“Boxes Ticked

 

 

Match:  11 / 232

Lost by 40 runs

 

 

Team

 

Total

Lemmings

193 - 9

J. Pearson  5 - 20

 

FFTMCC

153 - 9

J. Pearson  60*,  L. Ainsworth  37

 

 

 

 

Wake up with a typical Sunday hangover from a night on the piss. Tick.

Drag kit bag out from under the bed and haul downstairs before relaxing onto the sofa before heading out. Tick.

Ask yourself if your regressive cricketing talents wouldn’t be better served by better preparation rather than soaking your liver and brain in a bathtub of cider. Tick.

Drive car to Brasenose College Sports Ground whilst complaining about other drivers, the price of petrol, the grey fucking weather, and all likelihood of another dispiriting team defeat. Tick.

Arrive at pub and instead of rehydrating with a soft drink, immediately order a pint of cider and begin moaning about how you feel physically fucked. Tick.

Join similarly downbeat pissheads / team mates to berate the weather and make sarcastic and derisory comments about the expectations of the day. Tick.

Stare at Duck as the mascot sits on the beer garden table staring back with soulless eyes. Tick.

Fuck off to the ground. Tick.

 

 

 

Finally – some sunshine over Brasenose.

 

 

Openly declare that today is the day the team’s fortunes are reversed whilst climbing into dirty whites – that today, you have a good feeling about this game. Tick.

Labour the point extensively to anyone who will listen. Tick.

Fraternise with opposition under the misguided illusion they actually like you. Tick.

Openly call all the opposition players “mate” as you can’t remember any of their Christian names despite playing against them for the last 8 years. Tick.

Look dumbstruck as poor T. Baker (1) is ran out at the non-striker’s end as D. Emerson (7-0-21-0) deflects one with his boot onto the stumps. Tick.

Look rather surprised that The MAD strike so soon after with R. J Baker bowled by J. Pearson for a duck. Tick.

Welcome the plaudits and spout off how tricky the catch was whilst pouching a skewed regulation sitter at point (S. Bell for 4). Tick.

Grumble to self as I. Leggate bowls a ten ball over. Tick.

Castigate the skipper silently for maybe handing the advantages back to the opposition with questionable bowling changes. Tick.

Applaud Leggate (3-0-27-1) and the skipper as J. Kelly (37) holes out in the deep after declaring he had a “poor track record against crap bowling”. Tick.

 

 

 

The excitement factor of MAD games is hard to resist these days….

 

 

Become listless and remember back to past ignominious defeats as the opposition total creeps above the hundred mark as the partnership grows. Tick.

Laugh loudly as Mike Reeves’ poor season continues as he drops a sitter down at long leg. Tick.

Laugh even louder as D. Emerson shells the very next delivery at mid-off. Tick.

Reassure C. Roberts (6-1-27-0) that the team couldn’t catch gonorrhoea in a whore house if they tried. Tick.

Try to cajole Reeves (5-0-16-0) into positive thinking, by continually saying “that’s better” as he beats the bat to scant reward. Tick.

Sigh inwardly as skipper Westmoreland shells a caught and bowled attempt. Tick.

Look contemptuously at Mad fielders Pearson and Emerson (2) as they somehow manage to spill a further three catches in as many overs. Tick.

Reassure M. Westmoreland (5-0-35-1) that the team “couldn’t catch a cold in a Siberian winter if they tried”. Tick.

Soak up the adulation and sigh with relief as you catch a steepler at mid-on to end a stubborn fifth wicket partnership (P. Baker 53). Tick.

Join a mobbed team celebration as a sprawling Westmoreland catches a beauty in the deep (M. Baker 48). Tick.

 

 

 

Let’s hope the next crop of MAD players is better than the current lot.

 

 

Begin chuntering to self after replacing D. Edwards (4-0-26-0), and having your first over bowled twatted around for 10 runs. Tick.

Moan repeatedly to a smiling M. Reeves that you are now in line for the Buffet Award (2-0-17-1). Tick.

Look astonished before running to embrace I. Leggate who takes a smoker off your own bowling to see P. “Pies” Williams out for 20. Tick.

Remind everyone continually that J. Pearson only needs 1 more wicket for a 5-for after he bowls J. Baker for a duck. Tick.

Soak up more adulation and have increasing illusions of grandeur after pouching another regulation catch (G. French 0) at square leg to hand Pearson his 5-for. Tick.

Walk off the field basking in the glory of taking 3 catches and being the Best Fielder this team has ever seen as the Lemmings are dismissed for 193. Tick.

 

Scoff a hearty selection of sandwiches whilst radiating smugness at the tea interval. Tick.

Offer glowing praise for Mel’s strawberry cream cake whilst stating it’s far superior to anything the Dobner’s have baked for teas (whilst noting the Dobner’s absence). Tick.

 

 

2011Jun19d

 

The best cake this team has ever eaten.

 

 

Pad up and settle comfortably into a deck chair on the boundary to watch The MAD reply commence. Tick.

Laugh and poke fun at a sleeping I. Leggate as he dreams about Sandra on an adjacent chair. Tick.

Enjoy more sarcastic banter at Leggate’s expense as he is woken to join J. Hotson in umpiring. Tick.

Grab bat, ready oneself, and walk the seemingly huge distance to the wicket after D. Edwards is bowled for 14. Tick.

Take guard, analyse the field, and ready oneself for the first delivery. Tick.

Make threatening eye-contact with umpire Leggate as the first ball from C. Greenwood crashes into your pads and an appeal goes up. Tick.

Consider next move as Leggate raises his finger. Tick.

Realise that a public show of dissatisfaction and annoyance will garner the club’s first levy of the new £5 Dissent ruling (as unanimously agreed at last year’s AGM). Tick.

Tuck bat under arm and slope off the field whilst considering burning Leggate’s house down whilst he’s asleep in bed. Tick.

Arrive back at pavilion whilst keeping a burning rage under wraps to get the usual “unlucky, mate” comments trotted out my team mates who are silently laughing inside. Tick.

Sling bat back into kit bag, unpad and consider the merits of playing this stupid fucking game whilst retaining dignity and not shouting obscenities at Leggate from said pavilion. Tick.

Relieve M. Bullock of scoring duties, and feel better about yourself after M. Reeves (0) completes Greenwood’s hat-trick by being castled first ball. Tick.

Trot out the obligatory “unlucky, mate” comments as Mike returns to the pavilion to throw his bat and consider the merits of playing this stupid fucking game. Tick.

 

 

 

M. Reeves searches for form and better days.

 

 

Cast mind back to glories past as L. Ainsworth and J. Pearson construct a partnership taking The MAD past the hundred barrier. Tick.

Take photograph of poor T. Baker’s hand after he splits the webbing dropping a caught and bowled attempt and disappearing to hospital. “Unlucky, mate”. Tick.

Sigh as Ainsworth is bowled (37) trying to up the scoring rate and perishing as he does so. Tick.

Console M. Westmoreland (1) after his 3 ball innings on his return to the hutch with “unlucky, mate”, as he too questions the merits of playing this stupid fucking game. Tick.

 

 

 

The latest flush of Mad ducks.

 

 

Console M. Bullock (0) after his 5 ball innings on his return to the hutch with “unlucky, mate”, as he too questions the merits of playing this stupid fucking game. Tick.

Console I. Leggate (0) after his 3 ball innings on his return to the hutch with “unlucky, you wanker”, as he too questions the merits of playing this stupid fucking game. Tick.

Console J. Hotson (13) after his impressive cameo and return to said hutch with “unlucky, mate”, as he questions the intelligence of playing a sweep shot to a quick inswinging yorker. Tick.

Console D. Emerson (0) after his 2 ball innings on his return to the hutch with “unlucky, mate”, as he too questions the merits of playing this stupid fucking game. Tick.

Walk onto pitch on completion of match and tenth consecutive MAD defeat to congratulate the Lemmings players and take photographs thereof. Tick.

 

 

 

J. Pearson (60*) and C. Roberts (11*) were 2 of only 3 Mad players not bowled.

 

 

Join a collective team moan about the result of the game and adjourn to the Folly bridge pub. Tick.

Almost fall apart laughing in Paddy Mellor style when Fines Chairman I. Leggate drops a clanger and sees his fines almost double after calling the entire beer garden populace a word which can be referenced to seeing somebody next Tuesday (he meant to simply add a 25p addition to round his fines up to £4). Tick.

Finish pint, say goodbye, and drive pissheads and D. Edwards back to their respective homes. Tick.

Moan to wife about the injustices of cricket on return. Tick.

Open bottle of wine and stare into the glass, clinging to the memories of days gone by where you scored some fucking runs and The MAD won a game or two.

 

Tick.

 

 

‘Multi Choice’

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

Statto Scorecards

 

 

 

Far from the MCC versus Lemmings

Played at Brasenose College, 19 June 2011

 

Far from the MCC won the toss and elected to field

Lemmings won by 40 runs

 

Far from the MCC debuts:  none

 

 

11 / 232

 

 

 

 

 

40 over match

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team

Lemmings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Batsman

How Out

Total

Balls

4s

6s

FOW

1

J. Kelly

c Ainsworth b Leggate

35

 

4

-

4-52

2

T. Baker

run out (Emerson)

1

 

-

-

1-4

3

R. J. Baker

b Pearson

0

 

-

-

2-10

4

S. Bell

c Howarth b Pearson

4

 

-

-

3-26

5

M. Baker

c Westmoreland b Pearson

48

 

8

-

6-179

6

P. Baker

c Howarth b Westmoreland

53

 

3

-

5-141

7

P. Williams *+

c Leggate b Howarth

20

 

1

-

7-182

8

C. Greenwood

not out

9

 

1

-

-

9

J. Baker

b Pearson

0

 

-

-

8-193

10

G. French

c Howarth b Pearson

0

 

-

-

9-193

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extras

(W10, LB5, B3)

18

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

(all out, 39 overs)

193

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Bowler

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wkts

 

1

Emerson

7

0

21

0

 

2

Pearson

7

1

20

5

 

3

Leggate

3

0

27

1

 

4

Roberts

6

1

27

0

 

5

Reeves

5

0

16

0

 

6

Westmoreland

5

0

35

1

 

7

Edwards

4

0

26

0

 

8

Howarth

2

0

17

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team

Far from the MCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Batsman

How Out

Total

Balls

4s

6s

FOW

1

D. M. Edwards

b Greenwood

14

(38)

1

-

1-36

2

L. G. Ainsworth

b Kelly

37

(76)

2

-

4-105

3

I. Howarth

lbw b Greenwood

0

(1)

-

-

2-36

4

M. K. Reeves

b Greenwood

0

(1)

-

-

3-36

5

J. W. Pearson

not out

60

(90)

6

-

-

6

M. T. Westmoreland *

b Kelly

1

(3)

-

-

5-107

7

M. Bullock

b P. Baker

0

(5)

-

-

6-108

8

I. C. Leggate

b P. Baker

0

(3)

-

-

7-108

9

J. C. W. Hotson +

b Kelly

13

(11)

1

-

8-136

10

D. Emerson

b Kelly

0

(2)

-

-

9-136

11

C. D. Roberts

not out

11

(12)

2

-

-

 

Extras

(NB2, W7, LB5, B3)

17

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

(for 9 wickets, 40 overs)

153

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Bowler

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wkts

 

1

J. Baker

8

2

18

0

 

2

Greenwood

8

1

19

3

 

3

French

6

1

18

0

 

4

T. Baker

2.5

0

17

0

 

5

Bell

3.1

0

23

0

 

6

Kelly

6

2

25

4

 

7

P. Baker

4

1

12

2

 

8

R. J. Baker

2

0

13

0

 

 

 

 

 

MOTM:  M. K. Reeves (protest vote)

Champagne Moment:  M. T. Westmoreland’s fine diving catch

Buffet Award:  I. C. Leggate’s wholemeal baps with chicken salad

 

 

Opposition:  V024 / 10

Ground:  G040 / 16

Captain:  C011 / 53