“Records Tumble during Isis Bloodbath”

Match: 14 / 320

Won by 20 runs

Team	Total
FFTMCC	201 - 5
J. Pearson 113*, R. Turner 45
Isis CC	181
M. Rundle 3 - 34, J. Newman 3 - 44

“Records are there to be broken, just like people’s teeth and faces” – or at least that is what Carl Froch would tell you, basking in the glory of his stunning Wembley KO of hated protagonist George Groves on Saturday night. Jon Newman, Matt Bullock and Russ Turner aren’t quite as hard as Carl, but they certainly put their bodies, teeth and faces on the line this Sunday, with The MAD eking out an excellent victory over perennial opponents Isis CC.

Carter captured with not quite the exemplary forward defensive.

On a warm and sunny June afternoon, Skipper Howarth successfully lost yet another coin toss because “tails never fails”. Curiously, The MAD were then invited into bat by his Isis counterpart, and thus dissention and grumbling in the ranks was quelled. Returning to his former role as opener, Ian was accompanied out to the middle by a man still searching for that elusive 2014 Sunday “run”, Mr Pearson. Confidence is such a fickle and elusive denominator.

Perhaps mindful of last Sunday’s shambolic and impatient showing with the bat by the team, Howarth’s 45 ball innings for 15 was notable as much for its diligence as its lack of a boundary (surely a record?) With Pearson discovering his bat had a middle (sort of), the pair had at least seen off much of the opening burst from Whiter (8-4-12-1) and Wyatt (8-2-26-2) to leave The MAD positioned on a cautious 28-1 after 16 overs.

Pedestrian beginnings.

With runs now becoming much less of a premium, a normally sedate R Turner (45) toyed and then indulged himself against the first change attack. Russ was particularly aggressive with any flan lobbed down leg, whilst a visibly upbeat Pearson was now timing the ball with aplomb – a maximum into the adjoining football field underlining this fact. The pair took The MAD total past hundred, before Turner’s 52 ball vigil was ended by a yorker (119-2 after 31ov).

With that rare commodity entitled ‘wickets in hand’ – the FFTMCC were now in a position to launch an all-out assault in the final 9 overs. This they set about with G. Carter (8), C. Roberts (1) and M. Bullock (2) all perishing in the selfless act of “playing for the team”. At the other end, Mr Pearson was now seeing the ball like a proverbial beach ball – utilising his famed slog-sweep over cow to wonderful effect. In total, 64 runs were plundered in the final 5 overs, with James travelling past the magical hundred barrier and beyond – helped in no small measure by a Mongoose wielding D. Emerson (11* off 6 balls) at the other end. When the dust had finally settled on The MAD onslaught, a weary looking Isis outfit headed to the tea interval requiring 202 for victory.

J. Pearson on his way to a career best 113 not out.

Tea was satisfactory, but with a total clearance from the break, maybe the Isis tea ladies were made aware of P. Mellor’s absence beforehand? It mattered little to Mr. Pearson, who sat in a pool of his own sweat outside, regaling stories to his doting mother and father of his 6 sixes and 113 not out off 118 balls. James’ innings broke the high-score record for a Mad batsman batting at #1, became the second highest score ever for a MAD batsman – and also took the record for sixes tonked in one innings. He also narrowly missed out on the most balls faced in an innings (by 6 balls) – clearly a lack of focus or ambition on his part.

On resumption of the match, J. Newman served up some absolute shite to erode his credentials as The MAD’s Premier bowler [on current form]. Thankfully, Mr. Bullock was able to give his figures a semblance of decency by snaffling Isis Skipper D. Penhallurick (2) behind. M. Reeves (4-0-17-0) avoided a pothole at one end of the pitch to bowl more adroitly, but with Isis enjoying more favourable conditions for batting, the score whistled past 50 before the ninth over.

The introduction of D. Emerson (8-3-16-0) and J. Hoskins (5-0-22-1) would at last apply some brakes to the host’s victory charge, as Mad fielders flung themselves around to curb the run-rate. Both Newman and Bullock suffered fatal head injuries during this period of play (ball in the face), whilst Turner was felled in the covers (ball on the knee). The pitch was crimson and soaked with toil by the time “Bob” Roberts and Rundle were handed the ball, and with the game very much in the balance, The MAD needed a breakthrough or three (Isis 110-2 off 27 ovs).

One man’s pain is another man’s gain (Newman left – Pearson right).

Catches win matches, and after the shame of last week’s group shelling of a basketful, it was with great cheer to see Turner, Reeves and Roberts himself all catching beauties in the outfield. Roberts even had a hand in a crucial run out – launching an exocet into Bullock’s gloves from the boundary to have the dangerous H. Stoneman gone for 38. With both the talismanic Roberts (7-0-33-2) and completely fuckered Rundle (8-1-34-3) standing up to the pressure in the championship rounds, the bout was turning in The MAD’s favour.

Newman’s (7.2-1-44-3) return at the end swung the final left-right combo to the Isis jaw – knocking out Wyatt (1) and bunny R. Blatchford (0) in successive balls. Isis all out 181 and Salad left on a hat-trick for his following game. The MAD were triumphant to the tune of 20 runs.

Pearson’s parents have never seen him fail for The MAD. Another kind of record?

It was a fine victory, with post-match banter turning to the subject of records. Aside from Pearson’s heroics with the bat, Howarth mentioned that five Mad players showering simultaneously was a fitting epitaph to the late (and great) Ade Fisher* – and must surely be a record? And was this the oldest FFTMCC side ever put together mused Geoff / George and Godfrey Carter? Hell – those three guys on their own had some 162 years of experience! One other curiousity to creep out of the day was the fact that this MAD team on June 1, 2014 contained no fathers!? None. Is this the reason we are able to put eleven men on a field most and every week when other team’s struggle… hmm. Or perhaps Russ has a son… somewhere.

But we digress; this was after all James’ day.

And… (ahem) for the record… well played, The MAD.

* - Ade Fisher was a keen advocate of a good shower after a game of cricket, although to shower in the company of Ade somehow became a statutory fine.

‘N. McWhirter’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from the MCC versus Isis CC Played at Queens College, 1 June 2014 Isis CC won the toss and elected to field Far from the MCC won by 20 runs Far from the MCC debuts: none

14 / 320 40 over match

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	J. W. Pearson	not out	113	(118)	7	6	-
2	I. Howarth *	c Stoneman b Whiter	15	(45)	-	-	1-27
3	R. P. Turner	b Valsan	45	(52)	5	-	2-119
4	G. Carter	b Wyatt	8	(14)	-	-	3-135
5	C. D. Roberts	run out	1	(3)	-	-	4-158
6	M. Bullock +	c and b Wyatt	2	(2)	-	-	5-160
7	D. Emerson	not out	11	(6)	2	-	-
8	J. D. Hoskins
9	M. K. Reeves
10	J. Newman-Robson
11	M. S. Rundle
	Extras	(W2, LB3, B1)	6
	TOTAL	(for 5 wickets, 40 overs)	201

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Whiter	8	4	12	1
2	Wyatt	8	2	26	2
3	Blatchford	8	0	36	0
4	Wiblin	4	0	25	0
5	Valsan	6	0	50	1
6	Walter	6	0	47	0

Team	Isis CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	D. Penhallurick *	c Bullock b Newman-Robson	2	(8)	-	-	1-13
2	O. Walter +	c Turner b Rundle	39	(80)	2	-	4-115
3	R. Kella	c Rundle b Hoskins	24	(26)	2	-	2-54
4	P. Wiblin	b Roberts	22	(64)	1	-	3-110
5	H. Stoneman	run out (Roberts/Bullock)	38	(36)	2	-	8-176
6	S. Sivalingam	b Roberts	2	(3)	-	-	5-120
7	K. H. Whiter	c Reeves b Rundle	2	(7)	-	-	6-141
8	D. Valsan	c Roberts b Rundle	14	(14)	1	-	7-168
9	N. H. R. Wyatt	b Newman-Robson	1	(6)	-	-	9-181
10	J. Walter	not out	1	(3)	-	-	-
11	R. Blatchford	b Newman-Robson	0	(1)	-	-	10-181
	Extras	(W21, LB6, B9)	36
	TOTAL	(all out, 39.2 overs)	181

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Newman-Robson	7.2	1	44	3
2	Reeves	4	0	17	0
3	Emerson	8	3	16	0
4	Hoskins	5	0	22	1
5	Roberts	7	0	33	2
6	Rundle	8	1	34	3

MOTM: J. W. Pearson Champagne Moment: J. W. Pearson’s first six into the adjacent football field Buffet Award: J. Newman-Robson’s bloodied burger and sausages (salad side)

Opposition: V009 / 15 Ground: G008 / 07 Captain: C007 / 52

Match Fines