“Citywide
Celebrations in Doubt
As Jude
Notch up First Win”
Match: 99
/ 012
Won
by 4 Wkts
|
Team |
Total |
|
Marlborough House |
166 - 8 |
|
H. Jones 2 - 21, C. Legg
2 - 29 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jude the Obscure |
170 - 6 |
|
L. Davie 68 |
|
|
The Mayor of
Oxford made no announcement today about a citywide carnival to celebrate the
season’s first victory for the redoubtable Jude The Obscure XI. Likewise, no
Jude players have been subjected recently to tabloid sting operations
designed to uncover their less savoury habits and practices. An unnamed
spokesperson from the Jude camp said, ‘We’re frankly disappointed that none
of us have been singled out for career-destroying attention from the Yellow
Press. What does a person have to do these days to wake up one morning and
find their life in ruins? As for the lack of a ticker-tape parade with
pom-pom girls and brass band, it can surely only be an oversight we hope to
see rectified soon. Want to buy some drugs?’ Dogs
were heard to miaow, sick people rose from their beds, and young women
swooned as the news of the Jude’s victory spread through the city. Church
bells rang out, and children joined hands and danced in circles, singing
‘Ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead.’ And then, as thousands
watched in awe, the spectre of The Jude’s recent failures rose up dark and
impenetrable, and a great betaloned hand seemed to
reach down towards the pub on Walton Street, threatening to enclose it and
blot out the sun, before there arose a wind to blow the black, stenchful
cloud away. To
be fair, this was a comfortable win for the newly resurgent pub eleven. Once
again bowling first, this time out the Jude bowlers broke through early to
take the game by the scruff of the neck. J. Blann (2-33), C. Legg (2-29) and
H. Jones (2-21) all chipped in to leave Marlborough House reeling at 45-4.
Indeed, if not for a well-constructed century by Marlborough’s M. Reeves
(102) the Jude’s target would have been nothing less than derisory. John
Moore (1-16) was so confident of the result that he spent much of the time in
the field on the phone to friends and relatives, spreading the good news
about the imminent victory.
Looking into the future – M. Reeves would
gravitate to the FFTMCC…. But
the batsmen had to do the job as well. The Jude’s innings was built around L.
Davey (68), who had not the Marlborough captain taken a freakish catch at
short cover might still be batting now. Additional and useful contributions
came from J. Blann (18), Captain E. Lester (16 n.o.),
C. Legg (13) and H. Jones (11). James Moore (17 n.o.)
slapped the red leather, and in the process slapped the Jude to victory in a
display of vicious smearing and hoiking that will long be remembered by the
two old people and lost dog who actually watched any part of the game. When
asked how he felt about the win, Captain E. Lester said, ‘Fantastico.
James Moore’s batting was a revelation, but the crucial innings came from Lee
Davey, who set us up for the victory. It was significant that Howard Jones
dismissed their top-scorer near the end, too. With new batsmen in, they only
scored one run in the final over, which is unheard of.’ All in all, then,
a satisfying day for The Jude, who seem to have regained the form that had
mysteriously deserted them in the first three fixtures. And as for those
ignorant few who persist in their claims that cricket is no more than the
pointless pursuit of a red leather ball across an unmown outfield, let them
be reminded once again of the looks of delight on the faces of the small
children as the news of the win came through. ‘Blocker’
|
*
Statto
Scorecards
|
Jude the Obscure versus Marlborough House Played at Cutteslowe Park, 23 May
1999 Marlborough House won the toss and
elected to bat Jude the Obscure won by 4 wkts Far from the MCC debuts:
none |
99 / 012 35 over match |
|
Team |
Marlborough
House |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
D. Worton |
run out (Phillips) |
0 |
|
|
|
1-4 |
|
2 |
Barney |
c Blann b Legg |
4 |
|
|
|
2-10 |
|
3 |
M. K. Reeves |
b Jones |
102 |
|
|
|
7-166 |
|
4 |
K. Ho |
b Blann |
1 |
|
|
|
3-17 |
|
5 |
G. Smith |
b Legg |
0 |
|
|
|
4-20 |
|
6 |
M. Cox * |
b Jones |
14 |
|
|
|
5-78 |
|
7 |
J. Carroll + |
c Blann b J. Moore |
5 |
|
|
|
6-102 |
|
8 |
G. Lal |
not out |
14 |
|
|
|
- |
|
9 |
Louis |
c Mann b Blann |
0 |
|
|
|
8-166 |
|
10 |
S. Godfrey |
not out |
0 |
|
|
|
- |
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
(NB9, W12, B5) |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 8 wickets, 35 overs) |
166 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Blann |
7 |
2 |
33 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
Legg |
6 |
1 |
29 |
2 |
|
|
3 |
Mann |
4 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
Jones |
6 |
1 |
21 |
2 |
|
|
5 |
J. Moore |
4 |
0 |
16 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
Lester |
5 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
|
|
7 |
Phillips |
3 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Team |
Jude the
Obscure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
L. Davie |
c Cox b Smith |
68 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
J. Blann |
b Cox |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
C. Legg |
b Worton |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
H. Jones |
b Lal |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
E. N. Lester * |
not out |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
J. D. Hoskins |
b Cox |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
R. Phillips |
c Louis b Smith |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
J. A. Moore |
not out |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
A. G. Mann |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
M. Bullock + |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
J. Moore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
(NB5, W11, B1, LB2) |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 6 wickets, 28 overs) |
170 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Cox |
7 |
1 |
21 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
Godfrey |
5 |
0 |
55 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
Reeves |
5 |
0 |
37 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
Worton |
5 |
0 |
15 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
Lal |
2 |
0 |
18 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
Smith |
4 |
0 |
20 |
2 |
|
|
MOTM: n/a Champagne
Moment: n/a Buffet
Award: R. Phillips’ sausage
wholegrain baps (with Heinz tomato ketchup) |
Opposition:
V010 / 01 Ground: G001 / 09 Captain: C001 / 12 |