“Batsman Gives Himself Not Out

After being Given Out”

Match: 04 / 102

Lost by 7 wkts

Team	Total
FFTMCCC	168
I. Howarth 40, A. Mann 34
The Baldons	172 - 3
I. Howarth 2 - 24

The unique, picturesque and utterly English setting of the Baldons hosted the finale to The MAD’s topsy-turvy Season 2004. Unfortunately this game would be remembered for all the wrong reasons, due in no small part to a rather unpleasant spat midway through the second innings, but more of that later.

The pavilion at the Baldons almost obscured by the trees.

The day had not begun well, with players confused over whether the game was on or off due to the rather inclement conditions. As it was, the game was on and not off, and The MAD would begin the game with nine players and finish with ten. Worse would follow as Skipper J. Hoskins uncharacteristically lost the toss and The MAD found themselves batting on a lush seaming wicket.

In an effort to redeem his poor tossing, James strapped on the pads and opened the batting with fellow Mad bowler, A. G. Mann. It proved a cunning ploy, with the pair registering a healthy 29 run partnership before Hoskins’ (13) feet predictably set in some concrete and have him bowled. A brief and decidedly aggressive cameo from S. Dobner (15) saw the score ushered past fifty, but he, like T. Smith (7) added their names to those who were bowled. M. Bullock [lbw for 8] wasn't bowled, but perhaps predictably, a collapse now looked on the cards – as the unflustered A. G. Mann was pouched for a staunch 34, followed by the luckless A. Morley (Bowled 0). 96-6.

With Howarth and Hebbes nestling down the order, The MAD were thankful in having a certain depth to their batting and in the following overs they took to The Baldons’ bowling with relish. When N. Hebbes’ (30) entertaining knock finally jarred to a halt, the pair had recorded a Mad seventh wicket partnership record of 59.

With Howarth (40) and G. Bridges (3) joining the ranks of those who were bowled, it left A. Fisher (6*) to contemplate not being bowled and The MAD all out on 168. Not a bad total, or so it seemed.

Tea and what a delightful spread it was. A veritable banquet orchestrated by the ladies of the village, spread out on adjoining tables now bathing in the late afternoon sun. This was exactly how village cricket was meant to be….

The second innings got underway and The Madsters were soon celebrating when Howarth had Baldon opener C. Taylor caught behind for a duck – a fine catch by glovesman, A. Fisher. The home team were struggling with N. Hebbes bowling tidily at the other end, and indeed they lost two further wickets on reaching 52. Howarth (6-1-24-2) now made way for S. Dobner, whilst A. Mann (8-4-17-0) brought his customary miserliness to the game in his customary languid way.

However, with the game progressing the balance had begun to shift, with the home team’s premier batsman M. Denning unveiling a myriad of dazzling strokes. He found the boundary with alarming ease and regularity, and so it was with some relief when Mr. Hoskins trapped him plumb in front. But instead of walking after seeing the umpires’ finger raised, Mr. Denning stood his ground and pointed to his bat claiming “I hit it! I hit it!” Sensing tempers were beginning to fray, and aware of barbed comments in the air, Mr. Hoskins now intervened in the row by seeking confirmation. The irony being, if the batsman had indeed hit the ball, it had travelled to the gloves of Mr. Fisher tending the stumps… caught.

Final verdict: confused and not out. Hmm.

The Baldon’s pitch has a road going through it.

Mr. Denning duly went on to record an unbeaten 107* and together with ageing Stumpman R. Knight (40*), saw The Baldons home with seven wickets in hand. A Mad defeat and a sour one at that. So, not a particularly fitting way to sign off the season, but drama nonetheless – and you can’t beat a bit of cricketing histrionics and pantomime.

If cricket serves our collective conscience, then this particular game should live long in the memory. Here’s to more theatre and sporting delights in 2005….

‘R. Justice’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from The Madding Crowd CC versus The Baldons Played at Marsh Baldon, 12 September 2004 The Baldons won the toss and elected to field The Baldons won by 7 wkts Far from the MCC debuts: none

04 / 102 35 over match

Team	Far from The Madding Crowd CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	J. D. Hoskins *	b Cookson	13	(28)	2	-	1-29
2	A. G. Mann	c Wratten b Fearnley	34	(48)	5	-	5-87
3	S. L. P. Dobner	b Cave	15	(16)	3	-	2-51
4	T. P. W. Smith	b Fearnley	7	(12)	-	-	3-72
5	M. Bullock	lbw b Black	8	(7)	2	-	4-86
6	A. Morley	b Black	0	(4)	-	-	6-95
7	I. Howarth	b Morton	40	(26)	7	-	7-152
8	N. J. Hebbes	c Knight b Morton	30	(49)	5	-	9-168
9	G. Bridges	b Black	3	(4)	-	-	8-155
10	A. J. Fisher +	not out	6	(10)	1	-	-
11
	Extras	(NB4, W2, B4)	10
	TOTAL	(all out, 33 overs)	168

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Cookson	7	1	29	1
2	Cave	8	0	31	1
3	Feamley	8	1	38	2
4	Black	7	1	52	3
5	Morton	3.3	0	11	2

Team	The Baldons
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	C. Taylor	c Fisher b Howarth	0		-	-	1-3
2	J. Cookson	c Howarth b Hebbes	9		1	-	2-33
3	M. Denning *	not out	107		16	-	-
4	T. Morton	b Howarth	5		-	-	3-52
5	R. Knight +	not out	40		7	-	-
6	S. Wratten
7	Fearnley
8	Black
9	P. Denning
10	A. Peerless
11	P. Cave
	Extras	(W5, LB4, B2)	11
	TOTAL	(for 3 wickets, 32 overs)	172

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Howarth	6	1	24	2
2	Hebbes	8	1	61	1
3	Mann	8	4	17	0
4	Hoskins	7	1	44	0
5	Dobner	2	0	16	0

MOTM: I. Howarth Champagne Moment: I. Howarth’s reflex slip-catch Buffet Award: S. L. P. Dobner’s Essex hotpot

Opposition: V008 / 03 Ground: G004 / 03 Captain: C006 / 29