramley Road home ground on Sunday, April 25, starting at 2pm.