Heaton Mersey Cricket Club

Waqas signs off in style

Written by James Emmerson

Sunday, 13 September 2009

A career best 83* from Waqas Bashir, in his last appearance for Mersey, saw the 2nd XI to a comfortable seven wicket win at Mobberley on Saturday.

Scores: Mobberley 130 (46.5 overs, 181 mins)
Mersey 136-3 (32 overs, 121 mins)

Points: Mersey 25, Mobberley 6

photos

All in all a wonderful way to end the season. A beautiful setting in rural Cheshire, hot sun and still conditions, an absolutely scrumptious tea, and a smart little pavilion with a fantastic collection of photographs and statistics all lovingly displayed. For those that appreciate the sight of aircraft taking off, there was also a series of real treats as numerous jumbo jets climbed and circled majestically over the ground. And, of course, there was the not inconsiderable satisfaction of a maximum point haul to end 2009 on the best possible note.

Sadly it was not all good news as Waqas revealed that, in all probability, this would be his last game for Mersey. The popular left hander is relocating to Herfortshire to continue his engineering studies, which is a great pity from a club perspective. Waqas has given his all for every senior XI this season and it was therefore fitting that he chose today to give an assured and classy performance to lead the team home. Waqas was sent out to open the innings, in pursuit of a very gettable 131 at barely 2½ runs per over, but he could only stand and watch as Mersey stumbled to 19-3 in the 10th over. Oh dear oh dear.

However, together with new partner Adil, Waqas steadied the ship and as the two grew in confidence the runs flowed smoothly. Shortly after reaching an excellent 50 Waqas seemed fortunate to get the benefit of the doubt in a run-out appeal, but he made the most of his ‘life’, hammering another 7 fours (making it 16 in all for him) as he took Mersey to within nine runs of victory.

There was then an unfortunate moment of controversy when Waqas should have been given run out, after leaving his crease in mid-over to talk to Adil in the belief that the ball was dead. Adil had just been dropped off a skied heave, and the guilty fielder, after a moments’ self-castigation, had thrown the ball back to the bowler who then took the bails off as Waqas was at Adil’s end talking to him. The ruling of dead ball was a bizarre one, and clearly a mistake. Waqas confessed later to not knowing the rule in that circumstance and he was very lucky to remain at the crease. Not that it made any material difference, because he didn’t face another ball as Adil went 4-4-6 to finish the game, and the pair walked off having completed an unbroken 117 partnership, the highest for the 2nd XI all season.

Earlier, Mersey had produced a solid and efficient performance in the field to fire the hosts out for an inadequate 130. Bobby took two wickets in the first over of the game, and young Jack Howden also produced a tidy spell of 5-3-9-1 after a nervy start, claiming a wicket which he should be very pleased with. But the plaudits went to Tim Martin, coming on second change, and taking his best figures of the season, 6-48. He, and the rest of the side, was convinced those figures should have been even better, as Mobberley captain Tim O’Shea survived three supremely confident lbw appeals in the early stages of his innings. As it was, his determined 64 saved Mobberley from humiliation in what has been a difficult season for their 2nd XI. They have finished bottom of the division although we should all hope that they remain in it for next year, which is not out of the question at this stage. They are definitely an asset to the league and their facility is one of the best I’ve been to this year.

Unfortunately my camera was needed elsewhere today – I have taken some photos (on my phone) so hopefully they might appear at some stage!

A review of the 2nd XI season will appear on the site in due course.

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Comments (2) add comment

Waqas said:

...
Thank you very much Hash, it means alot:-). I will miss playing for Mersey as well as this place feels like home to me. Thank you everyone for your continued support, particularly to Colin, Bobby, Hash, Tim Martin, Tamoor, Adil and all others. A very special thanks to Tim Martin and Bobby for their tips and guidance. At the end of the day, I cannot thank every one enough for their support and kindness and no matter where I go, my support will always be with Heaton Mersey and I'll always be following you guys closely :-)