“D Emerson Relatively Better than M Waugh”

Match: 13 / 311

Lost by 4 wkts

Team	Total
FFTMCC	160 - 7
D. Emerson 33*, R. Turner 24
Astons CC	161 - 6
D. Emerson 2 - 16, D. H. Emerson 2 - 22

Mark Waugh was once famously sledged for not even being the best batsman in his family. On this day sibling and company rivalries would form the backdrop to a fascinating encounter with familiar hosts Aston CC. With early season ambitions of club records or even double digit batting averages having long been consigned to the filing cabinet marked ‘broken dreams’, there was only a series of subplots and personal rivalries to be resolved, all of them revolving around recent Gwyneth Paltrow / Kim Hughes / Gazza impersonator David Emerson.

Despite not being allowed to wear their own clothes, or bring games in for the day, there was a distinctly end of term feeling to the encounter. The Chequers in Aston Tirrold provided a very pleasant meeting place prior to the match, in which to enjoy some late summer sun. The tone of the day was set as G Timms purchased the first round consisting of a shandy, two diet cokes and a tea. Yes, a tea!

Captain Moo, performing his regular duties for the penultimate time, also seemed to be winding down with an uncharacteristic slip meaning that twelve players were pencilled in for the afternoon. Although the temptation to contact Steve Dobner (after a two and a half hour queue around the M25 and now only twenty minutes from the ground) and tell him that his services were no longer required was high, Moo opted instead to allow Geoff / George to bat and D Emerson’s brother D Emerson, to field.

From left: George / Geoff, D Emerson and D Emerson. Got that?

So now to those subplots. David’s brother Daniel had appeared from nowhere earlier in the season and despite his protestations that he hadn’t done any form of physical activity since kindergarten; he immediately proved a more than useful bowler. The team were of course delighted that they now had one more stick to poke David with and pursue his mental disintegration ever further. Well done D Emerson, you’re the best D Emerson we’ve ever seen etc etc. In addition, Astons provide a busman’s holiday for most of the gas pricing experts of Oxfordshire, principally David versus Astons mainstay, Ralph Smith. So a lot of bragging rights around the family dinner table and / or company conference table were at stake.

Moo (9) won the toss and had no hesitation in batting on a dry pitch and warm afternoon. He was first to depart, being triggered LBW by Geoff / George. Howarth (5) looked in the mood as always and smacked one boundary before trying to hoick a slower straighter one. Russell (24) batted with his usual assured stroke play and un-assured calling before being triggered (for the third time this season?) by Bob. George Carter (14) and Reeves (15) offered similar lusty blows but both were out foxed by the wily S Smith (7-2-18-2). J Webster (9) also showed promise before a third LBW decision of the innings meant he had to depart.

Dave (left) fields off his own bowling, whilst Ralph makes his ground….

Next in was Jamo (13 n.o.) and here’s where another subplot was unveiled. James had a theory, a hypothesis if you prefer. His theory was that if both parties coordinate and run immediately it is almost impossible that one of the parties will be run out. Now James was keen to upgrade his hypothesis to a proof and as we all know this can only be achieved by rigorous empirical examination. After such rigorous empirical examination the hypothesis was revised to ‘it is a least 90% likely that neither of the parties will be run out so long as one of the parties hasn’t struck the ball directly at the opposition’s best fielder standing not more than 10 yards away.’ The empirical evidence was that Steve (12) muttered and trudged his way back to the pavilion.

In the 35^th over at 111 for 7 The MAD innings was trundling with hesitant progress towards a not very defendable 130. In came David Emerson, a man weighed down with recent failure and the weight of all those various family and company demons. How would he respond? 19 deliveries later and 33 not out is testament to his mental strength and what a funny old game cricket is. Kicking you when you’re up, kicking you when you’re down, but just occasionally offering a ray of light to keep you coming back for more. Jamo held up his end with some spirited blows and together the pair put on an unbeaten 49 partnership and dragged the team to a respectable 160.

Tea was delicious.

Dan (bowling), with his sponsored red cricket shoes.

Dave (8-3-16-2) and Dan (8-3-22-2) opened the bowling. The finest brotherly opening attack The MAD has ever seen. First Dan, then Dan again, then finally Dave, reduced Astons to 12 for 3, including a smart catch at gully by Timms. It was most definitely game on. Jamo then subjected his hypothesis to further rigorous testing, reducing it to a mere conjecture by ironically conspiring with Steve to produce the Champagne moment of a run out.

Unfortunately the non-Emerson portion of The MAD bowling attack could not match the efforts of the brothers. As Astons batsmen R Smith (61) and J Shea (43 n.o.) established themselves, bowlers Roberts (7-0-36-0), Timms (6-0-35-1), Reeves (7.1-0-30-0) and Hoskins (2-0-10-0) seemed powerless to stop the game slipping away. Moo was getting advice slung at him from all directions, but decided that his best and last chance lay with Dave. Bringing him back on worked a treat as his colleague Ralph skewed one to a smart catch by Jamo.

John Shea (left) guides Astons CC to victory….

As has been said many times, cricket is a fickle mistress and despite Dave’s best efforts he couldn’t drag the rest of the team to a famous victory. Astons got over the 160 finish line with eleven balls to spare. Still take a bow Dave, hold your head high, we all have to take our personal victories and banish our demons where we can.

‘Reevsie’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from the MCC versus Astons CC Played at Aston Tirrold, 1 September 2013 Far from the MCC won the toss and elected to bat Astons CC won by 4 wkts Far from the MCC debuts: none

13 / 311 40 over match

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	M. T. Westmoreland *	lbw b R. Smith	9	(22)	1	-	1-29
2	R. P. Turner	lbw b R. Smith	24	(63)	2	-	3-59
3	I. Howarth	b R. Smith	5	(7)	1	-	2-47
4	G. Carter	b S. Smith	14	(22)	3	-	4-81
5	M. K. Reeves	c Ray b S. Smith	15	(25)	3	-	5-88
6	S. L. P. Dobner +	run out	12	(35)	1	-	7-111
7	J. vdG. Webster	lbw b Gray	9	(16)	-	-	6-108
8	J. D. Hoskins	not out	13	(19)	1	-	-
9	D. Emerson	not out	33	(22)	4	-	-
10	G. J. Timms
11	C. D. Roberts
	Extras	(NB1, W10, LB1, B14)	26
	TOTAL	(for 7 wickets, 40 overs)	160

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Ray	7	1	29	0
2	Gray	8	1	36	1
3	R. A. Smith	5	1	13	3
4	Shea	8	2	29	0
5	S. Smith	7	2	18	2
6	Kilcoyne	5	0	22	0

Team	Astons CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	N. Clark	c Timms b D. H. Emerson	0		-	-	1-6
2	T. Dew	c Hoskins b D. Emerson	8		1	-	3-12
3	J. Imbush	b D. H. Emerson	0		-	-	2-12
4	M. Williams	lbw b Timms	19		1	-	5-78
5	D. Barlow	run out (Hoskins/Dobner)	5		-	-	4-29
6	R. A. Smith *	c Hoskins b D. Emerson	61		10	-	6-127
7	J. Shea	not out	43		7	-	-
8	G. Smith +	not out	7		1	-	-
9	D. Kilcoyne
10	B. Ray
11	S. Smith
	Extras	(W3, LB9, B6)	18
	TOTAL	(for 6 wickets, 38.1 overs)	161

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	D. Emerson	8	3	16	2
2	D. H. Emerson	8	3	22	2
3	Roberts	7	0	36	0
4	Timms	6	0	35	1
5	Reeves	7.1	0	30	0
6	Hoskins	2	0	10	0
Note: D. H. Emerson replaced G. Carter at the interval & J. Imbush replaced L. Gray (Astons)

MOTM: D. Emerson Champagne Moment: S. L. P. Dobner & J. D. Hoskins’ run out (from the boundary) Buffet Award: G. J. Timms’ stale wedding cake

Opposition: V046 / 09 Ground: G035 / 08 Captain: C011 / 84