Mount CC: 293/6 (35 overs) - Offord 90, Smith 37, W. Ahmad 36, Lambert 30
Canewdon 38 ao - Ahmad A 4/19, Vayalveettil V 3/8
Mount won by 255 runs

If your batsmen post one of your club’s highest ever totals, you will have a decent chance of a win. Likewise, if your bowlers restrict the opposition to one of the lowest scores recorded against you, you’re in with a shout. If you manage both in the same afternoon? Well you win, and you win big. This was the case on Sunday as a strong Mount side visited Canewdon. Put into bat, Mount’s batsman quickly adapted to the tricky conditions presented by an underprepared and unpredictable pitch. Openers Ilan Frankel and Waj Ahmad both made good starts, putting on 43 for the first wicket before Ilan played an uncharacteristically poor shot on 23, offering a simple return catch to the bowler. A breakthrough? No. Coming in at 3 was Paul Offord – not required to bat so far this season, a well-deserved move up the order proved highly effective. Remarkably, Paul was to share in 3 partnerships of exactly 65 runs each, first with Waj (36), then Noel Smith (37) and finally Jamie Lambert (30) and quickly passed 50 himself. With the total building at an impressive rate, Paul finally fell for 90 with the score on 238 – an excellent knock and Paul’s highest score for the club. Well played to him. Cameos from Martin “Iceman” Hare and ‘keeper Nishad Aryan Parambil preceded some rapid-fire scoring from Vijay Vayalveettil and Ammar Ahmad. VJ’s 26 not out included 2 sixes and Ammar immediately took on Canewdon’s best bowler Richard Howes, sending his first ball sailing back over his head for an enormous six and dispatching the next for a blistering 4. 15 not out in the end for Ammar and a mighty 293/7 from our 40 overs.

A tough ask for Canewdon became instantly tougher with a wicket in the first over of their reply. Ammar bowling opposition skipper Jack Broad for nought. VJ’s parsimonious bowling kept up the pressure at the other end and the outcome soon seemed assured. Victory soon became a question of “when” and not “if”, as Ammar and VJ claimed 4 and 3 wickets respectively, both bowling fantastically well, aided by an excellent all-round fielding display. As well as an exemplary performance from Hare which drew many admiring comments from the crowd, Frankel, and Deadman both took good catches with another for Nishad off Ammar, further evidence of his top notch “glove-work”. Captain for the day, Dave Summers brought himself and Dan Deadman on as first change but there was to be no respite for our beleaguered opponents. “Deadly” Dan took a wicket in his second over aided by another good catch, this time from Offord and “The Vicar of Dibbly-Dobbly” lured his batsman forward allowing a sharp stumping from Nish. With Canewdon’s no 11 unable to bat, that was that. 38 all out in the end and a thumping 255 run winning margin for Mount. A mismatch perhaps but an almost impossible game to manage as everything went right for us and everything went wrong for them! However, this should not detract from what was an outstanding team performance from the boys with ‘skipper Summers seen turning somersaults of delight in the field at one point – either that or he just had another fall!

There is no game this weekend but there will be a nets/social session at the ACG on Sunday, time tbc. I hope to see some of you there.

I will also be putting together another piece in our occasional “looking back” feature with the aid of Mount legend David Hewitt so do keep an eye out for that - probably with you early next week work etc permitting.

Rayleigh Faiview: 164/8 (40 overs) - Deadman 4/17, A. Ahmed 2/31
Mount CC: 166/3 (35 overs) - Johnson 86*, Nishad Aryan Parambil 40
Mount won by 7 wickets

“A good toss to lose” was the verdict of matchday skipper Ilan Frankel as having won the toss, Rayleigh chose to bat first on what was a damp and sticky wicket. Opening bowlers Vijay Vayalveettil and Ammar Ahmad both enjoyed early success taking a wicket each with just 27 on the board. Justin Montellier and Dan Deadman replaced the opening pair and kept the pressure on. The luckless “Monty” went unrewarded for his efforts whilst at the other end, Deadman was using the conditions to his favour and turning the ball sideways to pose a constant threat and thoroughly living up to his “Deadly Dan” nickname. Two wickets in his fourth over and one each in overs 6 & 7 saw him rip out Rayleigh’s middle order, who found him simply unplayable in the conditions. One onlooker described their struggles perfectly as being completely “Danboozled” by his bowling. Figures of 4/17 from 8 overs were the least he deserved for his efforts. Despite some late hitting which upped the scoring rate somewhat, another wicket for the returning Ahmad (who also took 2 catches on the day) and one for Jamie Lambert saw the opposition restricted to 164/8 from their 40 overs.

Whilst this looked a comfortable target, you should never judge a pitch until both teams have batted on it and there were still enough demons there to keep Mount on their toes. Our reply began in drizzle, which whilst unpleasant was bearable at first. Openers Frankel and Steve Johnson coping well with pace from one end and slow/medium variation from the other. As the rain intensified it was decided that to be fair and reasonable to our visitors, it was best to take the sides off and wait it out. Just 25 minutes later, with the rain having abated, the sides returned and if anything, the surface had improved with the ball now coming nicely on to the bat and overhead conditions improving.

Johnson, in particular, took advantage hitting an imperious and chanceless 86 not out. Following the departure of Frankel and a quick cameo from Dave Mackay, debutant Nishad Aryan Parambil had a chance to show us whether his batting was a good as his ‘keeping had been earlier – we were not to be disappointed. After “having a look” at a few deliveries, “Nish” decided the bowling was to his liking and dispatched the ball to all corners with an effortless, wristy style, appearing to have all the time in the world. A quick fire 40 brought our total to 160 and the cusp of victory and, despite falling with just a few runs required, all agreed this had been a very impressive debut. Welcome to the club Nishad.

Paul Southward, woefully underused as a bowler earlier on in the day, joined Johnson at the wicket to complete the formalities and we reached our target with 7 wickets to spare. Another excellent team performance aided perhaps by that lost toss and the weather God’s smiling on us – nonetheless, a comprehensive win.

Well played everyone and congrats to the skipper!

Please find below a list of our remaining fixtures for the 2020 season:

• 16th August: Rayleigh Fairview (H)
• 23rd August: Canewdon (A)
• 30th August: TBC
• 6th September: Felsted Robins (H)
• 13th September: Southend & EMT (A)
• 20th September: Old Westcliffians (A)
• 27th September: Canewdon (H)

Start times tbc.

Mount CC: 246/6 (35 overs) - Frankel 76, Smith 71, Lambert J 36no
Southend & EMT: 198/7 (35 overs) - Duffin 4/17, Lambert J 1/7, Deadman 1/16, Montellier 1/47
Mount won by 48 runs

Matchday skipper Paul Offord won a good toss and elected to bat on a searingly hot day at the ACG. Our batting was similarly hot with Ilan Frankel getting after the Southend attack from the off. Noel Smith joined at the fall of our second wicket and set about the bowling in similar fashion. Scores of 76 and 71 respectively meant that we were always going to set a decent total even before the mantle was passed on to Jamie Lambert (36no) and Dan Deadman (19) who came together following a useful return to the side from Mike Boyce, and kept the runs piling up before our innings closed on 246/6 after our 35 overs.

A testing target of 247 for Southend soon became even harder as Duffin took a wicket with the first ball of their reply with a wide “half tracker” that occasional Mountie Matt Elmer did well to reach and edge to Lambert. The same combination removed the other opener in Duffin’s second over with another bowled in his 3rd, the game looked like it would be over in short order. Fortunately, Foley, clearly sensing that the game required some “management” produced such an appalling spell of bowling from the other end that Southend were soon back in the hunt. Bowling without any rhythm, line or length the buffet was gorged upon by Southend’s “gun” batsman, Norfolk, who dispatched the ball to all parts. After 5 overs of this dross, Deadman replaced the dead horse and order was soon restored. As the bowling tightened up the result seemed assured however, a fielding display that included some moments of pure comedy that could only be put down to sun stroke kept things interesting for a time. Not all were guilty but those of us who were know who we are! Norfolk was tied down by Deadman, ably assisted by Lambert, Jackson, Montellier and Boyce before he finally fell to Monty for 128. Deadman and Lambert got a deserved wicket each and with the result now a conclusion, Duffin took his 4th before Southend’s innings ended on 198/7.

Great to be back at the ACG and congrats to all the team on another win and well done to skipper Paul.

Next week we host Rayleigh Fairview at the ACG and will look to make it 3 wins in the bounce.

With our first home game of the season this afternoon, I thought I should remind you of some general Covid 19 guidance and protocols which apply to anyone attending a match . This includes players, official and spectators. Spectator numbers are very limited as a maximum of 30 people are allowed to attend including players and officials. If you wish to come along and support, please do let me know – preferably ahead of matchday.

In line with government and ECB guidance, anyone planning to attend a fixture who develops symptoms of Covid 19 beforehand should NOT attend and should remain at home and follow government health advice. Any players and officials affected should contact me; spectators are not obliged to do so.

Please be aware therefore, that by attending a fixture in any capacity you will be declaring yourself to be free of Covid 19 symptoms.

On matchdays we are unable to provide a cricket tea or other refreshments and the pavilion may only be accessed to use the toilet facilities – the rest of the “pav” will be closed/out of bounds.

Players should therefore arrive changed and bring their own snacks & refreshments for the “tea” interval and for drinks breaks. If possible, they should also bring hand sanitiser for in-game sanitiser breaks.

These are important points to follow for the safety of everyone involved but I can assure you that from a playing perspective, they do not impact the enjoyment of the day.

The weather looks set fair this afternoon so here’s to a great game as cricket returns to The ACG for the first time in 2020.