“Clouds Part and Leggate Shines”
Match: 11
/ 243
Lost
by 8 wkts
|
Team |
Total |
|
FFTMCC |
83 |
|
I. Leggate 22, I. Howarth
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
St. Clements Strollers |
85 - 2 |
|
C. Roberts 1 - 17 |
|
|
Here was a game that
most groundsmen would have cancelled before lunch time. It’s testament to the
extraordinary draining abilities of the St Clements pitch that any cricket
could possibly take place. 1pm and it was persistently pissing it down. 3pm
and the skies were a little brighter but surely the pitch would be as heavy
with water as Reevsie’s front room circa 2007. So it was more in hope than expectation that The MAD
arrived half an hour before the appointed start time to the surprising news
that cricket had triumphed over the weather.
The dark clouds retreat from Magdalen College…. So would it be the usual
story? Come start time would eleven Madsters be facing two Strollers and a
dog with the excuse that more were on the way and could they possibly bat
first whilst the light was coincidentally still good? Would J Higgs score his
customary century (fantastic run outs not withstanding) whilst the youngsters
made up the numbers? No, most certainly not. Firstly J Higgs was nowhere to
be seen although explanation had arrived at FFTMCC headquarters earlier in
the week. Secondly T20 captain J Hotson demonstrated a steely determination
not to be coerced into giving away the decision.
Said letter photographed at MAD HQ. So far so good, The MAD were
batting. Jake had a reverse order of sorts, sending out the bowlers D Emerson
(1) and C Roberts (0) to face the wily operators L Davie and R Finch. Emerson
soon slapped at a high and wide one (no ball surely) and was easily pouched
in the outfield. Tall Bob was comprehensively bowled by Mr Finch who was
turning it square in the helpful conditions. Fancy employing an actual
spinner, (not at this level.) He was simply far too good. M Reeves’ (0)
dismal season continued, he can’t buy a run at the moment, as he played all
around a straight one. Ade Fisher (1) suffered and survived against
prodigious spin until Finch soon got the better of him. Eight for four turned
into ten for five as J Hoskins (0) became the next victim to the seemingly
hittable L Davie. The opening bowlers, with a combined age of 745 had ripped
through The MAD top order. Could this be the worst start of all time? The
lowest total ever by The MAD was still a big 24 runs away and it would take
another 40 to avoid the page of shame on The MAD website.
A shit score soon got worse…. Next to the crease was P
Mellor (17). For only the third time in the innings, runs flew from the bat
and suddenly, amazingly we were on our way. He was joined by I Leggate (22)
and finally the score board started to tick over. It would be unfair to say
this was an unlikely partnership as this season past performances have been
turned on their head. Ian was looking every inch a proper batsman and he
drove for four and then settled in for a series of shots, netting ones and
twos with ease. Paddy has one very obvious weakness (Anyone? Anyone?) and it
was with grim inevitability that he started out on a single that never was,
before being run out several yards short. That’s the sixth time in a row –
the sixth! I Howarth (21) had not
intended to play this evening, being under strict instructions not to
endanger his hernia, especially with only 10 days to go before the Tour.
However at 37 for 6 things were still looking desperate, so he tucked his
lower intestines back into his trousers and strode out to bat.
P. Mellor (left) shortly before his sixth
consecutive run out…. With the evening sun now
shining, there was hope on the horizon. If J Hotson (5) could just hold on,
our saviour T Smith would arrive to lead us to a winning total. The final act was for G
Timms (0 not out) for defy his nickname and block out the last three balls to
reach a disappointing but not disastrous 83. What’s there to say
about the Strollers reply? The Strollers strolled to victory for the loss of
only two wickets. D Emerson (4-0-22-0) and C Roberts (4-0-17-1) bowled
reasonably with discipline without ever looking like they were going to make
significant inroads into the top order. Reeves cemented his position of least
improved (or most declined) player of the season by dropping a sharp but
relatively regulation catch at mid-on. Hoskins failed to take a tougher one
running backwards and Leggate juggled once, twice before putting one down. T
Smith made that rush back through the evening traffic slightly more
worthwhile by taking a languid low catch and Hoskins redeemed himself but
snaffling a good one and the champagne moment off the bowling of Smith. The
death throws were sounded by T Smith (2-0-25-1) and G Timms (2-0-8-0) before
Hoskins (0.5-0-7-0) ushered the Strollers over the line.
From there both teams
retired to the bar and pavilion for congratulations all round.
Congratulations to L Davie and R Finch for showing that class is permanent.
Congratulations to I Leggate for batting like a batter and congratulations to
the groundman for making the match possible at all. But still a spectre hung
over the evenings proceedings. Who is that man approaching and why is he only
wearing pants? ‘Reevsie’
|
*
Statto Scorecards
|
Far from the MCC versus St. Clements
Strollers Played at Magdalen College, 4 August
2011 Far from the MCC won the toss and
elected to bat St. Clements Strollers won by 8 wkts Far from the MCC debuts: none |
11 / 243 20 over match |
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|
Team |
Far from
the MCC |
|
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|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
D. Emerson |
c b Davie |
1 |
(7) |
- |
- |
2-2 |
|
2 |
C. D. Roberts |
b Finch |
0 |
(2) |
- |
- |
1-1 |
|
3 |
M. K. Reeves |
b Davie |
0 |
(4) |
- |
- |
3-5 |
|
4 |
A. J. Fisher |
b Finch |
1 |
(11) |
- |
- |
4-8 |
|
5 |
P. A. S. Mellor |
run out |
17 |
(23) |
1 |
- |
6-37 |
|
6 |
J. D. Hoskins |
b Davie |
0 |
(12) |
- |
- |
5-10 |
|
7 |
I. C. Leggate |
c N. Warry b Savin |
22 |
(25) |
1 |
- |
7-62 |
|
8 |
I. Howarth |
c Harte b Savin |
21 |
(26) |
3 |
- |
8-82 |
|
9 |
J. C. W. Hotson *+ |
b Savin |
5 |
(4) |
- |
- |
10-83 |
|
10 |
T. P. W. Smith |
b S. Warry |
0 |
(1) |
- |
- |
9-83 |
|
11 |
G. J. Timms |
not out |
0 |
(3) |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Extras |
(NB3, W6, LB4, B3) |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(all out, 19.1 overs) |
83 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Finch |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
Davie |
4 |
0 |
16 |
3 |
|
|
3 |
Harte |
3 |
0 |
24 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
N. Warry |
3 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
S. Warry |
3 |
1 |
12 |
1 |
|
|
6 |
Savin |
2.1 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
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|
Team |
St. Clements Strollers |
|
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|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
P. Harte |
c Hoskins b Smith |
32 |
|
5 |
- |
2-50 |
|
2 |
D. Rochester |
c Smith b Roberts |
7 |
|
- |
- |
1-25 |
|
3 |
T. Pickford |
not out |
31 |
|
6 |
- |
- |
|
4 |
P. Rogers |
not out |
9 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
5 |
R. Buchanan |
|
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6 |
H. Carter |
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|
7 |
L. Davie |
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|
8 |
S. Warry |
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|
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|
9 |
G. Savin |
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|
10 |
R. Finch |
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|
|
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|
|
|
11 |
N. Warry * |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
(W3, B3) |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 2 wickets, 12.5 overs) |
85 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Emerson |
4 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
Roberts |
4 |
0 |
17 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
Smith |
2 |
0 |
25 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
Timms |
2 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
Hoskins |
0.5 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
|
MOTM: I. C. Leggate Champagne Moment: J. D. Hoskins’ catch at
mid on Buffet
Award: T. P. W. Smith’s caramel buns
(with fruity bits and chocco chips) |
Opposition:
V053 / 03 Ground: G043 / 03 Captain: C012 / 12 |