“Power Struggles”

Match: 14 / 329

Match Abandoned

Team	Total
FFTMCC	106 - 8
M. Bullock 24
Centrica XI	11 - 1
M. Rundle 1 - 5

The fourth instalment of FFTMCC vs (this year’s) Centrica Select XI was possible the most eagerly anticipated yet. The absence of a number of regular Centricite ™ cricketers ™ meant the team was laden with unknown quantities. Admittedly when those unknowns turn up with full kit their quantity becomes a little more estimatable ™. It was a Friday in early July, Independence Day in fact, so the question on everyone’s lips; ‘will Smith’ get revenge on The MAD for last year’s Centrica loss to take the series to 2-2.

Centrica skipper R Smith started by winning the toss. That’s really by the by though when your tossing against useless tosser Timms. This was a FFTMCC record breaking ninth toss lost in a row from Timms, breaking his own record of 8 from the previous week when he surpassed the previous record of 7 held by current Sunday skip I Howarth. The notion of tossing the coin was becoming more and more pointless to The MAD. Tails it was and Smith wanted a bowl – to see what his troops had to offer. Timms was happy for The MAD to bat mind. What a convivial start to proceedings.

Blackpool seafront is packed.

The chalk and cheese partnership of Pearson (6) and Mellor (7) opened up for FFTMCC but despite their stylistic aesthetic differences they both managed to get out the same way; bowled R Smith (2-0-12-2) to a relative shooter with a little flick off the pads for good measure. A proper Brasenose pitch. Carter (4) would be bowled not long after leaving Bullock (24) and Hotson (10) to resolutely rebuild The MAD innings. By the time they’d both departed The MAD had 64 on the board with 9 or so overs to go; a good platform. The assault wasn’t quite forthcoming but some useful runs in the middle to lower order from Webster (6), Timms (14), Reading (8*) and (Rundle 6*) edged the total up to 106. Reeves (1) became the sixth Mad batsman to be out bowled on a low and slow pitch. Briggs (2-0-13-1), Gould (2-0-7-1), and Giannotti (4-0-17-2) all bowled tidily to get in on the act.

No one quite knew what sort of a total 106 was. It seemed on the low side but perhaps a bit of ring rust amongst the Centrica ranks and a few early wickets would let The MAD in? The pitch was playing pretty low and the ball wasn’t easy to get away; as evidenced by the paltry sum of 6 boundaries in The MAD innings. Maybe 106 wasn’t too bad after all, but skipper Timms knew Centrica possessed a couple of power hitters capable of winning the game single-handedly.

The anticipation felt beforehand was reaching fever pitch now. Fervent conversation buzzed about the pavilion as tactics were discussed with both skippers endeavouring to concoct the ideal batting line-up slash bowling mix. J Bradley (8*) and R Ramcreepaul (0) strode confidently out to the middle. A thumping 4 from Bradley off the first ball tried to set the tone but Reeves (1.2-0-6-0) responded well with only a solitary bye coming off the next 5 balls. Rundle’s express pace then had Ramcreepaul looking uncomfortable as he topped-edge a short one into his chin. He was out LBW the next ball – height was certainly never going to be an issue.

Charman Matt holding The MAD innings together….

Two overs in and Centrica were 10-1, just one meagre run shy of where The MAD were at the same stage. This had been a keen rivalry over the last few years with some players flitting between sides. Who would have bragging rights in the British Gas Business canteen come Monday? Not the catering staff, that’s for sure. News filtered through that Germany had seen off France 1-0 in the first World Cup Quarter Final but no one cared. The real drama was unfolding under the darkening skies before our very eyes....

Sadly the skies were darkening too much and it began raining and didn’t stop. Bugger.

‘Timms’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from the MCC versus Centrica XI Played at Brasenose College, 4 July 2014 Centrica XI won the toss and elected to field Match Abandoned Far from the MCC debuts: none

14 / 329 20 over match

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	J. W. Pearson	b Smith	6	(8)	1	-	1-6
2	P. A. S. Mellor	b Smith	7	(8)	1	-	2-17
3	M. Bullock +	b Briggs	24	(27)	3	-	4-56
4	G. Carter	b Gould	4	(13)	-	-	3-32
5	J. C. W. Hotson	run out	10	(18)	-	-	5-64
6	J. vdG. Webster	c Smith b Giannotti	6	(13)	-	-	6-82
7	G. J. Timms *	b Giannotti	14	(17)	1	-	7-84
8	M. K. Reeves	b Collins	1	(2)	-	-	8-89
9	M. J. Reading	not out	8	(12)	-	-	-
10	M. S. Rundle	not out	6	(9)	-	-	-
11	C. D. Roberts
	Extras	(NB7, W10, LB2, B1)	20
	TOTAL	(for 8 wickets, 20 overs)	106

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Smith	2	0	12	2
2	Bradley	2	0	11	0
3	Gould	2	0	7	1
4	Clark	4	0	21	0
5	Briggs	2	0	13	1
6	Giannotti	4	0	17	2
7	Robbins	2	0	9	0
8	Collins	2	0	16	1

Team	Centrica XI
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	J. Bradley	not out	8	(8)	1	-	-
2	R. Ramcreepaul	lbw b Rundle	0	(4)	-	-	1-8
3	R. Briggs	not out	2	(2)	-	-	-
4	N. Hill +
5	S. Divecha
6	R. Collins
7	M. Clark
8	R. A. Smith *
9	J. Gould
10	R. Robbins
11	R. Giannotti
	Extras	(LB1)	1
	TOTAL	(for 1 wicket, 2.2 overs)	11

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Reeves	1.2	0	6	0
2	Rundle	1	0	5	1

MOTM: M. Bullock Champagne Moment: G. J. Timms’ cut for 3 runs Buffet Award: M. S. Rundle’s foreshortened fish fingers (with HP sauce)

Opposition: V064 / 04 Ground: G040 / 36 Captain: C022 / 17