Full of drama - Amey Consulting Cricket 2019

 Fixture 9 v Birmingham City Council (Match Report) 21/08/2019

The Amey Consulting Cricket season has been quite successful so far this season. However they experienced some turbulence in their journey with a loss in the last match v WSP. This gave the team the determination to bounce back in this last fixture against the mighty experienced Birmingham City Council cricket team.

A slight change in the team with Liklun out injured, Welch, Deol, Sproston and Gormley unavailable. However, the depth of the squad brought back for the first time this season Caswell, who was away on other duties and our experienced Logan making his debut for Amey Consulting.

As the fixture sat in the latter part of August it meant the light played a big part. The Captains go out for the toss with Mushtaq calling heads. This time with a new coin, Savant wins the toss yet again with tails never failing. Savant decides to bat first. Amey Consulting have demonstrated their strength to chase totals successfully. It was time to make some changes and strengthen the defense tactics. This was welcomed by the team but made a few nervous. But the depth of the batting line up removed concerns.

The Council opened their bowling attack with great line, length and pace. Amey Consulting begin the scoring with Kenny and Chauhan. It was a very slow but steady start from the pair. The experienced bowlers did well to keep the run rate down. The pressure kept mounting as Amey Consulting could not get runs ticking on the board. Kenny was soon bowled making 5 runs (1 four) which was a call for Logan to make his debut with the bat. Logan played some beautiful strokes and settled in well. Some quick singles between the sticks by Chauhan and Logan. Logan loses his wicket after a great bowling spell by the Council. Chauhan was joined by Stokes who was looking to settle the ship. Amey Consulting were losing quick wickets and were not getting many runs on the board either. Nothing more can be expected from such an experienced bowling attack. Stokes and Chauhan kept the singles going to keep the score ticking. It was however time to up the rate as the council succeeded in bowling a maiden over. Chauhan takes the chance to relieve some pressure and hit big, getting caught well at Mid-on by the experienced Amin. It was concerning for Amey Consulting, but not to worry when your next batsman is Khan. Unfortunately Khan could not hit the spin of Amin (once he finally got on strike) and was bowled making just 2 runs. Hussain walks out to the middle to support Stokes and settle things down. Runs were still not flowing as they needed to be. The score was increasing, but quite slowly and the batsmen were being very cautious. Stokes follows Khan back to the pavilion making 10 runs bowled by Amin. Amey Consulting still had strength in the line-up with Anwar going out ready and pumped to put in an innings. After a slow start from Hussain, the run rate began to pick up with Amey Consulting finding more boundaries and good running between the stumps. Amey Consulting were at least 25 runs behind where they wanted to be. Anwar reinforced the batting with a composed performance. Hussain opened up the bat and supported Anwar well in the middle. Amin strikes again forcing Hussain out of his crease and getting stumped by the Keeper. The total was not big enough at this point. Amey Consulting had just under 5 overs remaining to increase the total that would be easier to defend. The Council caught on to this and reintroduced their experienced bowling attack to restrict this. Hussain was followed by Savant who was still injured from the previous match with a knee ligament damage. Chauhan supported Savant as a runner. The focus was to get some big runs on the board. Anwar still strong at his crease indicated to Savant that this bowler needs to be hit quite late. Savant was immediately on the attack hitting boundaries and some brilliant running from Chauhan and Anwar. Savant managed to keep most of the strike and a nice partnership building with Anwar. Savant hits a huge 6 adding more and more to the board. Anwar kept encouraging Savant and the dressing room were cheering their captain on. Savant was full of confidence and was stepping well out of his crease to meet the ball. The score soon crept up to 150 runs with Anwar superbly not out on 20 and Savant hitting a Boom Boom quick 21 runs not out. Amey Consulting ended their innings on 150 for 6. Birmingham City Council need 151 runs to win from 20 overs.

The Amey Consulting bowling attacks begins with the regular opener Kenny and Logan making a debut from the City end. Kenny starts a little cold and needs some time to loosen up. Logan bowls very well and fairly economical. Kenny takes the wicket of Amin in his second over, the loss of Amin introduces Hassan (brother of our Hussain). Hassan came in and got off the mark straight away. The council settled in and the partnership began to strengthen with scores quickly being added to the board. The council were finding the boundary every other ball. Kenny was hit for 16 off his 3rd over. This was an indication for the introduction of some spin to slow down the scoring. Amey Consulting bring in Stokes to unsettle the batsmen and keep them on their toes. They tried to continue playing the big shots, but this soon quietened down. The run rate dropped for the council with Stokes and Savant both bowling the spin. This continued to keep the boundaries down and singles down to a minimum. It was evident from the score line that the Council were determined to hit the total of 151. Amey Consulting continued to mount pressure on the council by tightening the field and forcing the batsmen in to errors. Hassan retired and Amey Consulting capitalised on this by taking some quick wickets, with 2 from Stokes and 2 brilliant run outs, a direct hit from Khan and a stumping from Lyonette. After a quick succession of wickets by Amey Consulting to regain control of the match, Mushtaq the captain comes out to bat (father of our Hussain). At this moment Amey needed to keep the pressure on, so Savant bowled his second over with just line and length. Mushtaq played a stroke in to the hands of Anwar which was brilliantly taken for a few seconds before it was spilt. Great effort. Savant then bowled a slower ball which clipped top edge in to the hands of Lyonette behind the stumps which was spilt. This was a crucial moment from Amey Consulting as the Council were edging closer to victory. It was obvious that the survival of Mushtaq was key to the Council winning this match. Amey Consulting managed to keep Mushtaq off strike most of the time. Khan was introduced with his medium pace, to successfully demolish the batting line up with Mushtaq helpless at the other end. Khan took 2 wickets for only 6 runs in his first over, followed by another in his second over, one of which was finally an LBW given after many appeals being turned down by the umpire. Jaidipe came in to the bowling attack with his medium fast seam bowling and came close to dismissing Mushtaq. Mushtaq was determined to go all the way. Bearing in mind Hassan his son was yet to come back as he had only retired and was not out. Jaidipe forced the batsman to sky a shot towards first slip, which Stokes (keeper) ran for, but unfortunately dropped. Hussain was introduced to bowl following a brilliant spell by Khan. The pressure of Hussain bowling to his life coach, his father was obvious and Hussain could not get through. The council top edged a shot at square leg, which Jaidipe ran 25 metres in to take, with Lyonette running in for the same catch. No one had made the call, Savant was screaming for Jaidipe to take it, but none of them called for it and there was a huge clash of bodies, Jaidipe was almost buried in the ground but kept his eyes on the ball, Lyonette was almost knocked out with concussion but seemed ok, Jaidipe took the ball and out of nowhere raised his hands to show he has taken the catch. All eyes including the spectators, the umpires, the batsmen and the fielders were on the ball. Umpire raises the finger giving out and there were jubilations by Amey Consulting. A brilliant run out by Lyonette taking the ball in his gloves from a throw off Rounds, where Lyonette through himself on to the stumps, the batsman fell short of the crease as was given out by the umpire at square. The win was in sight for Amey Consulting until it was realised that Hassan was walking out the pavilion to finish the job off with his dad. Savant removed Hussain from the bowling attack as it would have been too much pressure for Hussain to cope with. Savant looked to Rounds for an over to try and remove Hassan as it was the 18th Over and the Council needed 17 runs from 12 balls. Rounds did not feel it was his moment, so Savant turned to Khan and asked him to finish this off. Khan bowled 2 dot balls, no runs given. Pressure mounted on the Council. Amey Consulting were excited but still focussed. A single run made by Mushtaq. Hassan returns on strike. Khan runs in and bowls Hassan middle stump, taking both bails off and dislodging that middle stump, giving Amey Consulting a much deserved win over a very good and very experienced side. Birmingham City Council made 135 runs all out in 18.4 overs.

The Amey Consulting team went absolutely crazy with celebrations, the scenes would have gone viral had they been videoed. They all got in a huge huddle and were jumping up and down with delight. The win was fought with hard work, team work, determination and belief. The spirit and personal connection each player has with each other is amazing.

Man of the Match: Abdul Rehman Savant with his captains innings of 21 not out from 15 balls with a huge six, helping the total to a respectable 150 runs.

Highly commended: Faizan Khan with his 4 crucial wickets and direct hit run out, Lyonette for his work behind the Stumps, Stokes for his 2 wickets, Caswell and Rounds for their brilliant fielding.