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“Moo-Ball!

 

 

Match:  16 / 395

Won by 3 runs

 

 

Team

 

Total

FFTMCC

129 - 5

I. Howarth  44*,  D. Shorten  20

 

FFTMCC

126 - 8

D. Shorten  2 - 8,  M. Westmoreland  2 - 20

 

 

 

 

It was any typical day for Martin Westmoreland. Wake up, smash a mirror, have some breakfast, walk under a ladder, drive to work, run over a black cat, come home, shoot an albatross, then in the evening, go and play cricket.

 

On this particular evening the FFTMCC were welcoming the Hendricks XI, a touring side who played cricket at Warwick University, but not for Warwick University you understand. The story of how they got their name is as long and convoluted as that of the FFTMCC, something to do with sponsorship from the University or some such.

 

 

 

Hendrick’s XI.

 

 

THXI won the toss and put us in to bat on a pitch which had been keeping exceptionally low of late, but was not underwater and that’s the only thing that counts on a warm summer’s evening.

 

First to the crease was Martin Westmoreland, who paused only to whistle in a theatre and do something involving the number four with a person from China. Seven balls into his innings he received a chest high delivery, which he swatted direct to mid-off. THXI appealed, but Martin stood incredulous, his knowledge of the laws of cricket sadly lacking. Here for his benefit, the relevant sections are set out below.

 

Law 34.1.2 – If, in the opinion of the square leg umpire, the ball reaches the batsman without bouncing, above waist height, in his starting position in the crease, he cannot be out. In this instance one run is added to the batting sides total in addition to any runs scored from the delivery. This rule applies unless superseded under the provision of Law 34.1.2a.

 

Law 34.1.2a – If the square leg umpire is asleep or otherwise distracted, or the batsman’s initials are MW, then the ball shall be deemed a “Moo-Ball!” In this instance the batsman will be given out “caught”.

 

 

 

George creams one through the covers.

 

 

At the other end, Geoff was being George-ish, with 11 of 15, Nick “Gun arm” Hill was playing some un-baseball like shots for 14 off 21. Then came the potential match winning innings from Howarth, with a 44 n.o. off only 39 deliveries. At this point he had to retire, which came as some surprise, until it was explained that skipper Shorten had invoked the rarely (nay uniquely) used law of retire at 42.

 

Shorten himself got a decent 20 off 28 balls and Sunday skipper Timms a nice 12 n.o off 12. Other issues of note were J Hoskins second golden duck in the space of three days and Reeves further extending his not out record with a cameo one off two. At the end of 20 overs, the FFTMCC had reached a rather respectable 129 in 20 overs despite some accurate and consistent bowling from THXI.

 

Opening the bowling for the FFTMCC was Reeves (4-1-10-1) who was as stingy with his bowling as he is with club’s finances. He was well backed up by Smith (3-0-19-0). Reading (4-0-36-0) was looking rusty after a long layoff, but it’s very good to see him back and practice can only make more perfect. At least he didn’t break anything this evening.

 

 

 

 

At 80 from 14 overs THXI were going along at a respectable pace and looking favourites. They were ably assisted by some sloppy fielding from the home team, but all that changed in an instant as Thornton threw down the one stump he had to aim at from 25 yards to remove opener R Quest. Soon after there was a “beautiful” stumping by Jake Hotson off the bowling of Hoskins (4-0-17-1) and the match had turned.

 

Skipper Shorten (2-0-8-2) then turned to Westmoreland (2-0-20-2) to turn the screw. Martin set off from his mark, pausing only to usher a woman on board a ship in the 18th century. One delivery was a corker, a certain wicket or so Martin thought, but again his knowledge of the laws of cricket had let him down. Here are the relevant sections:

 

Law 87.1.1.2 – If the ball is an otherwise fair delivery and strikes the batsman’s wicket simultaneously with striking the ground, thus dislodging either or both of the bails, the batsman shall be given out (bowled) unless exempt under the provision of Law 87.1.1.2a.

 

Law 87.1.1.2a – If the bowler’s surname should start with a “W” and end with “estmoreland”, then the ball should be deemed a “Moo-Ball!” In this instance the batsman shall be given not out, one run will be applied to the batting team’s total and the delivery must be bowled again.

 

Timms (1-0-16-1) then came on to buy himself a wicket and steal the buffet. In the end THXI needed 21 off the last two overs and very nearly got there, however FFTMCC held on to win by one run (which turned in to three runs once the scores had been scrutinised.)

 

 

 

 

THXI have a proud tradition of presenting the MOTM from their opposition with a bottle of Hendricks Gin as a sign of their friendship and generosity. They voted Ian Howarth as the grateful recipient although this was overturned as a protest vote by the FFTMCC to award skipper Shorten the official and non-prize receiving version.

 

The FFTMCC are now inevitably seeking teams with a similar ethos with names such as Ferrari XI or House in the Cotswolds XI.

 

 

‘Reevsie’

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

Statto Scorecards

 

 

 

Far from the MCC versus Hendrick’s XI

Played at Brasenose College, 22 July 2016

 

Hendrick’s XI won the toss and elected to field

Far from the MCC won by 3 runs

 

Far from the MCC debuts:  none

 

 

16 / 395

 

 

 

 

 

20 over match

 

 

 

Team

Far from the MCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Batsman

How Out

Total

Balls

4s

6s

FOW

1

M. T. Westmoreland

c May b Shah

5

(6)

1

-

1-17

2

G. Carter

b Modi

11

(15)

2

-

2-30

3

N. S. Hill

b Pitt

14

(21)

2

-

3-50

4

I. Howarth

retired

44

(39)

7

-

-

5

D. Shorten *

c Hewlett b Khattak

20

(28)

4

-

4-87

6

G. J. Timms

not out

12

(12)

2

-

-

7

J. D. Hoskins

b Khattak

0

(1)

-

-

5-124

8

M. K. Reeves

not out

1

(2)

-

-

-

9

J. C. W. Hotson †

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

M. J. Reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

T. P. W. Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extras

NB8, W8, LB1, B5

22

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

(for 5 wickets, 20 overs)

129

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Bowler

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wkts

 

1

Shah

2

0

15

1

 

2

Modi

3

0

13

1

 

3

Quest

4

0

25

0

 

4

Pitt

4

0

15

1

 

5

May

3

0

25

0

 

6

Khattak

3

0

21

2

 

7

Hewlett

1

0

9

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:  I. Howarth retired at 124-4 (19.0 overs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team

Hendrick’s XI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Batsman

How Out

Total

Balls

4s

6s

FOW

1

R. Quest

run out (Smith)

28

 

4

-

2-47

2

O. May

b Reeves

3

 

-

-

1-9

3

J. Modi

st Hotson b Hoskins

17

 

1

-

3-58

4

S. Minchinton

c Shorten b Westmoreland

17

 

-

-

5-93

5

T. Saunders *†

b Shorten

18

 

3

-

4-85

6

W. Pitt

b Timms

12

 

1

1

6-105

7

Q. Khattak

not out

9

 

1

-

-

8

H. Wickham-Smith

b Westmoreland

5

 

1

-

7-121

9

T. Metcalf

b Shorten

2

 

-

-

8-124

10

J. Hewlett

not out

4

 

-

-

-

11

A. Shah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extras

W7, LB1, B3

11

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

(for 8 wickets, 20 overs)

126

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Bowler

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wkts

 

1

Reeves

4

1

10

1

 

2

Smith

3

0

19

0

 

3

Reading

4

0

36

0

 

4

Hoskins

4

0

17

1

 

5

Shorten

2

0

8

2

 

6

Westmoreland

2

0

20

2

 

7

Timms

1

0

16

1

 

 

 

 

 

MOTM:  D. Shorten

Champagne Moment:  T. P. W. Smith’s direct run out (one stump to aim at)

Buffet Award:  G. J. Timms’ griddled asparagus with feta, olives and oregano

 

 

Opposition:  V088 / 01

Ground:  G040 / 52

Captain:  C016 / 20