Merch Hopes Dashed!

Following their narrow defeat to Blue Flame the Merch returned to Ashton Park school to face Hope Harriers CC who they had played in previous seasons as part of the Bristol Construction League.

Hope won the toss and decided that they would field. With regular opening options Frost and Edmonds unavailable skipper Bown looked for someone to step forward to partner Walker in opening the innings. Moore duly obliged.

The pair got off to a relatively slow start against an opening attack of the Price brothers. Indeed it was possibly the unusual 'hop, skip and a jump' action of O Price that unsettled them! Gradually though they got things up and running, with running being the operative word! Moore was in fine fettle hitting some exquisite shots that in normal circumstances would have resulted in some boundaries against his name. Unfortunately the 'outfield' was exactly that, as the ball slowed up in the longer grass and the duo ended up having to run threes rather than the fours the shots deserved.

The Harriers were certainly chirpy as the match progressed but the new look opening partnership was flying along nicely. It took a bowling change to put a stop to that. Norris and Mason replacing the Price brothers. It was the former who struck as Walker was the first Merchman to fall, bowled for 9 patient runs.

Emmanuel had also moved up the order and joined Moore in the middle, unfortunately he was quickly heading back to the boundary ropes, another victim of the accurate bowling of Norris.

Shahin was next in and after a gradual start offered some lusty blows with enough force behind them to carry them to the boundary rope. With Moore also now scoring fours instead of threes the Merch total was making more than steady progress.

Moore was now closing in on his half-century, but four runs short he found himself the third bowled victim of Norris, whose figures were excellent as a result.

Shahin eventually fell on 21 to Robinson and it was left to Carmichael and Bown to close the innings with some quick runs taken.

The Merch had totalled a decent 106-4.

With regular bowler Cooke unavailable skipper Bown chose himself as the option to partner Shahin in opening the bowling. And whilst the two made a decent start they were unable to claim that first wicket for the Merch in the first few overs. With this in mind the captain called on Emmanuel and also gave Moore the ball in an effort to change things.

Openers McIntosh & Robinson were now well set, could this bowling change make the much needed breakthrough the Merch needed. It looked likely from Emmanuel but unfortunately Sloper was unable to grasp a chance that just got away from him.

Instead it was Moore who finally removed the stubborn opening pair, claiming both openers by clean bowling them. One of batsman could count himself particularly unlucky as the ball stayed very low.

This meant a new pair at the wicket and with it the game had changed slightly with the Merch now back in contention. Pattison and West were the two newcomers to the middle. They quickly looked to establish Hope's dominance again, West hitting a maximum whilst Pattison played more of the anchor role. However tight bowling from Moore at one end had allowed Emmanual to eventually make a breakthrough at the other as he bowled the big-hitting West. Soon after Price also found himself the victim, again clean bowled by Emmanuel.

The Merch were now back in the game big time but whilst Pattison remained at one end they could not take their foot off the pedal. Hope now required 40 from 5 overs and with Carmichael and the returning Bown keeping things tight they were looking for runs wherever they could get them.

This mindset proved to be their comeuppance. Bown bowled a double-bouncer and was duly called for a no ball by the umpire, however confusion now reigned as the two batsmen had set off for a quick single. Walker was the quickest to react, having snaffled the ball in his gloves. Quick as a flash he threw the ball back towards the stumps and bingo he hit them!

The umpires were now confused as to whether this should count. They were quickly informed, correctly, that the wicket should count. The no ball having been called but the ball remaining 'live' in the field with Walker effectively running out Cridland rather than stumping him as was questioned by the umpires.

This really left the game in the balance as Pattison looked around for partners that could stick with him for the last few overs whilst he attempted to knock the required runs off of Shahin and Bown. He was given a few lives in the field as Webster and Legg put chances down.

The Harriers were now informed from the sidelines that eight runs were required from the final over. Surely the miserly bowling of the ever reliable Shahin could win this for the Merch? Well things didn't start great for the big man as he saw his first ball hooked for four. However he quickly hit back, claiming the scalp of Price, assisted by the safe hands of Moore in the field.

With some quick singles also taken in the over, word from the scorers was received that the Harriers now required one run from the final two balls. This was then made more interesting as Shahin bowled a dot from his penultimate ball. Was he able to do the same from his last ball?

He made every effort to but the wily Pattison managed to squirm one away and set off for the single that Hope required. Making it to one end he had made the one run required and the Merch had their heads down. Strangely though he set off for a second run, calling his partner through.

The Merch, understanding that the game was over paid no particular attention to this and shook the hands of both batsmen, congratulating them on a narrow win.

This 'narrow win' for the opposition however had a slightly nasty after-taste. As the two batsmen made their way off they were congratulated by their vocal following on the sidelines on 'running' the 'two required' for the win.

This left the Merch particularly confused as they had previously been 'misinformed' by the scorers that the Harriers had required just the one run.

So 'victory' went to the Harriers but the 'moral victory' was surely that of the Merch?

Moore was duly awarded Man of the Merch for his 46 runs, 2 for 14 with the ball and a catch in the field.