We won the cup

[pete]

The spirit of Terrence Newcombe was celebrated until half past three this morning .......

I am sat in work this morning absolutely hammered.....magic....

well batted navin chetty.

[NJG]

Haha...love it. Where did you guys get to? How is Loeffers this morning?

For those of you who haven't seen:

Terry Newcombe Final @ Newfield

Marchmont - 112 for 8 (20 overs) N Chetty 43*, S Mathers 20
Musselburgh - 99 for 7 (20 overs) P Maksimczyk 2-9, W Collier 2-11, N Granger 2-24

Marchmont win by 13 runs.

Man of the match: Navin Chetty

The score doesn't tell the full story. We were asked to bat and were 27 for 5 after 8 overs! Nav and big Stevie brought us back into it with a 48 partnership. All the bowlers did well, particularly Will and Pete.

Well done lads.

[NJG]

Oh and scorecard and match report will follow.

Marchmont also won the Golf Tavern pub quiz after...we now have 22 more beers for Sunday!

[pete]

Double victory, is there 3-2-1 for the quiz?

I turned up to work on time, Loeffen was apprently a good 2 hours late....thats still earlier than he was on the ball for his dismissal yesterday.....

[NJG]

Match Report that will be on site shortly

Terry Newcombe Final- 29th July 2009 Marchmont C.C. v Musselburgh C.C.

After a fortnight of unpleasant weather, wet wickets and drinking, it was a pleasant surprise to arrive at the delightful ground at Newfield last Wednesday with the sun in the sky, covers on the wicket and even some retro style changing facilities for the Terry Newcombe Trophy Final.

Granger had picked arguably his strongest XI from previous midweek performances to play in what was Marchmont’s first major cup final for many years, with the belief that following 2 dramatic last-ball victories in previous rounds, the club’s name was practically etched into the trophy already.

However any hint of arrogance was firmly wiped within the first half hour, as firstly Granger lost the toss and then the Marchmont’s top order, so often compared to Arsenal’s back four of the early 90’s (Experienced and Solid), completely capitulated. Macgregor and Loeffen opened the batting; but Loeffen, whose previous episodes with the bat gave Marchmont much hope, was back in the hutch fairly sharpish after pulling ‘the Musselers’ opening bowler straight into the hands of mid on.

Sam Peachey joined the middle and despite caressing a couple of delightful shots of the impressive Musselburgh openers, had his off stick uprooted by a quicker ball from Rene ‘Pedro’ Collins. Meanwhile Macgregor hung about a while, thumped a few hits and then was also dismissed leaving the scorecard looking a rather unhealthy 14-3. Worse was to follow as another 2 dropped in quick succession; Aaron Sardesai, ‘the central belts answer to David Lamb’ was triggered and following this Will(is) Collier was castled by a superb yorker and let’s not beat about the bush here - neither really added value to the score which now read 27-5 after 7 overs.

However staring in the face of adversity stood two experienced figures. Navin Chetty (who could already list an achievement for turning up on time for the game) and Steve Mathers. These two would go on to put together the batting partnership of the match. Mathers signalled his intent from ball one; clubbing the impressive Collins to the point boundary, whilst Chetty swung with gay abandonment, connecting with at least half to keep the scoreboard ticking. Whilst not blasting the ball to all parts, what was crucial about this spell of the game was the continual steady flow of runs coupled with the loss of no wickets - it steadied the Marchmont ship, and provided a platform for a final few overs blast.

Mathers eventually went for a valuable 20 in the 15th over; the total was closing in on 80 with a 3 figure total now looking a strong possibility. Maksimczyk came to the crease next but swiftly departed after being called through for a run by Chetty that a greyhound on speed would not have made. However it was critical that Navin was there until the close of the innings and he did just this, rotating the strike sensibly with both Steve Clayton and John MacConnachie. In the penultimate over Chetty lofted a trademark cover drive for a one bounce four, arguably the shot of the match and keeping his cool he finished on a composed 43*, leaving Marchmont with a competitive 112-8 form 20 overs.


With the recovery Marchmont had made, questions could have been raised over Musselburgh tactics in bowling out their openers at the top of the innings, making it easier to score later on. Either way, it was imperative that in order to claw back the domination they had earlier on the game, their opening batsmen would have to start impressively. They didn’t.

Maksimczyk and Clayton opening the bowling and were at their miserly best. Only 14 runs was scored in the first 6 overs, and this included the loss of the 2 opening batsmen, the first trapped lbw, the second caught well by skipper Granger, both from the bowling of Maksimczyk. Unlike in the Marchmont innings there was no respite after the opening spell, as change bowlers Mathers and Collier continued to make the Musselburgh batsmen toil. The fielding was both intense and sharp, led by Stuart ‘Graham Manou’ MacGregor behind the stumps. Both change bowlers obtained some prodigious swing in favourable conditions and it was Collier who was justifiably rewarded picking up two wickets, leaving the ‘burgh’ on the rack at 28-4 after 10 overs.

There was a whimper of a response from the middle order in the second half of the innings, as both Clayton and Mathers returned for there final overs to be dealt some lusty blows over their heads. However the pressure in the field continued to build. Granger the skipper brought himself on for the crucial closing few overs and despite bowling the odd mystery ball, was consistent enough in getting the ball right up to the batsmen and he was duly rewarded with two wickets, including that of Collins who had been the scourge of Marchmont’s top order and was threatening to do the same with the bat.

By over 15 the run rate was up to 11 an over; even the hospital seemed to know that Musselburgh were in trouble as an ambulance trundled across the outfield. Whilst this was attending to an injured footballer on the adjacent pitch, just 5 minutes later they might as well of made room for the Musselburgh team as Granger concluded the final over and Marchmont completed a comfortable 12 run victory.

It was a fantastic turnaround by Marchmont, orchestrated by Chetty and Mathers with the bat and concluded with an outstanding bowling and fielding effort. Navin Chetty was a deserved man of the match for a game turning innings and festivities ran long into the night, as the Marchmont youth policy (Loeffen, 26 and Maksimczyk, 24) partied with the adoring supporters in Opal Lounge into the early hours. It was just a shame about work the next day...