“Bitterness Costs Ol’ Big Head MOTM Award”

 

 

Match:  10 / 207

Won by 35 runs

 

 

Team

 

Total

FFTMCC

213 - 9

M. Reeves  85,  M. Westmoreland  57

 

Astons CC

178 - 8

J. Hoskins  3 - 22

 

 

 

 

It was a touch ironic as I flicked through the TV channels late on Sunday evening, that the BBC2 would be airing a documentary recalling the tenure of the legendary football manager Brian Clough. Only a few hours earlier, the Far from the MCC’s very own ‘Cloughie’ was smashing the Astons CC bowling to all parts of Brasenose cricket ground – and in doing so, becoming somewhat of a legend himself. The parallels didn’t stop there either. Brian, a genius in many ways, was also increasingly tormented by demons in later life – that somehow his country would never install him as England manager due to his rebellious and confrontational nature. His failure to win the FA Cup also played its part in driving the man to drink, and eventually a sad and untimely end.

 

Mike ’Cloughie’ Reeves also housed bitterness, and it was laid bare in a match report where he described being criminally overlooked for a Player of the Season award a decade ago. Mike still bore a grudge and that anger and frustration had clearly eaten away at him as time had passed by. Many thought his quiet and reflective nature was that befitting a man at peace with the world. Clearly not, and it troubled his faultless and understanding team mates that someone could hide these dark emotions for so long….

 

 

2010jul18b

 

Mike Reeves and Brian Clough share one thing in common?

 

 

After a batch of midday rain, MAD skipper Westmoreland moved swiftly to lose the toss, and thus hand the difficult decision of what to do with Aston’s counterpart, R. Smith. Ralph figured on the lime coloured track throwing a few spanners in the works early doors, and thus inserted the hosts into bat. His decision looked justified, as I. Howarth (13), J. Pearson (0) and D. Edwards (2) all found themselves back in the hutch without hitting their stride. At the other end, Reeves, elevated to the lofty heights of number 3, was seeing the ball like a football – and several early slaps through the covers had taken The MAD past 50.

 

 

 

Martin (left) shadow bats in front of the Brasenose pavilion.

 

 

Mike had been joined at the crease by his skipper, and despite some early scares, Martin was starting to look like he was in the mood. The pair regularly crashed balls past the bowler, pulled balls to leg, cut balls to off, and found the boundary with increasing regularity. ‘Cloughie’ was at times flamboyant and at other times almost arrogant in his cavalier strokeplay. His namesake would have been proud. He notched his fifty before the drinks break off just 57 balls, by which time the Astons bowling was starting to look a little ragged.

 

The pair would eventually realise a Club equalling fourth wicket record partnership of 111. It was great to watch, and just a shame in the end that Mike’s knock ended on 85 with a century there for the taking. He was applauded off the field, and as you would expect from a man sharing a nickname with Brian Clough, he refused to get carried away with his own success, and instead chose to score the remainder of the innings – diligent, and perhaps with thoughts on later accolades to follow.

 

 

 

Martin (57) and Mike (85) applaud themselves.

 

 

In the charge for late runs, Westmoreland (57) eventually fell with one swish too many, whilst S. Dobner (6), C. Roberts (2) and J. Hoskins (1) all followed soon after. D. Shorten (9) provided a merry Mongoose cameo, as did D. Emerson (8*), whose towering six off work colleague, R. Smith (7-0-38-4), will probably keep him smiling well until next summer. With M. Bullock (1*) protecting his average the home team had amassed the rather daunting total of 213-9. Time for tea.

 

Louis Oosthuizen provided the mid-innings entertainment, as his domination of the Open at St. Andrew’s was played out on the small TV screen in the pavilion. It was the kind of towering performance that one Brian Clough would have admired; steadfastly assured under unrelenting pressure. Mike chewed through his sandwiches, watching from afar, opting to stay out of the limelight as he seated himself at one end of a table.

 

 

2010Jul18e

 

I. Howarth was extremely happy about his lbw decision.

 

 

On resumption, the Astons reply was hindered by a fine opening burst from D. Emerson (7-1-19-1); his control of line and length proving tough to get away. Shorten (7-0-30-0) was less successful, and in some ways maybe surprising, as overhead conditions seemed suitable for swing. J. Pearson (5-0-20-1) went through the gears, but it was the introduction of veteran pie-chucker J. Hoskins that turned the match on its head. B. Marks (10) hit a cream tart straight back at him, and poor S. Merryfield (0) misjudged the sausage doosra; but it was Hoskins (5-0-22-3) removal of R. Smith (36) that really caused a stir. Ralph, looking increasingly at home on the Brasenose track, lofted an apple doughnut high and far down to deep long on. There, sprinting in the outfield, a puffing Westmoreland leaped several hundred meters into the air, before clinging the aperitif one handed and eating it whole. It was an extraordinary catch and a no-brainer for Champagne moment – maybe for the season?

 

 

 

D. Edwards faces Smith Snr’s lobbed patisserie.

 

 

The Astons reply never recovered after that, and despite a few decent wags from their lower middle order, the run chase was always going to be too greater an ask. S. Dobner (5-1-13-1) was miserly, Westmoreland (5-0-23-0) less so, C. Roberts (3-0-19-1) stole buffet, and M. Reeves (3-0-18-1) furtherly enhanced his glowing credentials with a burst late on. The MAD won out by 35 runs.

 

With the Fines Committee being neglected in recent weeks, a judicial kangaroo court was quickly set up. Shorten fared badly, his umpiring and general demeanour forcing him into bankruptcy and further cobbing; Hoskins would remortgage his house after sulking and whinging throughout; Howarth paid in full for his show of petulance after his lbw; and the unemployed Westmoreland had little option other than eBaying his livers to pay for his indiscretions. Nobody was spared, and with Treasurer M. Reeves flush with new finances, he happily looked on as votes were cast for Man of the Match. It was cast iron, nailed on, or at least so he thought – surely he wouldn’t be callously overlooked like he had been a decade ago? Twas so. With hoots of laughter and a show of hands, James Pearson scooped the honour in a protest vote [of sorts], and Cloughie’s darker persona came to the fore. “You’re all bastards! Rotten filthy bastards!” he cried, as he slammed his pens and cash pot on the floor. “It’s a fucking disgrace! I’ll hold this grudge until 2019 – you mark my words! All of you – BASTARDS!!!!!!!!”

 

In summation, I have to say sorry, Mike. So very very sorry. But well batted anyway.

 

 

 

Man of the Match, J. Pearson, contemplates his duck.

 

 

‘Peter Taylor’

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

Statto Scorecards

 

 

 

Far from the MCC versus Astons CC

Played at Brasenose College, 18 July 2010

 

Astons CC won the toss and elected to field

Far from the MCC won by 35 runs

 

Far from the MCC debuts:  none

 

 

10 / 207

 

 

 

 

 

40 over match

 

 

 

Team

Far from the MCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Batsman

How Out

Total

Balls

4s

6s

FOW

1

I. Howarth

lbw b White

13

(19)

3

-

2-24

2

J. W. Pearson

b Napper

0

(5)

-

-

1-9

3

M. K. Reeves

b R. Smith

85

(96)

15

-

4-172

4

D. M. Edwards

b Hargreaves

2

(25)

-

-

3-61

5

M. T. Westmoreland *

c Barlow b R. Smith

57

(68)

9

-

5-187

6

S. L. P. Dobner

c Marks b R. Smith

6

(7)

-

-

7-192

7

C. D. Roberts

b White

2

(6)

-

-

6-189

8

M. Bullock +

not out

1

(6)

-

-

-

9

J. D. Hoskins

b White

1

(3)

-

-

8-196

10

D. Shorten

b R. Smith

9

(4)

2

-

9-205

11

D. Emerson

not out

8

(4)

-

1

-

 

Extras

(NB3, W17, LB5, B4)

29

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

(for 9 wickets, 40 overs)

213

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Bowler

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wkts

 

1

Napper

6

1

18

1

 

2

White

7

1

26

3

 

3

S. Smith

8

0

34

0

 

4

Hargreaves

8

1

48

1

 

5

R. Smith

7

0

38

4

 

6

Shea

4

0

38

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team

Astons CC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Batsman

How Out

Total

Balls

4s

6s

FOW

1

R. Smith *

c Westmoreland b Hoskins

36

(49)

6

-

3-71

2

J. Imbush

b Emerson

3

(26)

-

-

1-23

3

B. Marks +

c and b Hoskins

10

(30)

-

-

2-64

4

N. Clark

b Pearson

6

(7)

1

-

4-72

5

S. Merryfield

b Hoskins

0

(3)

-

-

5-76

6

D. Barlow

b Roberts

27

(44)

5

-

7-134

7

J. Shea

b Dobner

22

(18)

3

1

6-101

8

D. White

lbw b Reeves

18

(33)

1

-

8-165

9

B. Hargreaves

not out

29

(24)

6

-

-

10

S. Smith

not out

1

(6)

-

-

-

11

A. Napper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extras

(W11, LB4, B11)

26

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

(for 8 wickets, 40 overs)

178

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

 

Bowler

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wkts

 

1

Shorten

7

0

30

0

 

2

Emerson

7

1

19

1

 

3

Pearson

5

0

20

1

 

4

Hoskins

5

0

22

3

 

5

Dobner

5

1

13

1

 

6

Westmoreland

5

0

23

0

 

7

Roberts

3

0

19

1

 

8

Reeves

3

0

18

1

 

 

 

 

 

MOTM:  J. W. Pearson

Champagne Moment:  M. T. Westmoreland’s catch in the deep

Buffet Award:  C. D. Roberts’ onion and sage steak burgers (with tomato relish)

 

 

Opposition:  V046 / 05

Ground:  G040 / 11

Captain:  C011 / 35

 

 

 

 

 

Match Fines