“John
Carpenter’s ‘The Fog’ Re-enacted
On Day of Drama”
Match: 14
/ 327
Won
by 18 runs
|
Team |
Total |
|
FFTMCC |
112 |
|
R. Turner 46, M. Reeves
29* |
|
|
|
|
|
Enstone CC |
94 |
|
M. Reeves 5 - 12, D. Shorten
3 - 21 |
|
|
Drama
unfolded long before the day of this match, with numerous amended teamsheets
finally including two Paddy Mellor’s, Giant Duck and
no James Pearson’s. It didn’t stop there, with a queue of traffic stretching
back to nearby Banbury after Jesus College secretly amended the code to their
security gates. Thankfully, nobody really knew who was and wasn’t playing, so
last minute phone calls and text messages ended up with people who really
didn’t care…. Baffled
by an exceedingly rare win of the toss, Howarth was jolted out of a wedding
hangover long enough to allow The MAD a rare shot at batting first on a sunny
day. This decision soon seemed questionable with the team summarily
collapsing to 24-4 (15 ovs) in the face of some excellent bowling from P.
Myatt (8-4-7-4). Pearson made 4, Dobner 1, Mellor 1 and not to be left out –
Hadfield 1. What early innings drama.
A great view to watch a great
collapse. Rectifying
things, R. Turner’s stout defence complemented by Howarth’s aggression lifted
MAD spirits, but it wasn’t long before there was real drama! Strange noises echoing
from beyond the far boundary, almost like a small child being strangled – it
was blood curdling stuff. People’s attention was diverted to Mr. Shorten’s
dog (Midge) as it looked to have cordoned and then ambushed something. Was it
a hare? A rabbit? Another dog? As players and spectators rushed to the scene,
a baby monkjack was in the throes of battle, finally wrestling free of its
black and white assailant before heading off down the City Arms for a much
needed pint. Talking of which, drinks were then taken with The MAD on
53-4.
Killer. Following
on from the break, Howarth and Turner quickly rotated the strike, or at least
Howarth quickly rotated the strike, with Turner simply watching him (rotate
the strike). It was at this point that a strange red fog started to envelope
the ground, smudging out the student housing and the glorious panoramic views
of Oxford. It was a terrifying nod to the famous 70s slasher-flick ‘The Fog’
– with the undead maritime ghouls replaced by X-rated expletives and a flying
bat, as Howarth (20) failed to make his ground. It was all too much for a
spectating James Shaw (and his kids) and Pearson’s parents (oh, dear), who
rose as one from their seats, demanding a refund as Howarth disappeared into
the depths of pavilion, accompanied by one final barrage of non-Chamber’s
English and his flying bat. It was drama of the highest accolade, but box
office receipts were poor.
Howarth to be found sulking ‘under’
the pavilion…. After
the conclusion of this new horror dramatisation, the mist fog lifted enough
for Turner to find both J. Hotson (1) and D. Shorten (2) had been felled by
Ian’s bat. Things were now dire at 67-7, but The MAD bat in depth these days,
as Mr. Reeves’ batting at #9 would suggest, and together with Russ (46), Mike
(29*) was able to orchestrate a final MAD total of 112 – his partner falling
four short of a much-deserved fifty (albeit Howarth would probably disagree).
J. Newman and C. Roberts chipped in with a further 1 and 0 respectively. It
wasn’t a grand total by any means, but with a pitch offering up plenty to the
bowlers, tea time certainly wasn’t the morose affair it could have been. The
Boars Hill Catering Core (BHCC) once again did us proud after once again being
reunited with the Eighth Earl of Lucan, and only a late surge of ravenous
hunger from eating specialists, Mellor & Turner, prevented there from
being any scraps for the bloodlusting hound
tethered outside (Midge).
A reasonable day all in all for
Mr. Reeves. On
resumption of the match, Enstone began cautiously before Shorten got one to
swing back in and shatter W. Speke’s (6) stumps. Bob Roberts (4-0-20-1) also
got one to swing – off J. Watts’ (4) bat – straight to J. Newman at cow. 29-2
(11 ovs) and very much game on with perhaps the greatest piece of drama yet
to come. Mr.
Reeves has always been a loyal servant to the team. Like a well-schooled and
much loved dog, Mike just obediently goes about his business and does what
he’s told. One year – 2006 I think it was – after a big money transfer from
the Marlborough House, Mike sat with his pads on match after match, waiting
to bat, waiting for an opportunity that never came. Despite limited bowling
opportunities, he batted twice that year – and on one of those occasions, T.
Smith ran him out (ha). But he never complained. Ever. He just got on with
it. He must have known there would be better days around the corner. There
were. Today. In five mesmerising overs of controlled left-arm swing, Mike dismissed
batsman #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8 – all for ducks. Four of them clean bowled. 5
wickets for 3 runs. Spectacular. A shame his efforts of superstardom brought
no more success, but figures of 8-2-12-5 ain’t to be grumbled at. It was a
great piece of bowling, and it is hard to imagine there was a witness to it
who would begrudge Mike this day – save the poor Enstone middle order….
Turner (batting) earlier held
The MAD innings together [after breaking it apart]. With
Pearson (4-1-13-1) cleaning up D. Bussey (31) to have the visitors on 57-8,
the match was really there to be stamped on. Or as P. Mellor noted “we don’t
want to do what Midge the dog did earlier and that it to remove our jaw from
the throat!” But the Enstone tail was stubborn, eking out runs as overs
dwindled by. A returning burst from Newman (8-1-21-0) brought scant reward, and
thus eyes turned to Shorten. “You owe us, Dave” commented the team as one. “Our
name is sullied after the savagery of your dog.” Dave
eventually did for W. Taylor (2), but some lusty hitting from P. Anthony was an
acute cause for concern. Not so, with #11 G. Speke (1*) going to ground
clutching his hamstring to eventually retire hurt. Game over. But, not quite.
Maybe in a bid to redeem himself after his earlier histrionics, Howarth
allowed P. Anthony the luxury of batting on alone with a runner for company.
It was a much akin to a single wicket competition where the not out batsman
returns to his end to face the next ball. It was sporting in the extreme, but
a decision which could easily backfire in equal measure. After a couple more
judicious Anthony (23) blows, The MAD sighed in collective relief as Shorten
(7.4-1-21-3) finally splattered the stumps. Enstone 94 all out with The MAD htriumphant by a meagre 18 runs.
A profitable day at The MAD’s
Fines Committee. Oh,
what drama. And oh, that’d be the sixth win for The MAD in the month of June.
An achievement notable for the fact that we achieved it in a notable fashion.
Excellent. ‘Broadway’
|
*
Statto
Scorecards
|
Far from the MCC versus Enstone CC Played at Jesus College, 29 June 2014 Far from the MCC won the toss and
elected to bat Far from the MCC won by 18 runs Far from the MCC debuts:
none |
14 / 327 40 over match |
|
Team |
Far from the MCC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
J. W. Pearson |
c Peterson b Myatt |
4 |
(27) |
1 |
- |
2-6 |
|
2 |
S. L. Dobner + |
b Myatt |
1 |
(12) |
- |
- |
1-5 |
|
3 |
R. P. Turner |
b Peterson |
46 |
(95) |
4 |
- |
8-93 |
|
4 |
P. A. S. Mellor |
c Stewart b Myatt |
1 |
(10) |
- |
- |
3-18 |
|
5 |
R. J. B. Hadfield |
b Myatt |
1 |
(7) |
- |
- |
4-24 |
|
6 |
I. Howarth * |
run out |
20 |
(18) |
4 |
- |
5-53 |
|
7 |
J. C. W. Hotson |
b G. Speke |
1 |
(9) |
- |
- |
6-64 |
|
8 |
D. Shorten |
c and b Peterson |
2 |
(7) |
- |
- |
7-67 |
|
9 |
M. K. Reeves |
not out |
29 |
(31) |
4 |
- |
- |
|
10 |
J. Newman-Robson |
b Watts |
1 |
(10) |
- |
- |
9-111 |
|
11 |
C. D. Roberts |
b W. Speke |
0 |
(4) |
- |
- |
10-112 |
|
|
Extras |
(W1, LB1, B4) |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(all out, 38.2 overs) |
112 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Myatt |
8 |
3 |
7 |
4 |
|
|
2 |
Watts |
6 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
W. Speke |
6.2 |
0 |
30 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
P. Anthony |
4 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
Peterson |
8 |
1 |
20 |
2 |
|
|
6 |
G. Speke |
6 |
1 |
28 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Enstone CC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
W. Speke * |
b Shorten |
6 |
(23) |
1 |
- |
1-10 |
|
2 |
J. Watts |
c Newman-Robson b Roberts |
4 |
(28) |
1 |
- |
2-29 |
|
3 |
D. Bussey |
b Pearson |
31 |
(38) |
3 |
2 |
8-57 |
|
4 |
D. Myatt |
b Reeves |
0 |
(13) |
- |
- |
3-44 |
|
5 |
K. Anthony |
c Hadfield b Reeves |
0 |
(2) |
- |
- |
4-44 |
|
6 |
T. Peterson |
b Reeves |
0 |
(7) |
- |
- |
5-51 |
|
7 |
D. Stewart |
b Reeves |
0 |
(1) |
- |
- |
6-57 |
|
8 |
S. Carter |
b Reeves |
0 |
(3) |
- |
- |
7-57 |
|
9 |
D. Anthony |
b Shorten |
23 |
(40) |
3 |
- |
10-94 |
|
10 |
W. Taylor + |
b Shorten |
2 |
(20) |
- |
- |
9-78 |
|
11 |
G. Speke |
not out |
1 |
(6) |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Extras |
(W19, LB2, B6) |
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(all out, 31.4 overs) |
94 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
|
|
1 |
Newman-Robson |
8 |
1 |
21 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
Shorten |
7.4 |
1 |
21 |
3 |
|
|
3 |
Roberts |
4 |
0 |
20 |
1 |
|
|
4 |
Reeves |
8 |
2 |
12 |
5 |
|
|
5 |
Pearson |
4 |
1 |
13 |
1 |
|
|
MOTM: M. K. Reeves Champagne Moment: D. Shorten’s final
wicket to win the match Buffet
Award: C. D. Roberts’ appetising
pizza selection (with gourmet cheese) |
Opposition:
V073 / 03 Ground: G019 / 16 Captain: C007 / 55 |