Staff Cricket Team ends best run in four year history
23 Jul 2014
The University of Manchester Staff Cricket Team took on Sellick in the semi-final of the cup on a warm and bright Friday afternoon
Sellick were inserted and made a slow start due to accurate bowling from Darragh and Adnan. The University team wasn’t able to take the wickets and even though they kept the runs down to start, there was always the risk that they would tee off at the end of the innings. This is exactly what happened with the final four (eight ball) overs going for 67.
The pitch was a good one and they had some form with the bat so while the total was daunting, they felt they had a chance. Their chase wasn’t helped by a top order collapse that left them 21 for four before they saw some resistance from Aatish and Adnan. They took Manchester to 59 in the 7th over before we lost another two wickets.
Tim and Zain then pulled Manchester back from the brink with a tremendous partnership that took them to 114 before Tim was stumped trying to hit over midwicket. Richard joined Zain needing 43 off the final three overs but was quickly back in the shed. Darragh and Zain then produced a spell of sustained hitting and superb running between the wickets to take the team to the brink of victory, one ball remaining, four runs to tie, a six would win it.
Darragh had had to retire for a rapid 30 so it was all on the shoulders of Parmesh, one ball for glory. Parmesh made good contact and the ball sailed toward backward square leg. However, it didn’t have the legs for six and a fielder was closing in rapidly, finally cutting the ball off and restricting the scoring to a single.
After the match, team member Mark Glass said: "A fantastic game ending the best run in our four year history. Huge thanks from the team to skipper David Butler for all his organisation and runs at the top of the innings. We all look forward to next year!"