“A Tale
of Two Nemeses”
Match: 09
/ 184
Lost
by 4 runs
|
Team |
Total |
|
Blenheim Park CC |
187 - 9 |
|
JP Collins 2 - 30, A. Fisher
2 - 32 |
|
|
|
|
|
FFTMCC |
183 - 9 |
|
D. Edwards 78, JP Collins
24 |
|
|
Blenheim Cricket Club
are not a team we have played for long. Indeed if the rumour mills are to be
believed they have only wanted to play us since we got rid of the French
Partisan to Lincolnshire and replaced him with the missing Lord Lucan.
The return of Blenheim marked the return of the
Barrow Boys. But we like them
already. Their pavilion isn’t up too much. The scenery at their home ground
is a bit bland and the spectators they bring to the game don’t seem to be
able to grasp the rule about moving in front of site screens. But we don’t
care about that. They all turn up to the pub afterwards and that is the
important thing. What I meant to say was
that the cricket seems to win in these encounters. Could it be we are forming
a dual Nemesis to be ridden out over the sands of time until perhaps one day
the clash between Blenheim and the MAD will become as famous as the history
behind the palatial ground of their home? Probably not. Anyway. Perhaps the
first thing to mention as a difference between the two teams is around game
format. This formed most of the discussion in the pre-match warm up at the
Folly whereupon Thornton was summing up the benefits of the limited over game
as opposed to the timed game. During this conversation
it actually appeared that even though the game at
Blenheim was of the timed format, we actually faced the same number of balls...
oh no, wait, hark, is that a chorus of “Ade, we think you might be wrong on
that one?” YES! Indeed, it appears that Adie had to plead guilty to being
‘mostly’ wrong on this point since we actually faced three balls *less* than
Blenheim. So, should we have had
three more balls to score those three more runs for victory? Another point of
evidence was that Blenheim claim despite the timed game, they usually end up
playing the same number of overs each anyway – so come on Blenheim – let’s see who’s the winner… none of this Winning Draw
nonsense.
The return of the Barrow Boys marked the return
of Vicki. Worrying word came in
from JP who was training at the ground. No worrying words muttered from JP
but the worrying thing was that he was training
at the pitch, instead of the formal MAD pre match warm up at the Folly.
We put this down to perhaps him forgetting who he was playing for – or could
it be that he is taking this highest wicket taker thing far too seriously? Play commenced on the
Queen’s ground, as we thought this would make Blenheim feel at home. A late
start ensued, but instead of the suspected one-upmanship to cut short the
Folly training session, it seems there were some communication issues around
the start time of the game. Blenheim elected to bat
first and got off to a bit of a slow start thanks to the steady opening
partnership of JP Collins (7-0-30-2) and S. Dobner (7-0-21-0) who surely
deserved a wicket for his Freddie like perseverance. Despite the short leg
side boundary first change J. Hoskins (7-2-24-0) kept the runs at a minimum. Liddicote (40) tried his best to up the pace off the
hobbling bowling of M. Clarke (2-0-12-0) but still progress was slow in the
sweltering heat.
The return of the Vicki marked the return of the Manders. Enter the Nemesis of
Blenheim. You could hear the whispers on the boundary as the next bowlers
name was shouted back to the scorer “Leggate - did they say Leggate? Isn’t he
the demon leg A tray of pastries were
baked up from the Secret Garden end which S. Liddicote
devoured with salivating joy, until he consumed one Bakewell Tart too many
and hoisted one down to long off where the Skipper was waiting with his safe
hands. The next over it was M.
Cox’s (18) turn to be sucked in by the temptations, but this was no gimme wicket. Slogged at full pelt straight down the
pitch Leggate was too slow to get out of the way and the ball struck him in
the solar plexus with such force he was knocked onto his back and thrown
fully five feet to the ground. The field rushed in on Leggate who appeared to
be having some sort of spasm – looking worryingly like the sort of spasm you
might have if your solar plexus had been smashed to smithereens by a cricket
ball. But, oh no, Leggate was merely groping for the ball which he knew must
be lying somewhere near his left armpit. Like King Arthur’s sword rising from
the lake, the ball was raised aloft claiming one of the most comedy catches
of all time. The batsmen waited around for a while just in case he was
dreaming, but was sent back to the hutch, truly Leggated
(4-0-40-2).
The return of the Manders
marked the return of Billy Paparazzi. The Blenheim attack
dawdled along until entry of the lefty A. Smith (32) who hoisted some sixes
taking advantage of the short boundary. If the statement catches
win matches was ever to come true then surely The MAD would not lose this
after bagging no less than six – Edwards sprinting to snap one up in gully,
Clarke pouching a solid strike to square leg and Westmoreland safe as ever in
the deep (A. Fisher 4-0-32-2). Blenheim T/20 specialist
O. Nelson (25) came in late in the innings to splat a few around and run a
few people out thanks to sharp off balance fielding hitting one stump (but
enough said about that J
) The return of G.
Littlechild (4-0-6-1) was welcomed by one and all. Not phased
by hanging up his orange gloves to make way for his Apprentice Hotson behind
the stumps he took to the field to show his bowling prowess – with some
success taking his first ever MAD wicket with a scorcher of a ball striking
the bails so hard they threatened to take out the Geese flying overhead.
Blenheim 187 for 9 off their 35 overs.
Paparazzi marked the return of attractive
strokeplay. After the trudge
backwards and forwards to collect tea from Brasenose, The MAD return was led
by Edwards and Westmoreland. Just four overs in
disaster struck as Westmoreland (6) went for a comedy slipping dismissal.
Later he was heard on the boundary to be claiming a ‘spike malfunction’
although when queried further on this it appeared he only just attached
spikes to his footwear, therefore it was more likely he would be fined for
not ‘running his footwear in’ D. Edwards (78) built a
solid innings – perhaps one of his best batting displays of the season so far
judging by the fact that no-one mentioned anything about too many dots. A few
dots for sure, but interspersed with some marvellous late cuts, cover drives
and nurdles around the corners to keep the scoreboard ticking over nicely. Return of G. Littlechild
(8) to the crease was short lived taking an lbw decision very sportingly
indeed. No, honestly, he really did – at THIS level. Edwards had to yet again witness a self-destruction around him. S. Dobner
(19) although looking promising for a steady innings and timing the ball well
just lost his concentration for a split second and let a straight one through
frustratingly.
Attractive strokeplay brought an entertaining D.
Edwards (78). Disaster struck when
Edwards himself decided to up the pace and took a swing at one that kept low.
A. Fisher (10) with his recent form promised potential but also couldn’t go
on. The run rate was lagging when M. Clarke (10) came to the crease with JP
(24) Things picked up with some healthy lashes but Clarke eventually let one
through to bring Hoskins (6) to the crease. Just thirty needed off
the last five overs then – it would be close but JP was beaming with batting
confidence and Hoskins knew how to run a quick single. Things were going
swimmingly until JP got a little over adventurous to a fast one on off stump
to be met with groans from all around apart from the Blenheim faithful. Not a good time for a
MAD collapse but that is what ensued – although cleverly manufactured by the
Blenheim skip who brought back the opening bowler M. Cox (6-0-16-1) to
tighten things up and have a pop at the tail enders. As The
MAD ran out of balls of the physical sense not the metaphorical sense A.
Morley (0) tried his best to swipe at a Cox fast ball, I. Leggate (1) tried
his best to keep his bat down during a tight run, and J. Hoskins (6) tried
his best to take the place of striking batsman.
Another close finish brought another failed
attempt at glory (J. Hoskins - left) In the end six runs
required off the last ball with J. Hotson (1) at the non
strikers end. A complete replay of four weeks earlier when Hoskins
required three runs off the last ball with Hotson encouraging from the other
end. Well, all I can say is,
I learnt from four weeks ago. At least I came down the pitch… and got to the
pitch of the ball – just didn’t reach the boundary L Nemesis indeed. But at
least we had a Winner – well done Blenheim. Winners by a measly 4 runs. Back at the pub the Skip
announced the tour starts here, and wearily The MAD departed their separate
ways with common thoughts of what they were about to unleash upon themselves
the coming weekend. ‘Hoskers’
|
*
Statto
Scorecards
|
Far from the MCC versus Blenheim
Park CC Played at Queens College, 9 August
2009 Blenheim Park CC won the toss and
elected to bat Blenheim Park CC won by 4 runs Far from the MCC debuts:
none |
09 / 184 35 over match |
|
Team |
Blenheim Park CC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
S. Lidicott |
c Westmoreland b Leggate |
40 |
|
6 |
- |
|
|
2 |
D. Taylor |
c Hoskins b Collins |
3 |
|
- |
- |
1-7 |
|
3 |
M. Cox |
c and b Leggate |
18 |
|
1 |
- |
|
|
4 |
A. Smith |
c Westmoreland b Fisher |
32 |
|
4 |
2 |
|
|
5 |
S. Angol |
c Edwards b Fisher |
8 |
|
- |
- |
|
|
6 |
R. Fogden |
b Littlechild |
9 |
|
2 |
- |
6-138 |
|
7 |
O. Nelson |
not out |
25 |
|
3 |
- |
- |
|
8 |
P. Norton |
run out |
9 |
|
1 |
- |
7-157 |
|
9 |
R. Gokani |
c Clarke b Collins |
14 |
|
2 |
- |
8-179 |
|
10 |
S. Cox |
run out |
1 |
|
- |
- |
9-187 |
|
11 |
A. Shaw |
not out |
0 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Extras |
(NB3, W11, LB1, B13) |
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 9 wickets, 35 overs) |
187 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Collins |
7 |
0 |
30 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
Dobner |
7 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
Hoskins |
7 |
2 |
24 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
Clarke |
2 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
Leggate |
4 |
0 |
40 |
2 |
|
|
6 |
Littlechild |
4 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
|
|
7 |
Fisher |
4 |
0 |
32 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Far from the MCC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
D. M. Edwards |
b Taylor |
78 |
(86) |
12 |
1 |
5-137 |
|
2 |
M. T. Westmoreland * |
run out |
6 |
(12) |
1 |
- |
1-13 |
|
3 |
G. S. Littlechild |
lbw b Gokani |
8 |
(17) |
1 |
- |
2-31 |
|
4 |
S. L. Dobner |
b Nelson |
19 |
(31) |
3 |
- |
3-84 |
|
5 |
A. J. Fisher |
c b Lidicott |
10 |
(16) |
1 |
- |
4-119 |
|
6 |
M. D. Clarke |
b Lidicott |
10 |
(13) |
- |
- |
6-159 |
|
7 |
J. P. Collins |
b Lidicott |
24 |
(19) |
1 |
1 |
7-176 |
|
8 |
J. D. Hoskins |
not out |
6 |
(11) |
- |
- |
- |
|
9 |
A. Morley |
b M. Cox |
0 |
(4) |
- |
- |
8-177 |
|
10 |
I. C. Leggate |
run out |
1 |
(2) |
- |
- |
9-179 |
|
11 |
J. C. W. Hotson + |
not out |
1 |
(1) |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Extras |
(NB5, W9, B6) |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 9 wickets, 35 overs) |
183 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
M. Cox |
6 |
0 |
16 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
Gokain |
7 |
0 |
34 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
Nelson |
7 |
0 |
32 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
Taylor |
7 |
0 |
36 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
Lidicott |
6 |
0 |
39 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
S. Cox |
2 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
|
|
MOTM: D. M. Edwards Champagne Moment: I. C. Leggate’s fine
caught and bowled Buffet
Award: I. C. Leggate’s fruit jelly
(with whipped double cream) |
Opposition:
V047 / 03 Ground: G008 / 02 Captain: C011 / 17 |