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After a week of yes and no and maybe, the Presidents assemble in York for their annual outing and somewhat to everyone's surprise we have a full complement of eleven players there on time. The skipper loses the toss (again). We are inserted - and the wildly contrasting pair of Danish and Brian Lake go out to open the batting.
Brian is all for caution on a slightly spongy pitch doused by overnight storms. But the more he urges Danish to rein himself in, the harder and higher Danish tries to hit it. Despite almost going to a sharp chance at mid-off early on, Danish prospers - and when Brian falls for a measured two off the first ball of the eighth over the partnership has already produced forty-eight runs.
Mike Edwards begins well - off the mark with an edgy four - but soon falls to Sampson. Khalid replaces him and rapidly signals intent. Following Danish's example, his second scoring stroke is a six. The runs start to flow - the hundred comes up with three successive sixes from Danish in the fifteenth over - and by the half-way mark of twenty overs the Presidents are 140-2. Danish then promptly retires on reaching a memorable hundred (our first for four years) - eight sixes, ten fours, just sixty-one balls faced.
Raheel is rapidly shot out leg before by umpire Lake - too far forward thinks Raheel - low, middle stump, plumb, un-not-giveable says the implacable umpire. Paul and Tanzeel make bright starts but both succumb to Roberts. Khalid still there - the score 192-5. Khalid goes - another victim to Roberts - but his sixty-one (two sixes, seven fours) maintains his fifty-plus average for the season. His first reverse sweep had brought an audible gasp from the Yorkshire purists - a shot never previously witnessed this far north.
Guy Martin emerges to join the skipper at the wicket - the ship is steadied - a partnership of forty-seven before Praba becomes Roberts' fourth victim. It's 241-7 as four overs remain. Guy continues to pepper the square leg boundary - pull, pull, and pull again. He stands on forty-seven as the very last over begins - does he know that his maiden fifty is in the balance? Should we tell him? He's at the wrong end. A single to Christian - he's back on strike. Another thumping four and he's there - dazed and confused at the tumultuous shout from his team-mates (some of whom have been waiting for this moment as long as he has). He finishes on fifty-three not out (nine fours - just thirty-eight balls faced). He tops the averages for the season. And the Presidents have made 276-8 - the highest score of which we have a record.
The tea is as magnificent as the setting and the occasion demands. Splendid stuff.
The Wellington look to chase down a hefty total and open at some speed. The opening bowlers make no impact - but Paul Hudman quickly brought on from the far end as first change mixes it up to advantage. A stinging catch to Christian at mid-off and the first wicket is down. New batsman "JJ" Jones begins well - but fine work in the field from Danish and Khalid - a moment's hesitation in setting off - and he's run out for six. Opening batsman Sampson is still there and warming to his work - but an attempt to cut Hudman square, although hit with menace and great power, is snapped up head high by the skipper. It's 51-3. Raheel has come on for a very tidy and economical spell and he soon nips out Warlow. It's 60-4.
But Baldock has by now found his range and is advancing the score rapidly with some mighty blows. Tanzeel is summoned to exert some control - and combines well with Danish - a smart catch and a smart stumping account for Munday and Brereton.
The skipper then reveals his mastery of the wild card - Mike Edwards is called up for his first bowl since being carted for ten an over in the equivalent match last year. The years roll back and here is suddenly the Mike Edwards of old - pinging it in on a length. In a six-over spell he mops up Baldock (one short of a deserved fifty), Roberts and the dangerous Cockett (a quickfire 31) at a personal cost of a mere twelve runs.
And just to prove that it really has been his day, Guy Martin comes on to deliver the coup-de-grace - clean-bowling Euesdon to end the innings. Another good day for the Presidents - a third win in a row.
Thank you the Wellington - the hospitality tremendous as always.
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