Didsbury 2As have been on a bit of a skid after a solid first half of the season. We’ve been soundly beaten by Bowden and then Timperley in the cup, lost out to struggling Macclesfield and now travelled to league leaders Lindow.

Lindow were worthy winners in the reverse fixture at Mere, but they have been faltering of late. They’ve lost two in their last four games, including against bottom-of-the-table side Grappenhall last weekend, meaning Maritime are on their toes and the rest of the pack are not far behind. It was a big game for both sides.

Didsbury fielded a bowler-heavy side, but the batting was strengthened by 2s players Adam Slater and Jacob Mills dropping down. The deck was hard and flat, but green on top, enough for Rehmani to opt to bowl first when winning the toss.

Rehmani backed up his decision at the toss with an incredible first over. Before Lindow could even set up the livestream, he removed opener, Topp, first ball of the game, with a great catch low-down at first slip by Archie Elder. He then removed the Lindow’s other opener, Davie, in the same over and in the same way, edging to Nigel Bellamy at slip. What a start. The boys were up!

Harri Aggarwal followed up with a solid first few overs, regularly beating the edge and was unfortunate that the ones that did take the edge didn’t go to hand. Rehmani continued to challenge both batters, but the pair batted well and rebuilt a platform for Lindow.

Baseem was particularly unlucky with a stone-dead LBW call apparently going over for Mahmood (51) before he made his half century. Baseem got his man in the 22nd over with the score now on 89-3, and a chance for the 2As to stem the flow of runs. Lindow was 104-3 at drinks, so the game was in the balance.

We thought par was 230 ish with the wicket not doing much, coming on nicely, outfield was quick and boundaries were small. There was no real turn for our four spinners either so, on that basis, were fairly happy with our performance so far. I was also surprised by how often the Lindow players walked behind the bowlers arm.. while they were batting. Very very village.

Haaris picked up the Lindow skipper shortly after drinks and he, along with OG, kept the run rate low for the time being. Just as Lindow started to pick up the pace, Rehmani brought himself back on and immediately dismissed James (22), one of the opposition’s top-scorers this year, a prized wicket, and making it 150-5. Baseem then struck in the next over, getting Lindow’s other set batter out with the score not troubled. 150-6.

At this stage, we were hoping to roll them. It was just the tail left. Unfortunately some big hitting at the end, coupled with poor fielding, meant that Lindow was able to reach 207, a respectable score. I think poor fielding (again) gave the opposition 15-20 runs which is something the 2As really do need to get better at if we are to be consistently competing at the top. Regardless, at the halfway stage, we were the happier side as the total was below par.

We knew that the threat was the first spell with Lindow’s two young openers that have impressed all season. Rae and Thompson have amassed 48 wickets between them so far, with the latter threatening Rehmani at the summit of the league’s top wicket-takers. Well that plan started to fall apart when my off stop was clipped with the score on 0 in the first over of the innings.

Adam, who opened up with me, was then joined by Archie, and the pair steadied the ship well. Lindow continued to bowl well, sometimes beating the outside edge and a big appeal from a yorker to Adam, but they went about their business and put on 38 for the second wicket. Adam got a peach of a ball for Rae’s second in a solid opening spell, shortly followed by Thompson trapping Jacob Mills and Harri getting bowled, leaving Dids struggling at 58-4. Lindow was well on top and the 2As might have rued not having another recognised batter in the team (sorry bowlers!).

Amongst all of this, Archie was building his innings. When Shabih Shah joined him in the middle, he was on 24, dealing mainly in boundaries. We needed a partnership and the pair delivered. Archie continued to target his favoured areas and, despite Lindow’s changes to the field, continued to find the boundary regularly. It was boosted by good running between the wickets, and Shabih batting particularly well to drinks against Rae in his second spell.

We were going at four an over to drinks and never really fell far behind the rate. At times it lifted to rough a run-a-ball, but not for long. Despite some of the worst chat on a cricket field by particularly one of the Lindow fielders, Archie eased to 50 and nonchalantly raised his bat. He’s getting very used to this now. Shabih unfortunately cut the Lindow spinner to slip, ending a 63-run partnership, with the 2As now on 121-5. He batted really sensibly.

Up steps Nigel Bellamy, who has only just recovered from Thursday at the Test and early hours on Friday in Drawing Room, coming in at seven. His orders were to get stuck in, rebuild, and give Archie the strike. He started to do this but, after building a bit of confidence, went full Ian Bell(amy), creaming some glorious cover-drives for four. The Lindow spectators were not aware or appreciative of what they were witnessing, although they also didn’t even clap us off after fielding earlier - poor form.

It was a nail-biter. Lots of pacing around the pitch. You’d have one or two tight overs followed by a few with boundaries to get back up with the rate. Archie, now on about 90 odd, was still coping it from Lindow for some reason. As in the T20 game against Cheadle Hulme earlier this year, Lindow fielded large parts of the innings without a regulation mid-off, so Archie responded by almost chipping it to the fielder at wide mid-off/narrow cover, and then went again the next ball but for four. He also brought up his maiden league ton by hitting three boundaries in the 42nd over. A seriously good knock.

Unfortunately, Archie (105) was unable to see us home as he was bowled by Rae a few overs later with the 2As needing just 24 to win from 34 balls. Bells joined him back in the hutch for a very well-made 21 a few overs later, having probably played the shot of the innings through cover. The score was 190-7, and we needed 18 from 24 balls. I couldn’t sit down, and was absolutely cussing every swing and miss from Rehmani..

The skipper was joined by Baseem, who had saw Dids home in the last over against Sale earlier in the year, with a trademark ramp shot. After trying a few blocks, Baseem brought the ramp back out to good effect, scoring from it every time he played it! Rehmani and Baseem ran really well and, despite not getting a boundary until the winning runs, were able to get 17 off three overs. A lofted drive over cover saw us home with five balls to spare. This was a massive win for us as it’s now put the 2As back in contention for a top two finish.

Upton, Maritime, and Alvanley winning meant that we only moved one place up to fifth, but seven points off third (Upton - who we’ve got next) and 21 points off Lindow at the top of the pile.

Huge plaudits go to Archie for a century that not only anchored the innings, but picked up the pace when we needed it, as well as the supporting knocks from Bells and Shabih. Rehmani’s all-round (scratch that, the ball must’ve gone through his legs more time than I can remember) batting and bowling performance was pivotal as well, and the latter takes the skipper back to the top of the league’s wicket-takers.

Upton next week at Mere and it will be an emotional one, as it’s Sunil’s last game in a Dids top, with him moving back to India with family. If you can get down to Mere during the game, there will likely be food and drink (beer and soft drinks) provided. I’m sure it’ll end up at the club afterwards, for those who can’t make it!

Image: Archie walking off after making his match-winning ton