Didsbury 2As were coming off three wins and fielded a strong side against an Alvanley team that sat ninth in the league table. Rain was forecast throughout the day so a stop-start game was expected.

Other things we have now come to expect when we turn up to Mere is for the pitch to not be ready. After getting the ground set up, we took the covers off to see another green-top that was damp, and not properly cut. Despite the rain from the past few days, the uncovered Sunday pitch was better so Rehmani opted to play on that.

Rain delayed the start of the game half an hour, and it gave Sean and Shish the chance to debate which forecast is more reliable. This is what happens when your clubhouse doesn’t have a TV, or anything else for that matter. Rehmani lost the toss this time, and Dids were put into bat. Having watched Sale bat on a similar pitch at Mere a few weeks back, we anticipated the first 10 overs to be tough.

Archie got a promotion (if you can call it that) to opening after his fine knock at Heaton Mersey last week. I’m sure he would have wished his first knock opening was Grappenhall away, losing his wicket in the third over from Mallows, who bowled superbly for Alvanley.

Dids found it hard to find any value for their shots. The pitch played okay, but it was slow, the ball was seaming, and the outfield was slow. The plan was to knuckle-down, bat time, run hard, and see what Alvanley’s first change was like! Billy Hoye quickly followed edging Mallows to slip, with Dids two down in the first seven overs. Stevo and Beresford tried to play some shots, with the score hardly shifting. The pair fell shortly after one another.

Having grafted for 18 overs, I was particularly miffed to have the ball roll back onto the stumps after blocking it.

Sunil played some good shots for his 22, Didsbury’s top score, but there wasn’t really anything else of note to report on. We knew 100+ was competitive but lacked the firepower of someone who could clear the infield on a slow deck, and someone to just stay there for as long as possible. First and second change were a considerable step down from the openers, so wickets in hand may have provided us the chance to make a score. Regardless, Alvanley bowled very well!

Team-talk at half time was simple: attack, early wickets, see what happens. Rehmani has nicked their opener first ball for a simple chance and it’s dropped behind. What a start that would have been. We should have mentioned take catches in the team-talk. Baseem took the first wicket early on but a few big hits from Jones took the score close to halfway. Rehmani bowled brilliantly, taking 3-20 and Dids had Alvanley 32-5 at one stage. After his knock versus the 2As last year, we knew that Alvanley captain Fletcher was the wicket needed. He did what we needed someone to do, take some risks and clear the infield. His 27* off 17 balls sealed the game for Alvanley, a five-wicket win.

The 2As made a good fight of it, but Alvanley were worthy winners. A really disappointing day out. We’re glad to have gotten a game in, despite the weather improving at the end, and that’s fact that an abandoned game would have resulted in more points!

Special shout-out to Sean Reilly for buying a 10-pack of 330ml beers to share between two teams (we have started a rota between senior 2As team-members to bring beers and soft drinks for the squad and opposition to enjoy after a game). Looking forward to the second half of Sean’s rota at the next home game!

Dids slip back into sixth with the league so congested, but we travel to bottom-side, Grappenhall next weekend. Different test for us and a chance for the batters to bat their way into some form. The 2As also host Cheadle Hulme on Tuesday for the first T20 cup match, and our first match at Didsbury CC this year (thank god).

Onwards and upwards.

Picture: Shish was adamant his forecast was right, so this is him posing with his forecast showing no rain at Mere.