Metropolitan Police Cricket Club Website

After a fantastic win over Preston last week, 3rd XI took to fields confidently against Hemel Hempstead 5th XI.

Hemel Hempstead Town 5th XI captain won the toss and decided to bat. Marlon Stewart and Sattar gave a good start to Hemel. Unorthodox Sattar played some delightful strokes, though MPBCC opening bowlers Dave Halsey bowled a very steady line but he wasn’t lucky to get any breakthroughs. It was the first change bowler Paul Randall who broke the opening stand and got Marlon out with his extra yard of pace. Jack Elborn joined at the fall of first wickets and played some big shots. With Sattar (50) and Elburn (72) Hemel looked all set for a big score, but after the fall of both the wickets Hemel bastmen couldn’t weave a partnership and wickets kept on falling. Leg spinner Verma took three wickets, Halsey and Burrows chipped in with two wickets each. In the end, Hemel Hempstead 5th XI were bowled out for 170 in 44.5 overs.

With the threat of rain looming from the outset, MPBCC began their chase with some aggressive stroke play by Craig Gumsley. Gumsley was supported well by Dave Tanner (13) on the other end. Gumsley who was back after a tiring climb to Uhru peak in South Africa played some delightful strokes and soon reached his fifty, none of the bowlers could pose any threat to his aggressive batting. After the fall of Burrows wicket captain Halsey joined Gumsley in the middle and started to play the strokes from the word go. Race was not on for the runs or wickets or number of overs, it was against the looming dark clouds and when the drizzling rain changed to a downpour, and the inevitable happened sooner to the delight of Hemel Hempstead players. Both the captains decided that there could no more be any play. MPBCC were agonisingly close to the target and were 115 for the loss of two wickets at the end of 23 overs, just 56 runs short with 22 overs and eight wickets in hand. Gumsley (69*) and Halsey (25*) were left itching their palms in the pouring rain.

Captain Dave Halsey must have missed a few rituals to please rain gods this year !! This was third match which was abandoned due to rain and in all three MPBCC 3rd XI were agonisingly close to the victory, when the rain came down spoiling their party. We all urge Mr. Halsey to perform some “Hawan” before he take the fields against St Margaretsbury III on 8th August.