It was a hot afternoon at The Hill, batting first would have been ideal however skipper David Phillips had other ideas. The sun had obviously gotten to him, and delirium struck when the away captain called heads and it landed on tails… ‘we’ll have a bowl’ says the skip, his team looking somewhat perplexed as the sweat poured off them at the mere thought of fielding for 50 overs in the midday heat! Siraj could be heard quietly whispering to his teammates ‘Somebody give him a choke-slam please’!! The Skip always knows best though ?

Opening bowlers Khuram (10-0-28-1) and Ammo (10-2-22-1) bowled beautifully taking 3 wickets between them whilst maintaining pressure on the batsmen. Ammo soldiered on masterfully and battled the pain of a wounded hand that looked like air pumped into a balloon!!

Matt Hill the mountain of a man came on and had an immediate effect, bowling with excellent control taking 3 wickets for 14 in his 10 overs including 5 maidens! Joining him at the other end was Coach Siraj who has previously shared a great bowling partnership with Hillbilly. Phillips bowled Siraj for 5 overs and made a change, holding him back for the latter overs. In came Sherri (3-0-19-0) who bowled quick but didn’t have much effect and couldn’t add anything of note to his Snap-chat story.

The ever-dependable Mumtaz (4-1-10-1), looking fresh, feeling fresh, came on and smashed it like usual. In a moment of brilliance that was something out of a Bollywood movie he completed a sensational run out that showed great game awareness. The batsman had smashed the ball back past him onto the stumps, and as the ball ricocheted back, he picked it up and threw down the stumps at the other end catching the batsman off guard and short of his crease as he desperately tried to make it back in!

Siraj (7.1-0-35-3) came back on and got smoked, decisions from the umpire rattling him as he gifted a couple of no balls to the batsmen. Siraj surprisingly took two quick wickets to end the innings on 129 off 44.1 overs.

Opening up for Coleshill were the Brown Boys and it was a wonderful opening partnership of 33, however big little Brown (8) got out just as he was starting to look fluent, mis-timing one that caught the leading edge to cover. In came the Bollywood hero Asam who got dismissed playing around a straight ball. It was later mentioned that the sun had had an effect on him!

Grandad Brown was going along nicely at the other end, but he was losing partners at the other end as Taz (2) had no luck and was next to go as he got out cheaply. At 72-3, there was still a bit of work to do, but the skipper came in and steadied the ship alongside Brown who went past 50 with a couple of crunching blows through mid-wicket. What a wonderful 50, well played lad!! Phillips (15) got off the mark when he hit a massive six into the Morrisons freezer, but he played one shot to many and was annoyed with himself when he got caught chasing a wide one that he did very well to reach!!

The game was nearly up at that point with only 20 runs needed and Aminul was told to take us home however, after smashing his first ball for four he got caught 2nd ball trying to do the same again! Coleshill now 5 down and with Hill having to depart early, they only had 4 wickets left and one of those was Ammo…!

Brown was a little annoyed and had words with Siraj too bat sensibly when he arrived at the crease. Wise words from Brown as Siraj (5*) listened and followed Browny, who finished on a well-deserved and match winning 66 not out to the end of the match. Great stuff and another Coleshill win!!

With a few players on holiday next week, hopefully Coleshill can find some heroes when they play Nether Whitacre as the team look to cement their place near the top of the league.