The match, played on a Sunday that swung between summer brightness and gloomy cloud cover, ended in a draw, but not before serving up a feast of cricketing action.

Great Missenden Pelicans, batting first, set a formidable target of 257 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets in their allotted 38 overs. The innings was anchored by a magnificent, unbeaten century from Amit Talhan, who scored 126 runs, punctuated with 21 boundaries. Yusuf contributed a steady 34 before being caught by Hatt off Talmer, while Amit Singh added a brisk 74 before falling LBW to Wyatt. Josh chipped in with a quick 5 runs at the end.

In response, Widmer End St Margarets showed great resilience and determination. Despite losing early wickets to a fiery spell from Richard Frank, who claimed 3 wickets including splendid catches from Vipul and A Singh, they fought back through a stellar century from Jason Talmer. Talmer’s 107 runs kept Widmer End in the hunt, but his dismissal by Josh Bailey in the closing stages of the match tilted the balance back towards the Pelicans.

As the sun began to set on this enthralling contest, Widmer End finished their innings at 242 for 7, falling short of the target but managing to secure a draw in this timed game.

Highlights:

• Talhan’s Unbeaten 126: A long due inning from Amit, who anchored the Pelicans’ innings with 21 boundaries, ensuring they posted a challenging total.
• Singh’s Solid 74: A crucial partnership with Talhan, keeping the scoreboard ticking.
• Frank’s Opening Spell: Frank rattled Widmer End’s top order with 3 wickets in quick succession, setting the tone early.
• Niron’s web of spin combined with Yusuf’s calmness to claim well set M Akbar’s scalp.
• Talmer’s Counter-Attack: A magnificent 107 from Talmer gave Widmer End hope, but his dismissal proved decisive.
• Bailey’s All-Round Contribution: After waiting 20 overs to bat, Josh contributed a quick 5 runs and later took 2 crucial wickets, including the prized scalp of Talmer, which swung the momentum back in Pelicans’ favour.
• Dropped Catches and Balls Lost: Several balls were lost to neighbouring houses due to massive hits, highlighting the power-hitting on display. Keeping up with the expectations, catches were dropped, which could possibly be blamed on the changing weather conditions but most of them were dropped under the blue skies.

This match served as a reminder of why we love this beautiful game. From Talhan’s inning to Frank’s fiery opening spell and the late drama provided by Josh, it had all the ingredients of a classic Sunday cricket encounter. As they say in the Caribbean, “Cricket, lovely cricket!”

The important thing is that the Pelis got to bat first, on one of the hottest days of the year, fortunately moderated by a slight breeze.

Asad and Amit opened. It was quite apparent from the off that this wouldn’t be a belter of a pitch. Too much uneven bounce, and not even Asad could find his timing. Iceman, who has form with Middleton Stoney on LBWs, turned down a confident appeal by the opening bowler against Amit. Just as well, since the Pelis innings had to be built around Amit’s vigil – 54 in 35 overs.

It wasn’t long before JG was exercising his finger, in favour of occasional midweek Pelican Ollie Ross and against Asad. Josh then batted fearlessly for 34 runs. However, immediately after striking his first 6 over the pavilion, he appeared transfixed by a ball from the elderly spinner.

Ali came and went quickly, sportingly walking having gloved to leg slip. Like Josh, Hasan looked to be getting going, but again like Josh, followed a fiercely struck 4 off a 13-year-old spinner by then bottom edging onto his stumps.

Little to say about the other batsmen, with the exception of Alex Hill’s 34, mixing striking out and shepherding the tail. Though it’s questionable whether 13-year-old Vrishab felt shepherded as Alex insisted that he set off on a suicide mission. Thanks to Alex’s efforts, the Pelicans posted a still sub-par 159, rather than a pathetic 130-odd.

It was still hot when the Pelis went out to field. Lacking a regular keeper, the gloves were taken by Josh (whose shoulder was crocked anyway). Being permanently in the centre of the action allowed Josh to exercise one of his favourite pastimes – chatting. In between he did take two catches.

The Middleton Stoney openers did a professional job of taking the game away from the Pelis, with a stand of 100-odd. Try as we might, Vrishab’s economy, JG’s swing, Amol’s pace and Hasan’s guile came to naught. It was only when spin was adopted that we started to make inroads. After taking an over to find his line and rhythm, third-change Alex bowled impeccably for 3-25 off 8 overs. The season’s surprise bowling package Ali also picked up a wicket. Sumit distinguished himself in the field, with 3 catches at mid/long on, including a huge steepler. And if we’re looking for Champagne moments at the end of the season, ct Sumit Khanna b Vrishab Khanna must surely be a candidate.

Eventually, Ollie Ross performed the last rites, with a 6 into the sightscreen. But it must be said that the Pelis persevered admirably in the heat, defending a sub par total and eking the match out into the last 4 overs.

With us already indebted to the opposition Toobes decided to ignore the coin toss and let them bowl first. And so it was the time of the Amit’s. After much confusion with the scorer as to who was the better Amit, Amit S decided to face the first ball.

Quickly the runs started flowing and the Amit’s were looking strong. But it wasn’t long before the scorer learned who was the lesser Amit, with a difficult ball onto the pads Amit S had no choice but to walk off.

And so next up, Jim. With strong words of “stay out there” by the captain he took up stance and as always started swinging a little too keenly. But no matter he had the better Amit to rely on. Before long Amit was in the swing of things knocking balls all over the field racking up our runs almost as fast as the oppo’s extras. Jim, with some wise words from Amit, quickly decided to stop swinging like a wild ape and let Amit do the work. Before long Amit made a truly classy 50.

However, with the lesser Amit umpiring at the other end and possibly still regretting not taking full advantage of the beautiful batting conditions an unfortunate lbw brought an end to Amit’s run.

Ali decided to join the party and follow in Amit’s inspiring innings. Knocking several boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking over at a great rate, almost as if he didn’t like running the singles… Jim decided to again let the other batsman keep the run rate up and continue at his slow and steady pace. Finally learning the skill of leaving the good balls and knocking the bad ones for boundaries. To the dismay of the crowd he did not decide to face the difficult opener at the end and Ali heroically took him on until a mighty ball on the pads again had a Peli walking off.

With the last over up it was all eyes on Jim, could he make his first 100? No. Knowing he’d lost his chance he let our superb loan player Mehul knock a great effort of 11 runs on the last over before a top edge and caught in the slips ended the a great batting performance by the Pelis. A daunting score of 286 for the oppo to chase.

With our own teas taken care of it was time for the bowlers to show their worth. An excellent spell from both Hasan and JG kept the batsmen on edge, but neither getting any luck. Hasan even made a superb and for all of us a blindingly obvious runout, only for the umpire not to give it on the grounds of ‘the batsman was in the way I couldn’t see’. Don’t worry Hasan you will eventually contribute to the game. The captain decided to take things in his own hands and have a go.

Deciding that short and wide was the obvious technique. With the opening batsman bewildered with the luck off the first ball decided to take the opportunity… passing it so kindly to the safe hands of the better Amit. Toobes further continued with the great work and took the next batsman with a superb lbw getting us 2 down.

Knowing his work was done it was time Toobes decided to bring on Vrishab. With an excellent spell of bowling the batsman were scared. Quickly deciding to toss a ball straight up and to our other loan player, Sid. Off goes the third batsman. But Vrishab wasn’t finished, soon following up with an another quality out swinger edged to keeper. Now was the turn of Niron. First coming down the hill he played to his field perfectly. Soon forcing the batsman into a poor shot to square leg where a man, still dreaming of his own batting performance, quickly woke up and chased it down. Only to drop it in his usual style, good thing this man bought Niron a pint just an hour before. Niron deciding to remove umpires and fielders from the equation clean bowled the batsman and had him packing his bags.

Next up was our loaned player Sid, after performing excellently in the field the Captain kindly put him in to bowl. Sid instantly filling us with confidence when he kept shouting “put your helmet on!” to the batsman. Turns out he didn’t need a helmet but a foot stool to reach the ball. But this is the great thing with village cricket, everyone gets to play and Sid still produced some excellent balls once the height was fixed. Vrishab wasn’t finished and with the request to change ends down the hill took another great wicket with a catch to the lesser Amit. He almost achieved the better Amit status! Almost.

It was time for the opening bowlers to come back. Hasan finally it was your time, finally you contributed to the game! Coming back on to finish off it wasn’t long before a quick ball allowed the ever impressive Vrishab to take a catch, 7 down! JG wanted in on some of the fun and quickly followed taking an excellent clean bowled wicket that was just too good to touch. Hasan though, wasn’t finished and with the end in sight produced another difficult ball allowing the batsman to hit straight to the safe hands of Ali.

Finally one more wicket to come and with the pressure ramping up to hit the bar early the lesser Amit decided enough was enough after a poor shot off Has’ bowling a quick pick up and very gentle underarm to the stumps had the last man walking. An excellent performance from the Pelis to round off a demanding win.

A special thanks to the oppo who year on year are a great sport and without their kind donation of players we wouldn’t have played. Also a shoutout to Vrshab who put on an excellent performance of class bowling and showing the Pelis are in safe hands in the future! And lastly, as I get to write the match report I also want to pass a special thanks to the better Amit who managed to keep a very keen and excitable child level headed to achieve his best score while also putting on a fantastic performance to take his own personal best at the Pelis. Great game chaps, onto the
next!