Didsbury travelled to Grappenhall off the back of a T20 win during the week, but a fourth loss in the league last weekend. The home team haven’t won a game so far this season and have struggled to cope from a mass exodus of players this season, so the 2As had high hopes to get back to winning ways.

Grappenhall is usually a good place to bat and Didsbury needed more examples of getting runs on the board. The forecast had improved during the week, but some showers were due in the early afternoon. It wasn’t a great start. The 2As turned up at different times which impacted the warm-up and it did feel a little too casual a start.

With Rehmani and Grappenhall’s captain both running late, we did the toss without them. The covers were on from the moment we turned up, despite the sunshine, and I quickly understood why. It was the greenest deck I’ve ever seen at Grappers, so they were very surprised to hear we wanted to bat first having won the toss. The pitch was still rock hard, but it looked like it needed a roll. We agreed a late (12:30) start to afford the time for their groundsman to do it… and then the heavens opened.

Rehmani looked surprised by the decision when he turned up, which is always comforting, and no rolling of the wicket was done beforehand in the end, so a solid start was needed. Shabih Shah was back in the side, and opening the batting with me again. We quickly found that the pitch was playing fine.

As we have on quite a few occasions this season, Shabih and I batted the first 10 overs. Other than a one-handed full-stretch diving chance at gully, there was little trouble to both openers, who moved to 35-0. Our 50-run partnership came up in the 14th over and we continued to tick along nicely, setting up the innings for the middle order to take advantage later on. The outfield was wet and long, so boundaries were hard to come by. It was easily the best Shabih and I have run between the wickets this season so far.

Shabih batted very well, but he will be disappointed by chipping his pull shot to midwicket on 45. Midweek centurion Archie Elder came to the crease with the score on 85 (our highest opening partnership of the season so far), and we rotated the strike all the way to drinks. At drinks, the heavens opened up again briefly which delayed the restart by 10/15 minutes but no loss of overs.

When played resumed, Didsbury picked up the pace immediately and Archie started to bat like he did on Tuesday. He quickly got into the 30s when I passed 50 in the 30th over, and for the second time this season. A “watchful” innings which I later got slated by from a Grappenhall member, who said something along the lines of “I was gutted when you got out because your strike rate was 40 odd”. It seemed like the 2As lads shared this sentiment at the time because the milestone resulted in just the one solo clap… cheers lads ??

Archie gave the spectators something to enjoy though, hitting 3 successive boundaries off Tully, moving into the 40s at a run-a-ball, and bringing Didsbury’s 150 up. He made it look easy, so I gave it a try next over and got caught by the bowler, who took the catch on the second attempt. Rob Goldstone came in and tried to pick up the pace, playing some great shots but then ramped it to the fielder at 45 early in his innings.

Archie passed 50 in the 43rd over. This was his second of the season as well, in what has been an excellent start to his Didsbury career so far. He and Sunil (46*) put on 84 in the final 11 overs to move the 2As past 250 for the second time this season, a much needed innings from the team. The running between the wickets progressively got worse the later the innings went on, but you can excuse Arch, having been 176* for the week. Not bad. “I don’t think I’ll get out again this year to be honest”, is what I think Archie said at the end of the game..

We were the much happier side at half time. Grappenhall fielded a young team and hasn’t scored 250 yet this season. They were without the two lads who have scored half centuries, who were playing for the 1s. Still, we went about the second half properly and took early wickets. Rehmani will like me mentioning that he is now the top wicket take in the league following his 3-fer against Grappenhall. His dismissed both openers, one of which was a beauty and another a more regular knick behind for Rob, which was one of three catches for him behind the wicket. Aaron Grimbaldeston opened up well, especially with having to combat the down-hill run up and strong winds, and he was unfortunate to not get a wicket.

OG got his name on the scoresheet, before Haaris dismissed Perry, who looked good for his 28, and then got two wickets in a row, both nicked behind to Rob which I think is the first time I’ve seen that happen. With the score now on 85-7 and the game being all but over, Rehmani threw the ball to the triple threat of Zohaib, Sean, and yours truly to mop up the tail.

Zohaib, minus his first few balls, bowled well and he found the edge to Shabih stationed at a wide-Gully position for a sharp chance. Well held. Sean bowled what I think were off-breaks. It was hard to see from deep wicket but I did notice Rob getting worked pretty hard in his 8-ball over. He did sort of rectify his TFC by running-out Grappenhall’s No.10, with Rob being worked hard again to gather the half volley and take the bails off.

Grappenhall’s No.9 was batting very well, second top run-scorer, and untroubled by Rehmani and the rest of the Dids bowling attack. In a crisis, the ball was thrown to me and, a few byes wides (some pretty stiff to be fair) later, I managed to get one to swing in and seam away. I look forward to being called on again at Maritime next week..

A comfortable win and good team performance all-round. The team runs will give us some confidence, which will be needed against a Maritime side that has done very well so far this year.

Picture: Rosie’s view from the clubhouse trying to score while a very dodgy karaoke (?) singer was playing in the background.