Following a week of Mancunian monsoons a (once again) depleted 2XI headed to Salford to take on Monton & Weaste, a Premier Division side, in the First Round of the Moore Cup. A side containing the now "2nd Team Regular" (and undefeated) Emerson Whitworth and groundsman Mike Ward travelled across Manchester expecting more wet weather and either a very hard game or a bowl out. No-one wanted to make the journey twice for the "now you see me, now you don't, now your see me again" reserve day on Sunday.

As it turned out, having Mike in the team made this win possible, as Monton's efforts at drying the pitch stretched only to putting out the 30-yard markers and wafting a tennis racquet over small areas of the outfield as they knocked up catches for each other. Mike's professionalism took over, and after watching an away player super-soak the square for 30 mins the Umpires decided to get a game in no matter what. To everyone's amazement we started on a soaking wet wicket at 2.33, just over an hour late. The 45-over per side game was reduced to 36 each as a result.

Skipper Pollard, fresh from blowing his cornet (and back) in the Whit Friday march, won the toss and elected to bowl. Young pup Zak Pemberton and the explosive (and expanding) Kyle "KFC" Clayton squelched in from either end. They did remarkably well given the underfoot conditions, neither putting barely a flipper wrong as they bowled with good accuracy and just enough movement. The Monton boys played patiently in response, picking off the very few bad balls bowled, and had reached 28 without loss in the 10th-over.

It was in the 11th that Zak made his first bid for the Man-of-the-Match (MoM) award. Swift's frustration at his nagging accuracy took its toll, and he lofted fatally to the secure hands of Rick Hall. In the 15th over he was followed by his partner Shahid, who had already attempted to retire hungry, when he edged a wild drive off Polly (who had replaced Zak) toward Richard Jones behind the stumps. Jonah, who had definitely not been fasting, swallowed it.

Ehsan replaced KFC at the Tree-lined end and bowled his leg-spinners well with a very wet ball. His 3rd over was expensive, though this included an edge through slip for 4, but otherwise his line was much tighter than at Uppermill and his quicker one really fizzed off the wicket. I don't recall a Monton batsmen laying a bat on one of those all innings.

Nevertheless we needed to get another bowler on and another young-pup, bespectacled Nathan Gallagher took over. He began a bit nervously and got some tap, bowling a little too short, and the first rain break came at a good time as Monton had begun to accelerate. The shower set in and we took an early tea to save valuable minutes. I made the most of it and ate a very considerable number of sandwiches.

When the rain abated we were back out, and with renewed frugality. Ben finished off his spell tightly and Nathan found a much better line and length and deservedly stayed on for a full spell as a result. He took a wicket in his last over, having Khan caught by Zak off a steepling catch that he made look easy. MoM bid No.2 from Pemberton Jr.

Before then, KFC had replaced Pollard at the Pavilion end and had removed both Lightfoot, again caught behind by Jonah, and Nawaz, comprehensively bowled. These two had batted well, putting on 90 for the 3rd wicket. In the process KFC had worked himself up into quite a frenzy, including a literally, and I mean that in the correct sense of the word, "filthy" exchange between himself and his foe. Interesting tactic!

Ehsan returned to share the final few overs and bowled quite brilliantly with a ball that was as easy to grip as a wet bar of soap. In his remaining two overs he gave away only two singles and took three wickets in the process. Superb stuff from Sharif, making an MoM bid of his own. Zak finished the bowling at the other end and closed with excellent figures of 7-0-21-1. MoM bid No.2 from him.

Monton finished on 178-8. However, with the time lost to weather a revised target of 152 off 31-overs was set for the brave boys of Saddleworth CC.

A tricky task looked trickier still when the Monton opening bowlers flung an excellent spell toward Dickson and Jones, definitely the best we have faced in our time together. Lightfoot got bounce and a bit of in-swing from a good height, and Nawaz bowled with more speed than anyone we'd faced in 2XI cricket this year. On a wicket which was now digging up badly, it was not easy. It got harder still as we came off again for rain.

A short time later we went back on, in largely the same amount of rain we had come off in (?), and by this time it was clear that Monton were going to gamble all and bowl their best bowlers out in the hope that weather would stop the game after the minimum 10 had been bowled. Jonah and I knew it was our job to see them off and we'd reached the 8th over of their allotted twelve when the first wicket fell. Despite the good bowling it wasn't this that got me out, I laced an on-drive to mid-on's right and called a run, only a direct-hit would beat me, it did. If he threw it another 99 times I doubt he'd hit again, but that's cricket.

Losing our first wicket in the 8th, by the 10th we'd lost 3 more. KFC had to eat his words a little, LBW first ball to Lightfoot. Polly followed a few balls later, bowled by the same bowler for a duck of his own. At the end of the next over Nawaz got the wicket his spell had deserved, clipping top of off stump as Jonah tried to cut him. 37-4 and we were in quite a muddy-hole. Behind the run rate, wickets down.

Cometh the hour, cometh the men. Zak and Ehsan, our two MoM contenders, took to the crease and turned the ship around. The openers bowled out their last three overs and our boys saw them off well. The first and second change bowling was nowhere near as good, and as the weather held Monton's gamble on a further shortened game began to look shaky. Zak picked up runs regularly and played two lovely late cuts for 4, Ehsan hit the bad ball well and dealt mostly in boundaries. Game on.

They continued in this fashion until the score had reached 75, of which Ehsan had scored 25. Another ball, head high, is smashed away, to be caught in the deep. Never mind, it's a no ball and the call will come, just wait. So we wait, and we wait, and we wait....not given, Ehsan in wrongly out, and the Umps have made their only mistake of the day.

Out strides Rick Hall, and boy is the momentum kept going. Timing it from the get-go, Rick makes his own MoM bid as he biffs some buffet style bowling around the ground. 5*4s and 2*6s are struck before you know it and when he's out bowled for an excellent 39, we've reached 115 and have a whole 11 overs left to get 38.

All the while Zak continues to accumulate and is now joined by Tom Hughes, confidence bouyed by his Crompton knock. They scamper runs together, youthful legs stretching Monton's fielding, and he biffs a couple in true Hughesy style. When he's out, the two of them have taken us to 144, only 8 needed and plenty of time.

Excitement is at a frenzy on the sidelines, the 1st Team have finished and are on the phone and all over WhatsApp, yours truly attempts Facebook Live but forgets to press the Go Live button, and nails are bitten. Calmness personified, Nathan Gallagher is above it all. Long hop, smashed, 4 runs - game over. Saddleworth win and the young lads have seen us home. YESSSSSSS!

And, revealed at last, is the true MoM. Zak finishes the game 30 not out, on top of an excellent bowling spell and a great catch. A faultless all round, mature performance. Well played young man, well played.

So, Saddleworth 2XI progress to the next round. Congratulations all around: well played boys, well scored Lyndsey, well spectated Mel and Pemmy. On we go!!!

Daily Lesson: Credit where credit is due. It would have been quite easy for the umpires to have an easy day, declare is unfit and opt for a bowl out. They didn't, the pushed for a game to take place and a great game it turned out to be. Sincere thanks to them both.