Aldbourne finished Runners-up

Match Details - Semi-Final (ACC v East Garston)
East Garston 132 for 8 - Gay 36 - Kumar 3-2-4-3 -Grant W 3-0-28-2
ACC 133 for 9 - Bishop 29, Grant W 27 - Job 3-0-18-4
ACC win by one wicket

Match Details - Final (ACC v Woodlands St. Mary)
Woodlands 165 for 4
ACC 139 for 8 - W Grant 50 not out
Woodlands win final by 26 runs

On one occasion when driving to a match with your reporter Munim said one thing that didn’t require either clarification or repeating. ‘Mr. John son,’ he said ‘why doesn’t the team play a game for money with other teams?’ Your reporter responded that it was an excellent idea but that prize money was a step too far and that he should curtail his mobile telephone calls if he wanted to help ends meet.

So the seed for the Munim Tournament was sown. At first a series of games between 8 teams over a weekend was considered but the logistics and likelihood of players being able to commit for 2 days weighed against it and so it was decided to go with 4 teams on one day at Marlborough College using 2 pitches. ACC invited Woodlands St. Mary, Cold Ash and East Garston to play and all three were very enthusiastic about the idea and the inaugural Munim Tournament was held on 14 June at Marlborough College. As a result the games took place with the biggest ‘crowds’ this reporter can remember for an ACC event and even the little known Wiltshire club had some diehard supporters in attendance.

As Woodlands had never met Cold Ash before and ACC had not played East Garston it was decided that these should be the first 2 games. The winners would then play each other as would the losers.

ACC fielded one of its strongest teams with Fitch and Grant minor playing their first games of the season for the club. Grant’s major and minor opened the bowling and minor soon had the batsmen in trouble. In one over he took 2 wickets and EG were struggling, however, the early run rate had been enhanced by extras given away by the fielding side and Sanders’ customary dropped catch did not help. Fitch and Kumar replaced the Grants and Kumar in particular kept the run rate down and the wickets tumbling. In his 3 overs he took 3 wickets and, were it not for a 4 off his last ball, would have kept a clean sheet.

Grant minor returned from the other end and found difficulty with his line and footfall. This led to a discussion on the front foot rule between Fitch, captain for the day, the umpire from Cold Ash and a slick headed EG batsman. The debate, which was heated at times, had no clear outcome and may have contributed to the testosterone cloud that hung over both games for most of the day as well as the slow over rate. On resumption, S Job (no relation but he could have a lucrative career as a Chabal stunt double if he wanted) decided to cut up rough and despatched 2 balls for 6 in the direction of the new pavilion. Between them, the skinhead and longhair, managed to turn an impending disaster at 54 for 6 into a commendable final score of 132.

Tellwright and Sanders opened for ACC. Neither lasted long, with Sanders out first ball and Tellwright given lbw to a ball which hit him at full stretch down the pitch. To be fair, the umpire from Woodlands, did apologise after the match. Bishop and Grant minor then set about the EG attack taking the score to 65 in the fifth over. Bishop was eventually out for 29 and Grant for 27 – his first 3 scoring strokes were magnificent 6’s. Grant major then hit four 4’s in a quickfire 26 but when he was out the scoring stalled and the wickets tumbled. The last wicket pair of Ashley and Munim finally brought ACC over the line for a place in the final but only thanks to an EG wide.

The victory was nevertheless deserved and could well have been by a wider margin. More consistency against Woodlands, who had beaten Cold Ash in a similarly close game, would surely see ACC home in the final