“Catches Win Matches,

But Batting, Bowling and Captaincy also Helps”

Match: 15 / 359

Won by 47 runs

Team	Total
FFTMCC	202 - 6
R. Turner 51, D. Shorten 47
Enstone CC	155
D. Shorten 3 - 18, C. Roberts 3 - 25

Sunday saw the visit of Enstone CC to Jordan Hill to face a MAD team looking to put the disappointment of the collapse against Harwell CC behind them. The 13:30 start nearly caught Reeves out, but nevertheless all were present and correct to face a depleted opposition. Our visitors had suffered various misfortunes meaning only nine had made the trip. Hats off to skipper W Speke, who had one eye on the game and one ear on his mobile waiting for an important call from his pregnant wife (partner, significant other, delete as appropriate).

Mr Timms won the toss and decided to bat, just for the hell of it. Facing the first ball was G Carter (27). It was definitely a George day today as he smacked four boundaries. Despite some rain in the morning the pitch was playing true, and a fast outfield meant batsmen were getting good value for their shots. At the other end Westmoreland (6) is currently having about as much luck as Matt Reading did last year (and counting the broken foot, this year too). It is generally agreed that Martin is a bit of luck and one decent knock away from a deserved run of form. Stick with it dude, better times are just around the corner. Oh and cheers for umpiring for 28 overs (a MAD record perhaps?)

Hadfield and Turner – contrasting styles when batting.

Next to the crease were Hadfield (33) and Turner (51), two batsmen with contrasting styles. Hadfield is the more correct, with a lovely cut behind point in particular, whereas Turner scratches and nurdles, but still keeps the scoreboard ticking. Together they put on 53 for the third wicket. What was most impressive was that after 16 overs and The MAD on 51, Enstone appeared to have the innings locked down with perhaps 130-140 on the cards. The field was pushed back, but with no gaps. At this point Richard and Russ started to push the singles and put the fielders under pressure. This bought immediate and obvious results as Enstone had to move the field in, which left gaps. Hadfield was eventually undone by a spectacular one handed diving catch, caught and bowled P Anthony. Would that be the catch of the game? Not a chance.

The recent one day series between England and New Zealand has re-invigorated the one day game showing that 300 in 50 overs is not now considered a competitive total. As is so often the case, amateur sportsmen try to imitate the professionals, sometimes with extremely limited success, but on this occasion, a ‘no fear’ attitude appeared to pay off. This was particularly noticeable as Shorten scored 47 off just 35 balls including one of his trademark sixes. He repaid captain Timms’ confidence in putting him up at number 5, although he was dropped by Judas Bob, who made a very convincing effort in the deep. Brief cameos from Reeves (16 not out from 13) and Darley (5 off 3) and Hotson (2 not out) propelled The MAD to 101 off the last 12 overs and a more than impressive 202 for 6 in their allotted 40.

Library footage of latter overs tonking from Mr. Shorten.

Russ and Mrs Russ prepared a delicious tea, Russ having taken the not so subtle hints from Spam after the Harwell game to provide some pizza as part of the fayre. Discussion during tea turned as always to whether a Jaffa cake is a cake or a biscuit. According to Moo the difference between a cake and a biscuit is that, left out overnight, cakes go hard whereas biscuits go soft. We await with baited breath for the next 21 hours for a definitive answer*. Immediately after tea there was a minor crisis as Mrs Shorten was locked out of the house because Dave had given her a key and then changed the locks two years ago without telling her. Fortunately he had left a spare in the guttering, 30 feet up the side of the house. Some brief instructions about how to get the long ladder out of the garage and we were all sorted.

Chasing 203 for victory, Enstone were going to have to get off to a fast start and this they did in the form of Speke and Forder who plundered 28 off the first three overs and continued on at an alarming pace. Darley (5-1-22-0) weathered this storm to emerge with respectable figures. During this time Timms kept his captains head firmly on and with the help of sagely advice from Moo, gradually bought the game back under control. Forder went first to a smart, juggled catch by Timms off the bowling of Roberts (5.4-1-25-3). Next in was Bussey, who had scored an unbeaten century in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. This time he was undone by a wonderful delivery from Roberts, who caught him in two minds not knowing whether to go forward or back to a perfectly pitched delivery. Better was to come for Bob as next to the crease was the very accomplished Myatt. Off the bowling of Shorten (8-3-18-3) he went cheaply.

Library footage of Mr. Roberts – bowling better than ever.

Even in professional sport there are few moments that take the breath away. I remember David Platt’s goal against Belgium in the 1990 world cup. I remember Ben Johnson in the 1988 Olympic 100 metres (shame how that turned out). I’ll also remember Bob’s catch from this game. My word what a catch. There are spectacular catches and there are important catches. This was both. At deep gully off the pace of Shorten, he dived full length to scoop the ball off the ground. Did that just happen? Amazing, truly amazing. Take a bow Bob, leading wicket taker for the season so far. Surely a shoe-in for most improved player and strong contender for the main prize come the AGM.

Next in was A?. Newton. First ball was short and pacey from Shorten and totally did for him. He stumbled and eventually fell taking two stumps and both bails with him. Being the gentlemen that they are, The MAD called him back. A few overs later after changing his initial to “P”, he was done again by Rundle (4-0-20-2) and a catch from Hadfield.

There are few moments in sport which take the breath away but, shit the bed, two in one match! Hadfield, fielding a short mid-wicket, saw the ball loop over his head. He turned, sprinted backwards, twisted, turned again and looking over his shoulder, stuck out a hand. My word, what a catch. Hands down, two of the best catches of this or any other season. Hadfield was to sneak the Champagne on a split decision later.

So after putting up some spirited resistance, Enstone simply couldn’t stay with a MAD team who were frankly on fire today. Reeves (8-1-33-0) and Timms (5-0-27-0) kept things tight enough until Rundle and finally Roberts mopped things up as the required run rate climbed. The fact that Hadfield got a direct hit run out is barely worthy of a mention today given the plethora of other highlights.

Small white dog inclusive.

So pretty much the perfect game with a good win over worthy opposition. The fact that a fifty from Russ, three wickets and a screamer from Roberts, 33, two great catches and a run out from Hadfield didn’t get a look in for MOTM is testament to that. As MOTM Shorten headed home, his head was full of happy thoughts. Happy thoughts and only happy thoughts. Have you forgotten anything Dave? Pads, tick, shirt, tick, bat, tick, lovable and slightly mischievous small black and white dog, shit.

* - since Physco polished off the Jaffa cakes, the question remains unanswered.

‘Reevsie’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far from the MCC versus Enstone CC Played at Jordan Hill, 28 June 2015 Far from the MCC won the toss and elected to bat Far from the MCC won by 47 runs Far from the MCC debuts: none

15 / 359 40 over match

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	G. Carter	c and b Speke	27	(38)	4	-	2-39
2	M. T. Westmoreland	c Anthony b Watts	6	(16)	1	-	1-19
3	R. J. B. Hadfield	c and b Anthony	33	(59)	5	-	3-92
4	R. P. Turner	b P. Newton	51	(73)	5	-	4-177
5	D. Shorten	c Anthony b Watts	47	(35)	5	1	5-179
6	M. K. Reeves	not out	16	(13)	3	-	-
7	A. Darley	c Speke b P. Newton	5	(3)	-	-	6-188
8	J. C. W. Hotson †	not out	2	(3)	-	-	-
9	G. J. Timms *
10	M. S. Rundle
11	C. D. Roberts
	Extras	W7, LB4, B4	15
	TOTAL	(for 6 wickets, 40 overs)	202

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Watts	8	1	39	2
2	Speke	8	3	25	1
3	Myatt	8	2	30	0
4	Anthony	8	1	35	1
5	Stewart	5	0	49	0
6	P. Newton	3	0	17	2

Team	Enstone CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	W. Speke *	c Hadfield b Shorten	59		8	-
2	O. Forder	c Timms b Roberts	14		3	-
3	D. Bussey	b Roberts	4		-	-
4	P. Myatt	c Roberts b Shorten	0		-	-
5	A. Newton	hit wicket b Shorten	0		-	-
6	P. Newton	c Hadfield b Rundle	18		3	-
7	K. Anthony	run out (Hadfield)	18		1	-
8	J. Watts	not out	15		-	-
9	D. Stewart	b Rundle	6		-	-
10	W. Taylor †	b Roberts	5		-	-
11
	Extras	NB1, W5, LB4, B6	16
	TOTAL	(all out, 35.4 overs)	155

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts
1	Darley	5	1	22	0
2	Roberts	5.4	1	25	3
3	Shorten	8	3	18	3
4	Reeves	8	1	33	0
5	Timms	5	0	27	0
6	Rundle	4	0	20	2

MOTM: D. Shorten Champagne Moment: R. G. B. Hadfield’s superb catch running backwards Buffet Award: G. J. Timms’ exemplary meat and potato pie (with Value gravy)

Opposition: V073 / 05 Ground: G013 / 23 Captain: C022 / 32