Bulls v Buffaloes - match report

Derby Day – the day the form book goes out of the window; the day the faint of heart cower in the shadows whilst blood and thunder rumble into town; the day of reckoning. All the usual sporting clichés were out in force, along with the good men of Didsbury's Bulls and Buffaloes for The Clash of the Bovines.

For a brief few hours, the curtain of rain parted, revealing a dry but overcast evening, perfect for some serious swing on a grassy green top.

Battled commenced.

Sean and Finn managed to blunt a ferocious opening salvo from the Bulls with Max, Ed and Dan fizzing in, pinning the Buffaloes down to a handful of runs from the first few overs…but all 10 wickets remained intact.

The pace attack abated and on came the mystery right arm of Henrik to break the deadlock, Finn lifting one into the safe hands of Oliver, but only after he had made a valuable 16 runs (25-1). Shortly afterwards, Sean was finally beaten by a good full straight one from Raheem for 6 (27-2), bringing Rehan and James together to the crease. Raheem did for Rehan (3) with a caught and bowled, leaving the Buffaloes 36-3 at the halfway point.

James was starting to open up, even at one point trying to play a ramp shot with his visor. A lovely 4 from Amaan got him off the mark, followed by another 2 balls later. James had added a useful 11 before being very well caught by birthday boy Dan, who, arching backwards, gleefully accepted the present (60-4). He followed this up with a slow ball to Amaan who departed for an important 11 (69-5). Isaac had settled nicely and was joined by Harry who immediately biffed Dan for a single off his glove.

The last pair added a crucial 14 with some good aggressive running, before Harry was run out on the final ball of the innings, with Isaac 4 not out – Total: 83-6.

James and Rehan opened tightly, restricting the Bulls to a measly 10 runs from the first 4 overs. So concerned were the Bulls at this stage that even their scorer was resorting to sledging 11 year olds, following in the hoof marks of his son, who was a constant presence (presents?) in the field. The two big dogs, James and Max, snapped and snarled at each other, whilst Rehan and Raheem resumed their personal duel.

Such is the depth of the Buffaloes' team spirit that even sidelined Noah, resplendent in blazer and tie, came down to cheer the boys on. Amaan made a great diving stop to prevent a certain 4, replicated by Adam just a few overs later. Max cut loose with a couple of fours before clipping Zain for a 5½ in a breathless four balls, departing imperiously unbeaten on 31. The match looked to be slipping away from the Buffaloes until they suddenly grabbed the Bulls by the horn.

Sean's first delivery saw dangerman Raheem caught by Amaan. Dan had hardly settled in before he fell to Sledge of the Day. "Let's give him a birthday present" chirped James before Dan duly gifted Zain his first wicket, looping the ball to Rehan. After 10 overs, the Bulls were 54-2. The tie appeared to have been settled when Ed hit 3 consecutive boundaries to move the Bulls on to 66. But just as the Bulls were looking to stampede, the match swung again. Ed was caught by Adam off Rehan for 12 (66-3). Isaac then lit up Henrik's bails (66-4) before removing Sulaman next delivery caught by Rehan (66-5) off 14, followed by Aahil bowled by Sean (67-6). Two ducks in a row, and the Bulls were left counting their chickens.

A great low catch by James gave Isaac his third wicket to reduce the Bulls to 67-7 and 4 wickets had fallen for just a single run.

With 4 overs left, the Bulls needed 12 with just 2 wickets left. Rafay eased their nerves with two boundaries before being trapped LBW by Harry four short of the tape.

Back came James in the gathering gloom against the final pair. A beautiful push from Oliver nudged the total to 82, and Kasim then hit a single to level the scores.

In fading light, and with just 7 balls left, the Bulls got the run they needed to see them home.

What a game - what a finish. It was a match that showed off just what a talented group of under 13s the club possesses. And, as if the Gods themselves had taken time out to watch such a spectacle, just minutes after the stumps had been lifted from the turf, the curtains closed, and the rain swept in again.

SGM