“Jesus Saves The MAD”

Match: 03 / 063

Won by 121 runs

Team	Total
FFTMCCC	176 - 9
M. Westmoreland 38, N. Hebbes 28
Bodleian	55
S. Dobner 3 - 8, A. Mann 3 - 25

After a season in the wilderness, a time of hardship, scarcity and pestilence, during which the faith of even the strongest believers was sorely tested, and many were tempted to turn towards false gods, redemption came last Sabbath for Far from the MCCC at Jesus College, as a renewed Mad notched up an overwhelming win in their first game of the season against a Bodleian team that hitherto had scored three victories out of four in contests between the two sides.

Winning the toss with ease, new Mad captain J. Hoskins took the positive step of batting first, and it wasn’t long before a revamped Mad line-up imposed itself upon the game. The Bodleian attack had little sting, and nothing appeared to threaten Mad debutantes and topscorers M. Westmoreland (38) and N. Hebbes (28). Likewise T. Smith (24), J. Harris (21), A. Mann (7), L. Davey (5), G. Bridges (3), S. Hebbes (3) and E. Lester (4) were untroubled by any aspect of the bowling. Indeed, so untroubled were S. Dobner (17 n.o.) and J. Hoskins (10 n.o.) that their wickets remained intact, and in his utter domination J. Hoskins felled one of the Bodleian team with a ruthless cover drive. Concern for the fielder’s well-being soon trickled through to the captain’s focused mind, and after registering two or three dozen extra runs, Hoskins trotted over to give his prostrate opponent a series of friendly whacks about the head with his bat. ‘Just knocking it in,’ said he with a chuckle as the fielder was borne off to casualty. This sporting gesture was much commented on during the tea break, at which time a casual spectator making examination of the scoreboard might have noted that the Bodleian had been set a respectable 177-9 to chase.

Library footage of John Harris – one of 5 players on MAD debut.

The batsmen had done their part with an impressive display, but could the bowlers match them? A period of heavy rain threatened the game, but when in due course the two sides retook the ground, The MAD soon put their foot down firmly on the Bodleian neck. S. Dobner (3-8) was justly repaid for a spell of fierce, tight bowling, and using the wet pitch to advantage, A. Mann (3-25) and S. Hebbes (2-6) supplied all the support that was needed to leave the Bodleian reeling. Due to luck and understandable lapses in Mad concentration, the last-wicket pair held out beyond all expectation, but J. Hoskins mixed up his bowlers well and was repaid when E. Lester (1-0) brought the game to its conclusion in the gathering gloom. Fine catches were taken by M. Westmoreland, N. Hebbes and Hoskins himself, whose one-handed grab at second slip must surely be an early contender for one-handed second slip grab of the season.

At the game’s end, the faces of the Bodleian players wore the same inconsolable, hangdog expressions which had, for so much of the previous year, characterised those of The MAD players themselves. Shucks.

Have The MAD been born again? Too early to say, perhaps, but several of the team’s more spiritually open players have independently reported dreams in which lions, angels and such like have featured, delivering this or that encouraging message from on high. Portents are good.

‘Blocker’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from The Madding Crowd CC versus Bodleian Played at Jesus College, 11 May 2003 Far from The Madding Crowd CC won the toss and elected to bat Far from The Madding Crowd CC won by 122 runs Far from the MCC debuts: Nick Hebbes (071), Martin Westmoreland (072) Steve Hebbes (073), John Harris (074), Graham Bridges (075)

03 / 063 35 over match

Team	Far from The Madding Crowd CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	N. J. Hebbes	b Yousaf	28	(38)	2	-	1-60
2	M. T. Westmoreland	b Yousaf	38	(32)	4	-	2-73
3	L. Davie +	c Colquhoun b Yousaf	5	(10)	-	-	4-78
4	E. N. Lester	b Milner	4	(6)	-	-	3-78
5	S. Hebbes	b Milner	4	(15)	-	-	5-82
6	J. Harris	lbw b Ackland	21	(44)	3	-	8-137
7	T. P. W. Smith	b Ackland	24	(26)	5	-	6-123
8	G. Bridges	lbw b Peedle	3	(13)	-	-	7-137
9	A. G. Mann	c Yousaf b Milner	7	(18)	-	-	9-162
10	S. L. P. Dobner	not out	17	(27)	2	-	-
11	J. D. Hoskins *	not out	10	(12)	1	-	-
	Extras	(NB1, W10, LB3, B1)	15
	TOTAL	(for 9 wickets, 35 overs)	176

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Yousaf	8	1	28	3
2	Fairweather-Tall	8	0	42	0
3	Milner	8	0	38	3
4	Ackland	8	3	14	2
5	Peedle	5	1	36	1
6	Webb	3	0	17	0

Team	Bodleian
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	D. Yousaf	c Hoskins b Mann	9		-	-	3-20
2	A. J. Fairweather-Tall	c Westmoreland b Dobner	5		1	-	1-8
3	A. F. Milner	b Mann	0		-	-	2-8
4	A. H. Colquhoun	c N. Hebbes b Dobner	5		1	-	7-33
5	M. N. Webb	b S. Hebbes	15		-	-	4-23
6	S. G. Ackland	b Mann	3		-	-	5-33
7	I. R. Peedle	b S. Hebbes	3		-	-	6-33
8	A. P. Honey	not out	0		-	-	-
9	I. C. Rose	b Dobner	2		-	-	8-35
10	S. Rance	c Mann b Lester	4		-	-	9-55
11	S. V. T. Arnold	absent
	Extras	(NB1, W2, LB1, B4)	9
	TOTAL	(all out, 24.3 overs)	55

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Mann	7	0	25	3
2	Dobner	7	2	8	3
3	Hoskins	5	1	4	0
4	S. Hebbes	3	0	8	2
5	Harris	2	1	4	0
6	Lester	0.3	0	0	1

MOTM: n/a Champagne Moment: n/a Buffet Award: A. G. Mann’s barbequed ribs and burgers (with onion relish)

Opposition: V023 / 04 Ground: G019 / 01 Captain: C006 / 01