“Natch Cider has the Final Say”

Match: 03 / 079

Lost by 39 runs

Team	Total
Timberscombe CC	215 - 4
I. Howarth 1 - 24
FFTMCCC	176
M. Westmoreland 38, S. Hebbes 25*

It was now Tuesday and the remnants of The MAD Tour Party arrived in convoy at Timberscombe, a quaint little ground etched into the surrounding hills and forestry of Somerset. Here, on another sunblessed summer’s day, this idyllic countryside location would offer up an excellent arena for batting, with its tiny boundaries wooing the big hit. Thus, there was a collective sigh of despair from the thinned and jaded tourists, as Skipper Howarth inexplicably decided to field first after winning the toss….

Serving up the initial MAD Menu of wings and sausage rolls, came a sweaty Westmoreland (0-36) and S. Hebbes (0-33), and thank The Lord for N. Hebbes (1-41), whose well garnished salad accompaniment temporarily checked the home team’s scoring. Scotch eggs would then be dished out readily by Mr Hoskins (0-14), followed by chilli wedges by E Lester (0-20) and lemon-dipped octopus tentacles by vegetarian-guru, Mr Smith (1-30). The attractive spread was thus completed by Howarth (1-24) himself, whose mouth-watering desert consisted of wholesome slices of locally sourced apple pie buried under thick Somerset double cream.

With opening batsman H Sparks gorging himself to the tune of 105* retired bloated, the Timberscombe score would finally stall on an imposing 215-4. Time for tea, should the home team have any more room in their stomachs….

In reply, The MAD got off to a cracking start, with the mercurial talents of messrs Howarth (0) and Hebbes (0) both registering ducks. Their absence of talent and application was only marginally bettered by the luckless Tour Organiser, Mr E. Lester, whose doughty and irregular knock ended on 6 and the score on 19-3.

Enter Mr Westmoreland, whose desire to conquer square leg would propel him to a cavalier and morale boosting total of 38. The only real fly in Martin’s tea, was perhaps his seeming inability to judge a bloody single (run out). With Jake Hotson (22) continuing the defiance, Hoskins (4) chipped in along with healthy contributions from T. Smith (19), S. Dobner (16), S. Hebbes (25*) and late conscript M. Horton (2). This had the desired effect of saving some MAD pride by posting a more than respectable 176.

The Timberscombe bowling ran through The MAD top order.

A commendable effort, particularly in lieu of reduced numbers and over exposure to Natch cider. It has been an excellent Tour and one to live happily in the memory, so many thanks to Ed for all his hard work in organising things, and of course to all those that helped make it one to savour.

Someday, we may return?

‘Spam’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from The Madding Crowd CC versus Timberscombe CC Played at Timberscombe, 19 August 2003 Far from The Madding Crowd CC won the toss and elected to field Timberscombe CC won by 39 runs Far from the MCC debuts: Michael Horton (083)

03 / 079 35 over match

Team	Timberscombe CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	H. Sparks	retired	105
2	B. Robinson	b N. Hebbes	27
3	Sole	b Howarth	22
4	Priddle	c N. Hebbes b Smith	8
5	Cook	run out (Dobner/S. Hebbes)	20
6	Coomber	not out	1
7	G. Dibble
8	Thorpe
9	C. Hill
10	R. Summerskill
11	Griddle
	Extras		32
	TOTAL	(for 4 wickets, 35 overs)	215

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Westmoreland	7	1	36	0
2	S. Hebbes	7	0	33	0
3	N. Hebbes	7	0	41	1
4	Hoskins	5	0	14	0
5	Lester	2	0	20	0
6	Smith	4	0	30	1
7	Howarth	3	0	24	1

Team	Far from The Madding Crowd CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	N. J. Hebbes	b Dibble	0	(3)	-	-	1-0
2	I. Howarth *	b Summerskill	0	(4)	-	-	3-19
3	E. N. Lester	c Hill b Dibble	6	(7)	1	-	2-9
4	M. T. Westmoreland	run out	38	(37)	8	-	4-57
5	J. C. W. Hotson	b Hill	22	(61)	1	-	8-142
6	J. D. Hoskins	b Hill	4	(21)	-	-	5-83
7	T. P. W. Smith	b Coomber	19	(14)	4	-	6-107
8	S. L. P. Dobner +	b Hill	16	(23)	3	-	7-132
9	S. Hebbes	not out	25	(27)	4	-	-
10	M. Horton	b Thorpe	2	(15)	-	-	9-176
11
	Extras	(NB8, W21, B13, LB2)	44
	TOTAL	(all out, 34.1 overs)	176

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Dibble	7	0	35	2
2	Summerskill	7	2	21	1
3	Coomber	5	0	30	1
4	Hill	7	0	20	3
5	Griddle	3	0	29	0
6	Thorpe	3	0	8	1
7	Sole	2.1	0	4	0

MOTM: n/a Champagne Moment: n/a Buffet Award: E. N. Lester’s famed carrot cake with rich chocolate topping

Opposition: V032 / 01 Ground: G023 / 01 Captain: C007 / 02