With the Weather forecast app on permanent refresh since Friday night. Tanvir’s prayers were answered and both teams got the news they were hoping for, Game On!!
Banchory won the toss and elected to bat first and make the most of the dry conditions. However not the start we were hoping for, a hooping in-swinger from A.Toor clipped Carl Counsell’s off stump on only the second ball. Mausam Thapa hastily made his way out to the crease, surprised to be there so soon!!
Thapa together with Sam Rotheram tried to knuckle down and deal with the swinging Dukes ball. Rotheram was unable to get to grips with the swing and was clean bowled in the sixth over for 3 runs.
Pulkit Singh came in at No.4 and after a nervy couple of balls started to gain confidence and started to score freely. Thapa and Singh pushed the score along nicely, taking the home team up to 80 before Singh was controversially run out for 30.
Zayd Rabbani came to the crease at No.5 and took a couple of singles before starting to attack the Crescent bowling, hitting a monster six over mid-wicket! Unfortunately this was shortlived and was trapped LBW shortly after on 14 runs.
Ben Wiles in at No.6 got off to a flyer hitting two boundaries and a single in his first few balls.
Thapa meanwhile had been battling hard at the other end taking his score up to 51 before he was caught off Toors bowling. Tayyab Khalid came to the crease looking confident after some solid batting in the recent mid-week T20’s but also fell to Toor’s bowling for 2 runs.
This bought Muhammad Tanvir to the crease who has been showing strong form in recent weeks. Wiles looking to push on with his score was caught in the deep on 16 runs. The Banchory tail end failed to wag yet again, in what has become a familiar story in the last few weeks. Mohsin, Hendriksen and Addinal only adding 2 runs between them. Leaving Tanvir the last man standing on 23. This bought the Banchory innings to a close on 170 all out after 38 overs.

A very sociable and friendly tea was had with both teams mixing, reviewing the first innings, looking at weather apps and generally talking all things cricket. A refreshing sight!!

As tea finished and battle lines were re-established. Banchory took to the field and were keen to get a move on in the hope of finishing the overs or at least getting a result amidst the numerous weather app warnings of impending rain. Despite the gloomy forecast the home side were very optimistic that 170 could be defended, with a strong bowling line up and the pitch now starting to offer something for the bowlers. After a loose opening over, the Banchory opening bowlers of Khalid and Addinal got down to business with some very tight bowling. Some abysmal chat from
Statler and Waldorf in the slips drew a well deserved warning from the umpire.
The long over-due rain eventually made an appearance to dampen the chuckles behind the stumps and play was paused. The covers were deployed quickly and players took refuge in the pavilion.
After 15mins of checking all available weather apps until one was founder that offered some hope. The USA Today weather app seems to be the least pessimistic and offered a suitable forecast. The rain did eventually stop and after a quick pitch inspection, play was resumed.
The slips were in the firing line again, a dropped edge catch prompted a Yorkshire death stare from Addinal at the other end. Now fired up, Addinal took matters into his own hands and cleaned bowled Hashmi to get the first breakthrough.
A change of bowling bought M.Moshin and M.Thapa into the attack. Mohsin showing some encouraging early pace and looked threatening in his first over. Thapa got the next breakthrough though, getting a snick off Sujaya’s bat and text book grab behind the stumps by Singh.
Crescent skipper came to the crease and only faced 3 balls before the rain set in again and play was suspended. Despite the covers the persistent rain was taking its toll on the ground and with no prospect of a break in the rain the decision was taken to abandon the match.
A disappointing end to the day with both teams poised and confident they could get a result.