“MAD Undone by Talented Individual”

Match: 15 / 345

Lost by 43 runs

Team	Total
Wootton & Boars Hill CC	171
M. Reeves 3 - 22, J. Pearson 2 - 20
FFTMCC	128
J. Pearson 35, I. Howarth 25

It was very much in with new as The MAD arrived at the Bystander Pub in Wootton for the now regular early season fixture against Wootton and Boars Hill. Moo arrived carrying a big box of new kit which he placed on a table and started doling out like a market trader. There was a new cap for Spam, which he tried to transform in to his old cap by dropping it on the floor and stamping on it. There was a strange jumper / top for Reeves which is extremely warm, but is definitely form over function. There are now trousers with The MAD logo for anyone with £18 to spare and a free shirt for anyone willing to change their name to Ross Mather.

There was also a new format, 35 overs, and a new start time, 1:00pm, which everyone hoped would provide an early finish before light became an issue. The final ‘new’ was with the scoring system as an elaborate set of triangles and upside down triangles have been introduced to denote byes and leg byes, to no obvious cause.

Turner (right) – probably the best tosser this club has ever known.

It was also something of a new skipper as Russ grasped the reigns from regular new skipper Timms, who, it being the summer, must have a wedding and / or stag do to attend. Mystic Russ of course won the toss and decided it would be good to see how the artificial wicket was playing by fielding first.

The MAD opened up with Ainsworth (6-1-36-0) who was trying to prove that he isn’t the most under-valued fantasy player in club history by failing to take a wicket. At the other end Reeves (6.3-2-22-3) was trying to prove that he isn’t the most over-valued player in MAD history. His three wickets takes his career total to 122, one ahead of Stevie D and up to fifth in the all-time list. He was grateful to Moo for his two catches which edges him ever closer to becoming the first player to pouch 100 in a career. Howarth at gully did not fare as well, putting down D Wiskin on zero. ‘You’ll regret that’ said the umpire and a big score looked likely until he inexplicably played over a straight one, when on 19. At the other end S Morton (81) was going about his business and starting to build an innings.

There are three missing cooling towers to the left….

First change were Hoskins (7-1-22-1) and Roberts (7-0-45-2.) Hoskins could have had two, if only Paddy was ‘wider’ at slip, as one flew past his right hand. Roberts finally bagged a brace after his excellent, but largely unrewarded bowling of last week. A smart, but regulation catch, for a man of his experience went to Matt behind the stumps and Jake took a fine catch high and to his right. Champagne moment was settled beyond any doubt as Moo performed an excellent pick up, throw and direct hit to run out J Ulyatt from mid-on.

Howarth (4-0-27-1) picked up the buffet and nearly de-capitated D Parker with a beamer, however he did snare our old Appleton opponent T Crowe, LBW in the process. Pearson (3-0-20-2) finally managed to remove S Morton, who by this point had scored a potentially match winning 81 after a decent catch by Paddy. Finally Reeves came back on to announce that it was the final over. At the time it was only over 34, but his confusion / incompetency / optimism was rewarded as he removed the final wicket of Parker to end the W&BH innings after 33.3 overs and 171 runs.

Mr. Pearson spanks one through the covers.

Tea was excellent as usual, prior to Pearson (35) and Westmoreland (14) getting The MAD reply off to a solid start. Both were watchful and cautious, which are good qualities at this stage of the season as occupation of the crease will hopefully reap rewards in the many matches ahead.

Next up was Mellor (1) who was comprehensively, hilariously and inevitably run out. His wonderful dive, several seconds after the stumps had been broken and indeed, he had made his ground was a sight to see. Then came the engine room of Howarth (25), Ainsworth (18) and Turner (5). All showed the potential to change the match and bring the advantage back to The MAD, but unfortunately none could provide the kind of innings S Morton had earlier. During this period D Parker returned the beamer Spam had sent him earlier.

Mr. Hotson attempts to up The MAD run rate.

With the required run rate now climbing ominously, Reeves (12) tried to smash The MAD back in to contention. He was also comprehensively run out going for a suicidal third and trying to avoid being lapped by Hotson (2). They say one brings two (or in the case of The MAD, one brings all) and it was the case here as Hotson was caught off the next ball.

After Bullock (5) had come and gone it was down to the final partnership of Hoskins (1 n.o.) and Roberts (0.) There was one final moment of hilarity and a third comprehensive run out of the innings. Bob, facing his first ball took a couple of strides down the wicket, which unfortunately in his case is a long way from safety. Correctly sent back by Hoskins there was no way he was going to make his ground and that was it for The MAD in the same 33.3 overs which W&BH had faced. Congratulations Bob, you now climb to equal second on the all-time golden ducks record.

How can someone so tall, be so short? Of their ground that is….

Congratulations too, to W&BH, defying the misplaced adage that you don’t win anything with kids, as nine of the team were under 30. Their ground now seems like a second home as we visit it so often and as is usually the case the game was played in a spirit of friendly rivalry, epitomising all that we’re looking for in a game of Sunday cricket. For the second week running, a reasonable all-round performance by The MAD had been undone by an outstanding performance by one individual, although having utilised nine bowlers W&BH perhaps had another gear had they needed it.

‘Reevsie’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from the MCC versus Wootton & Boars Hill CC Played at Wootton & Boars Hill CC, 19 April 2015 Far from the MCC won the toss and elected to field Wootton & Boars Hill CC won by 43 runs Far from the MCC debuts: none

15 / 345 35 over match

Team	Wootton & Boars Hill CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	S. Morton	c Mellor b Pearson	81		12	-
2	E. Webb	c Westmoreland b Reeves	1		-	-
3	D. Wiskin *	b Reeves	19		4	-
4	J. Ulyatt	run out (Westmoreland)	9		2	-
5	O. Morton †	c Reeves b Hoskins	4		1	-
6	M. Hawthorn	c Hotson b Roberts	1		-	-
7	L. Watts	c Bullock b Roberts	1		-	-
8	T. Crowe	lbw b Howarth	1		-	-
9	A. Newton	not out	31		2	1
10	N. Ali	lbw b Pearson	4		-	-
11	D. Parker	c Westmoreland b Reeves	3		-	-
	Extras	NB4, W10, LB2	16
	TOTAL	(all out, 33.3 overs)	171

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Ainsworth	6	1	36	0
2	Reeves	6.3	2	22	3
3	Hoskins	7	1	22	1
4	Roberts	7	0	45	2
5	Howarth	4	0	27	1
6	Pearson	3	0	20	2

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	J. W. Pearson	c Webb b Wiskin	35	(67)	6	-	3-69
2	M. T. Westmoreland	c Hawthorn b Newton	14	(28)	3	-	1-32
3	P. A. S. Mellor	run out (Watts/Morton)	1	(15)	-	-	2-38
4	I. Howarth	b Wiskin	25	(39)	3	-	4-98
5	L. G. Ainsworth	c Webb b Ulyatt	18	(14)	3	-	5-106
6	R. P. Turner *	st O. Morton b Ulyatt	4	(7)	1	-	6-106
7	J. C. W. Hotson	c Hawthorn b Webb	2	(5)	-	-	8-122
8	M. K. Reeves	run out (Crowe/Webb)	12	(15)	1	-	7-122
9	M. Bullock †	c Webb b Morton	5	(10)	1	-	9-128
10	J. D. Hoskins	not out	1	(4)	-	-	-
11	C. D. Roberts	run out (Watts)	0	(1)	-	-	10-128
	Extras	NB4, W2, LB4, B1	11
	TOTAL	(all out, 33.3 overs)	128

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Crowe	4	2	14	0
2	Newton	5	1	17	1
3	Parker	4	1	9	0
4	Hawthorn	4	0	8	0
5	Wiskin	6	0	26	2
6	Watts	3	0	15	0
7	Ulyatt	3	0	16	2
8	Webb	3	0	16	1
9	Morton	1.3	0	4	1

MOTM: M. K. Reeves Champagne Moment: M. T. Westmoreland’s direct run out Buffet Award: I. Howarth’s tuna sandwiches (with mayonnaise)

Opposition: V039 / 14 Ground: G017 / 10 Captain: C024 / 07