“Hoskins Costs his side Dear
As Higgs Polishes his Ego”
Match: 10
/ 206
Lost
by 30 runs
|
Team |
Total |
|
St. Clements
Strollers |
171 - 4 |
|
C. Roberts 2 - 37 |
|
|
|
|
|
FFTMCC |
156 - 8 |
|
I. Howarth 30, P. Mellor
16 |
|
|
Catches win matches, or
so the saying goes. Sure, they certainly help, but a direct run out can be
just as effective. Cast your mind back to the Ashes series of 2009, and with
Australia threatening to make a fist of a world record run-chase in the fifth
and final test, Andrew Flintoff produced a moment of magic in the covers to
run out Ricky Ponting. It was a pivotal moment in the game and in the end it
proved decisive. Equally as memorable,
and infinitely more significant, was James Hoskins’ run out of master strokeplayer J. Higgs in last year’s T20 fixture against
the St. Clements Strollers. Mr. Higgs, a dashing and cavalier batsman, famed
for smashing crap pub teams all around Oxfordshire, is the lynchpin of the
Strollers’ outfit, and with their self-imposed non-retirement rule [at least
until you reach the hallowed three-figure milestone], his innings generally
dictate the outcome of any match played against them. James’ direct hit with
one stump to aim at was quite exceptional, and it led to an improbable Far
from the MCC victory with Higgs 74 runs short of his usual milestone.
“It’s like this James. Run Higgs out – we win.” Fast forward nearly a
year, and how times can change…. Martin’s winning of the toss didn’t change,
nor did the fact that St. Clements batted first – a result of most of their
side being late for the game [again]. And actually, the
first few overs of the match weren’t too different either, with Mr. Higgs
climbing into The MAD bowling and dispatching it into hedgerows and
surrounding villages. But, what was
different was James Hoskins’ inability to run J. Higgs out. Okay, he never
had a chance to achieve this method of dismissal, but it was his lack of
engineering an opportunity that saddened his team mates. “C’mon, Hoskins”
they all cried at various intervals, “pull your fucking finger out man, run
this dude out!” To no avail. James just could not repeat his famous feat of a
year ago. It says “failed” on his homework submission.
M. Reeves (right) passes M. Bullock on the way
back to the hutch. Bowlingwise everyone got a firm rogering,
although J. Pearson (2-0-10-0) was accurate up front and D. Edwards
(2-0-11-1) miserly at the death; it was the filling in the sandwich which
took the bite. Mike Reeves’ (3-0-41-0) arse was rather sore after his stint
from the Mosque End, as was M. Westmoreland’s (3-0-37-0) backside from the
Fallen Sitescreen End. Chris Roberts (3-0-37-2)
posterior was positively crimson, but he did come back well towards the end
of his spell after Higgs had retired; and poor ole Hoskins (2-0-27-0), the
target of most of his teams’ bitching and moaning, saw a couple of pigeons
taken out mid-flight as his bowling disappeared into the nearby tennis courts
[his derričre was a plum colour]. All in all, the carnage wouldn’t have
looked out of place on a gay porn channel [not that this reviewer has ever
watched gay porn I might add]. Higgs eventually raised his bat in the eleventh
over and was mobbed by his team mates after retiring back to the pavilion to
count up his sixes. The MAD took stock, tidied things up, and left themselves
a mere 172 for victory.
I.
Howarth swings and misses in the early exchanges. In reply, in the gathering gloom, the left-right
combo of Reeves (11) and I. Howarth (30) gave The MAD battlewagon a firm
shunt from behind. Early boundaries were regular, and hopes were high.
Unfortunately, G. Savin hadn’t read the script and
caught both of them without moving a muscle. M. Bullock (10) provided a nice
cameo, as did D. Edwards (13), who momentarily revived spirits with a fine
six over long on. Mellor (16) struggled a little against bowling from adults,
and Doc Mander (0) reminded us what a nice chap he is by stepping in at the
last minute – unfortunately he also reminded us of how age affects your
skills. Hoskins (12) redeemed himself a little with an enterprising knock,
and J. Hotson (8) had the audacity to loft the ball over the covers to
everyone’s delight. In the end though, The MAD fell 30 runs shy of their
opponents, as both Pearson (11*) and Westmoreland (7*) opted to protect their
averages. Tall Bob, aka Mr. Roberts, carefully removed his pads as his
services weren’t required.
Post
match – hanging out with the Strollers. An enjoyable game, of sorts; the Strollers once again
providing a humorous and varied challenge. We look forward in earnest to our
next encounter, where after the match is concluded, the scoreline will
hopefully read: Far from the MCC 2
v J. Higgs 1 ‘Spam’
|
*
Statto Scorecards
|
Far from the MCC versus St. Clements
Strollers Played at Magdalen College, 15 July
2010 Far from the MCC won the toss and
elected to bat St. Clements Strollers won by 30 runs Far from the MCC debuts: none |
10 / 206 15 x 8 over match |
|
Team |
St. Clements Strollers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
J. Higgs |
retired |
100 |
|
|
|
- |
|
2 |
L. Davie |
b Reeves |
18 |
|
|
|
1-79 |
|
3 |
S. Warry * |
c Westmoreland b Edwards |
19 |
|
|
|
2-153 |
|
4 |
H. Carter + |
b Roberts |
4 |
|
|
|
3-162 |
|
5 |
R. Buchanan |
not out |
9 |
|
|
|
- |
|
6 |
N. Warry |
c Bullock b Roberts |
2 |
|
|
|
4-166 |
|
7 |
R. Finch |
not out |
1 |
|
|
|
- |
|
8 |
G. Savin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
D. Rochester |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
P. Hart |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
P. Brennan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
(W10, B8) |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 4 wickets, 15 overs) |
171 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Pearson |
2.4 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
Hoskins |
2.4 |
0 |
27 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
Reeves |
4 |
0 |
41 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
Westmoreland |
4 |
0 |
37 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
Roberts |
4 |
0 |
37 |
2 |
|
|
6 |
Edwards |
2.4 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: the above bowling
figures factor in 8-ball overs (i.e 3
x 8-ball overs constitute 4 overs) |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Far from
the MCC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
I. Howarth |
c Savin b
Finch |
30 |
(20) |
7 |
- |
2-61 |
|
2 |
M. K. Reeves |
c Savin b
Rochester |
11 |
(9) |
2 |
- |
1-33 |
|
3 |
M. Bullock |
b Davie |
10 |
(17) |
2 |
- |
3-61 |
|
4 |
D. M. Edwards |
b Finch |
13 |
(15) |
1 |
1 |
4-85 |
|
5 |
P. A. S. Mellor |
c Higgs b S. Warry |
16 |
(19) |
2 |
- |
6-91 |
|
6 |
A. M. Mander |
st Carter b Finch |
0 |
(3) |
- |
- |
5-87 |
|
7 |
J. D. Hoskins |
b S. Warry |
12 |
(15) |
2 |
- |
8-130 |
|
8 |
J. C. W. Hotson + |
b Savin |
8 |
(6) |
1 |
- |
7-105 |
|
9 |
J. W. Pearson |
not out |
11 |
(11) |
2 |
- |
- |
|
10 |
M. T. Westmoreland * |
not out |
7 |
(5) |
1 |
- |
- |
|
11 |
C. D. Roberts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
(W12, LB1, B10) |
23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 8 wickets, 15 overs) |
141 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Rochester |
3 |
0 |
22 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
N. Warry |
2 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
Finch |
3 |
0 |
27 |
3 |
|
|
4 |
Davie |
2 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
S. Warry |
3 |
0 |
30 |
2 |
|
|
6 |
Savin |
2 |
0 |
20 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: the above bowling
figures factor in 8-ball overs (i.e 3
x 8-ball overs constitute 4 overs) |
||||||
|
MOTM: I. Howarth Champagne Moment: M. Bullock’s sharp slip
catch Buffet
Award: M. K. Reeves’ bacon and egg
sandwiches (with tangy brown sauce) |
Opposition:
V052 / 02 Ground: G043 / 02 Captain: C011 / 34 |