On our final visit to Mere for the season, Didsbury lost the toss yet again and were invited to bat by Grappenhall on a wicket that looked like it would offer the usual assistance to the bowlers.

OG snr and Saad opened up, and batted confidently for an opening stand of 20. Wickets then fell regularly as the 2As were reduced to 67-5 when OG was dismissed for 26. At 75-6 we were in danger not posting a defendable total, but Haris and Kush batted sensibly to add 35 with Kush Patel (21) before another flurry of wickets reduced us to 123-9. A final stand of 24 dominated by Nikash (19*) left us with a workable total of 147, but rueing the 8 unused overs.

The spare time was used productively for the season’s Biryani week feast, thanks to Rehmani as ever.

Amid unexpected mizzle, the second innings started with an early wicket but Grappenhall progressed smoothly to 36-1 before Rehmani took the key wicket of Wright. Nikash bowled accurately, following on from Saad, and was rewarded for attacking the stumps to take 2 deserved wickets. At 65-3 the game was in the balance, but Haris had started well with plenty of turn on offer and the runs were drying up. Bellamy took advantage of the pressure that was being created, with 2 wickets in his first over to finish with 6-17 as the Grappenhall were bowled out for 89.

The result leaves the 2As in 3rd, having been bottom after 8 games.

Match Report written by Nigel Bellamy