“Dull Game Further Ruined by Boring Ending”
Match: 21
/ 554
Lost
by 1 run
|
Team |
Total |
|
Isis CC |
143 - 3 |
|
I. Howarth
2 - 12 |
|
|
|
|
|
FFTMCC |
142 - 7 |
|
D. Westmoreland 72,
C. Williams 32 |
|
|
Whilst the Afghan army
surrendered their country to the Taliban, at least The MAD can draw some
pride in having fought to the death against Isis. Needing a regulatory and
routine 5 runs off the final over for a memorable victory… anyway, the bar is
now open. Rewinding the evening,
players assembled at Brasenose to be ushered to Queens, where Captain Turner
quickly downplayed rumours he was a tossing sensation and… anyway, there’s a
few loose tinnies over here. Mike arrived looking like he had the world on
his shoulders, but immediately lit up to see the Westmoreland clan in
attendance. Three fine cricketers and then there is Martin.
Welcome back Mooman, the fourth best Westmoreland
in the club. Isis set about
constructing their target under ashen clouds but were checked by Howarth
(3-0-12-2) who was as good as he was fucking awful
the previous week (at Harwell). Most of everyone got a slapping thereafter,
as O. Walter (42) returned from a catastrophic finger injury to play a
measured knock in keeping with a man of style and panache. Olly’s innings was
later rudely interrupted by a 100mph missile propelled by upstart D.
Westmoreland (3-0-23-1), nipping in and taking the
top of off. Glen McGrath could be heard purring with delight in New South
Wales, but then of course he fucking couldn’t. With
Isis ringer S. Jones (30*) tonking Reeves into nearby Botley towards the end,
the home (or away) team finalised their production on 143-3. A decent total
of decent proportions on a reasonably decent track.
Players wore protection around Covid Williams. Light is always the key
to these end of season T20’s, so best the two teams argue about 8 ball overs,
bowling from one end, shifting sight screens for that bloody left-armer and
generally wasting about another half hour of daylight. The MAD reply would gain
early impetus from the Covid spreading Williams (32) and some energetic scampering
from Danny W, but then quickly evaporated as the away (or home) team suffered
a minor collapse to stumble to 62-4 in the 11th over. A shame, as Martin (2)
looked in imperious fettle as he avoided any crippling leg injuries.
“Okay, son. Big games need big players, so step
aside. Oh. “ Further run surges
would come with Howarth (13) and then Turner (9*) performing running bitch duties as young Danny posted and sailed past his
maiden MAD fifty. As the hectic action continued, and Spam ran himself out (twat), it would leave The MAD requiring an immensely
gettable 5 runs to win off the final over from S. Jones.
So, here we pick up the
action: 19.1 … R Turner nurdles and scampers a single (140-5) 19.2 … D Westmoreland play and a miss … dot ball. Audible SIGH* 19.3 … D Westmoreland tonks one to long off, easy couple with Turner now very
red in the face (142-5). Chants of “EASY, EASY!!!”
19.4 … D. Westmoreland swipe and a miss … dot ball. Chants of “HIT IT FOR
(somebody’s) SAKE!!!” 19.5 … OUT STUMPED!!! Heads turn to the square leg umpire where Mr Shorten
is hiding under his floppy sunhat with his index finger raised… Chants of
“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’R DOING!” (Repeated a few more times) So, at this point, a
very easy equation, The MAD requiring 2 to win off the last ball or 1 run for
a tie. Mr Reeves now leaves the sanctuary of the pavilion and out into the
twilight, bypassing a 14-year-old lad who has just lit up the evening. His wonderful
innings of 72 is just one short of the T20 record only established last week,
by none other than the pariah with the sunhat (ahem). After receiving
instructions from his skipper at the non-striker’s end, Mike took guard and
awaited the final delivery. These are big moments in this sport, they can
make or break you, are you up to the task at hand? 19.6 … M Reeves a swing and a miss … potential dot ball as it goes through
to Keeper Stanbury. Chants of “RUN! For (somebody’s) SAKE!!!” …however, Mike’s brain
malfunctions in this instance much as Howarth’s did earlier, standing rooted
to the spot as Turner gallops towards him. “RUN!!!” Finally, breaking into
something close to an animated amble, Mike stands zero chance of making it to
the other end. Run out for a golden. Home or away team win or lose by 1
solitary run.
Matches against our
neighbours are always games to look forward to in the calendar, and this one
was no different. An excellent spectacle for the neutral and one played out
in great spirit with that underbelly of banter. Young Danny W came of
age on this August evening, let’s just hope he enjoyed flogging some old men
around and returns with his brother in the near future.
I would imagine his dad can attend in some capacity also. Before we conclude this
epitaph, may I print some lovely words from their Skipper, Mr Whiter, on the
game itself… a perfect example of why we play the way we do and in keeping
with the ethos of the club. “…last night came
remarkably close to the end of the July 1st match, although you needed less
runs from the last over this time. Indeed, it was a great game and as
always, a pleasure to play with you guys. After the mauling you gave us
in May it is nice to finish 2-1 up in the series this year. I am
considering taking a cast of Dave Shorten’s index finger as the basis of a new
fair-play trophy. It was out for sure, but I know some teams and some umpires
that would have shook their heads and turned their
eyes away from that penultimate ball appeal. Thank you as always for
your excellent sportsmanship and camaraderie.”
Isis CC. Neighbours, nemesis, and friends. ‘Running Failure’
|
*
Statto Scorecards
|
Far from the MCC versus Isis CC Played at Queens College, 17 August
2021 Isis CC won the toss and elected to bat Isis CC won by 1 run Far from the MCC debuts: n/a |
21 / 554 20 over match |
|
Team |
Isis CC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
O. Walter |
b D. Westmoreland |
42 |
|
5 |
- |
3-88 |
|
2 |
D. Todd |
c Shorten b Howarth |
9 |
|
2 |
- |
1-14 |
|
3 |
A. Beavan |
b Howarth |
4 |
|
1 |
- |
2-25 |
|
4 |
D. Penhallurick |
not out |
36 |
|
3 |
- |
- |
|
5 |
S. Jones |
not out |
30 |
|
1 |
2 |
- |
|
6 |
M. Stanbury † |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
J. Ponsford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
P. Wiblin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
J. Walter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
K. H. Whiter * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
K. Ponsford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
NB2, W15, LB2, B3 |
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 3 wickets, 20 overs) |
143 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
Howarth |
3 |
0 |
12 |
2 |
4.00 |
|
|
2 |
Darley |
3 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
7.67 |
|
|
3 |
Shorten |
3 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
7.33 |
|
|
4 |
Reeves |
3 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
7.33 |
|
|
5 |
Williams |
2 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
8.00 |
|
|
6 |
Timms |
3 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
6.67 |
|
|
7 |
D. Westmoreland |
3 |
0 |
23 |
1 |
7.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Far from
the MCC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
C. T. J. Williams |
b J. Ponsford |
32 |
(25) |
3 |
- |
2-51 |
|
2 |
D. Shorten |
c Panhallurick
b K. Ponsford |
5 |
(4) |
1 |
- |
2-12 |
|
3 |
D. J. H. Westmoreland |
st Stanbury b Jones |
72 |
(59) |
4 |
1 |
6-142 |
|
4 |
M. T. Westmoreland |
b Wiblin |
2 |
(5) |
- |
- |
3-58 |
|
5 |
M. Bullock |
b Jones |
3 |
(6) |
- |
- |
4-62 |
|
6 |
I. Howarth |
run out |
13 |
(10) |
2 |
- |
5-95 |
|
7 |
R. P. Turner * |
not out |
9 |
(10) |
- |
- |
- |
|
8 |
M. K. Reeves |
run out (Stanbury) |
0 |
(1) |
- |
- |
7-142 |
|
9 |
G. J. Timms |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
J. A. H. Westmoreland † |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
A. Darley |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
W4, LB1, B1 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 7 wickets, 20 overs) |
142 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
J. Ponsford |
4 |
0 |
31 |
1 |
7.75 |
|
|
2 |
K. Ponsford |
4 |
0 |
23 |
1 |
5.75 |
|
|
3 |
Jones |
4 |
0 |
18 |
2 |
4.50 |
|
|
4 |
Wiblin |
4 |
0 |
23 |
1 |
5.75 |
|
|
5 |
J. Walter |
4 |
0 |
45 |
0 |
11.25 |
|
|
MOTM: D. J. H. Westmoreland Champagne Moment: D. J. H. Westmoreland’s
maximum down cow corner Buffet Award: C. T. J. Williams’ burnt toast (no butter or marmite) MAD
Moment: D. J. H. Westmoreland lapping
R. P. Turner whilst running a three |
Opposition:
V009 / 38 Ground: G008 / 21 Captain: C024 / 51 Match No: 20 / 159 |