“You Just Dropped the Friendly Cup”
Match: 19
/ 486
Lost
by 73 runs
|
Team |
Total |
|
Aldworth CC |
206 - 8 |
|
G. Timms
3 - 62, M. Reeves 2 - 18 |
|
|
|
|
|
FFTMCC |
133 |
|
C. Williams
58, P. Chandra 27 |
|
|
Never mind that Steve
Waugh never actually said it, “you just dropped the World Cup” goes down as
one of the great sledges of all time, right up there with Eddo Brandes’ response to the question from Glen McGrath “why
are you so fat?” It’s a popular aphorism that ‘catches win matches’ and quite
possibly true in this encounter between FFTMCC and Aldworth in the
semi-finals of the Friendly Cup.
The Bell Inn – adjacent to the field where some
cricket is played. The team travelled down
the A34 more in hope than expectation, with showers forecast for later in the
afternoon and no word from the opposition as to whether they had a team.
Indeed, the FFTMCC had also unusually been struggling to make the required
eleven until, through a strange connection involving David Shorten and Cairns
Fudge CC, young Pranavi Chandra became available
for the match. The 17 year old representative of
Hyderabad Ladies CC was in the UK to get some experience of English
conditions. We think it’s fair to say that she wouldn’t have seen anything
like our particular approximation of ‘English
conditions’ on the subcontinent. Aldworth CC won the toss
and headed out to bat. Gary was not too disappointed on this occasion to be
denied the choice as it did allow us to view the stodgy wicket without having
to bat first on it. Reeves (7-3-18-2) and Darley (7-0-22-1) opened the
bowling, with the former setting his missus, or more specifically her washing
machine a challenge in the first over as he dived for a C+B across the rain
affected wicket.
Andrew Darley galloping past A.
Wardlaw (97*). New player number 152
was soon joined by new player 153 as Kunal Girase took his place on the
field. The young lad, around 12 I’m guessing, looks a talent for the future
and was certainly able to hare around the outfield much better than most of
the team who were at least 35 years his senior. For
Aldworth, J Wood (51) was batting strongly. He sent a missile, which rose no
more than three feet above the ground, before it connected with Howarth,
about 40 yards away. Ian decided to try and catch it with his forearm leading
to a few moments of concern as he went down and stayed down. Young Kunal
tried to raise poor Ian, first by dragging him to his feet by his hand, still
just about connected to his forearm, then by vigorously rubbing the rapidly
bruising area. Just what you need. Ian was soon joined in the sick bay by M
Rundle, who at least tried to stick his hand in the way of a rapidly
returning C+B, but all he received for his troubles was a gushing finger. Although down to ten
fielders, the FFTMCC played strongly, with Williams, Carter and Darley taking
good catches. Shorten had an excellent direct hit run out, but the well deserved Champagne moment
went to Emerson for a low catch at slip. However, I think we would have
swapped all of that, for the one pivotal moment about which the match
revolved.
Jack Wood is bowled after killing Howarth and
Rundle. Geoff, Geoff, Geoff, it
could have been so perfect. Aldworth star player A Wardlaw was on about 20,
when skipper Timms turned to Pranavi to try and
turn the match. For her very first delivery she ran in with a beautiful fluid
action and delivered a wonderful ball on a good length, just outside off
stump. Wardlaw had a swish and a nick as the ball went through to the keeper.
Down! Down, down, down, down, down, down down.
Unlucky Geoff, welcome to English conditions Pranavi.
Wardlaw went on to score 97 n.o. At the other end
of the cricketing spectrum was J Joel, who lasted about three balls, hitting
one and sending his bat sailing through the air, further than the ball. Joel
was one of three wickets for the skipper as Aldworth ended their 35 overs on
206, which was always going to be a struggle on a deteriorating pitch.
Suddenly the wisdom of batting first became clear. During the latter part of
the innings, Howarth and Rundle dragged themselves off their sick beds to
take it in turns fielding at fine leg, what teamwork! As is often the case,
our innings got off to a flying start with Williams hitting 58 off 48 balls.
For much of his knock he was accompanied by Pravani, who batted very
correctly for a neat 27. If she had the strength to match her technique it could
have been a lot more. Turner (Golden) got a beauty first up. Other than our
numbers two and three, it was only Reeves (21) and extras (14) who managed to
make it to double figures. There was talk of Howarth being called upon down
the order, but in the end this wasn’t considered
sensible, as the team fell well short at 133 all out.
Team MAD sans spastics Howarth and Rundle. Ah well. Cancel the open
top bus ride, take the Champagne off ice, there’s always next year. Great to
meet you Pravani. Remember us when you’re a star in India. We’ll still be
flinging our bats, trying to catch balls with inappropriate parts of our
bodies, rescuing children from stinging nettles and dropping sitters behind
the stumps under English conditions. ‘Reevsie’
|
*
Statto Scorecards
|
Far from the MCC versus Aldworth CC Played at Aldworth, 16 June 2019 Aldworth CC won the toss and elected
to bat Aldworth CC won by 73 runs Far from the MCC debuts: Pravani
Chandra (152), Kunal Girase (153) |
19 / 486 Friendly Cup Semi Final 35 over Friendly Cup match |
|
Team |
Aldworth CC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
J. Wood |
b Darley |
51 |
|
8 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
A. Basoya |
c and b Reeves |
0 |
|
- |
- |
|
|
3 |
M. Khan † |
c Williams b Reeves |
2 |
|
- |
- |
|
|
4 |
N. Baker * |
c Carter b Timms |
13 |
|
2 |
- |
|
|
5 |
A. Wardlaw |
not out |
97 |
|
11 |
4 |
- |
|
6 |
S. Anidjah |
c Darley b Timms |
10 |
|
1 |
- |
|
|
7 |
J. Joel |
b Timms |
0 |
|
- |
- |
|
|
8 |
G. Allen |
run out (Shorten) |
15 |
|
1 |
- |
|
|
9 |
B. Gardener |
c Emerson b Shorten |
3 |
|
- |
- |
|
|
10 |
S. Marhkam |
not out |
1 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
11 |
P. Richardson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
NB6, W3, B3 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 8 wickets, 35 overs) |
204 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
Darley |
7 |
0 |
22 |
1 |
3.14 |
|
|
2 |
Reeves |
7 |
3 |
18 |
2 |
2.57 |
|
|
3 |
Rundle |
5 |
1 |
15 |
0 |
3.00 |
|
|
4 |
Timms |
7 |
0 |
62 |
3 |
8.86 |
|
|
5 |
Chandra |
5 |
0 |
41 |
0 |
8.20 |
|
|
6 |
Girase |
3 |
0 |
41 |
0 |
13.67 |
|
|
7 |
Shorten |
2 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
3.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Far from the MCC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
D. Emerson |
b Wardlaw |
1 |
(5) |
- |
- |
1-3 |
|
2 |
C. T. J. Williams |
b Basoya |
58 |
(48) |
7 |
2 |
2-91 |
|
3 |
P. Chandra |
c Wood b Richardson |
27 |
(56) |
2 |
- |
5-107 |
|
4 |
R. P. Turner |
b Basoya |
0 |
(1) |
- |
- |
3-91 |
|
5 |
D. Shorten |
lbw b Basoya |
4 |
(7) |
- |
- |
4-97 |
|
6 |
M. K. Reeves |
c Wardlaw b Richardson |
21 |
(33) |
3 |
- |
9-132 |
|
7 |
K. Girase |
c and b Richardson |
2 |
(13) |
- |
- |
6-118 |
|
8 |
G. J. Timms * |
c Khan b Markham |
1 |
(8) |
- |
- |
7-123 |
|
9 |
A. Darley |
c Baker b Richardson |
1 |
(4) |
- |
- |
8-125 |
|
10 |
M. S. Rundle |
b Markham |
4 |
(12) |
- |
- |
10-133 |
|
11 |
G. Carter † |
not out |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
Extras |
W8, LB1, B5 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(all out, 31.1 overs) |
133 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
Baker |
3 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
5.67 |
|
|
2 |
Wardlaw |
3 |
0 |
13 |
1 |
4.33 |
|
|
3 |
Wood |
5 |
0 |
31 |
0 |
6.20 |
|
|
4 |
Basoya |
4 |
1 |
16 |
3 |
4.00 |
|
|
5 |
Allen |
2 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
8.00 |
|
|
6 |
Richardson |
6 |
0 |
23 |
4 |
3.83 |
|
|
7 |
Markham |
5.1 |
1 |
11 |
2 |
2.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: I. Howarth injured in the first innings
(fielding) and replaced by K. Girase |
|
||||||
|
MOTM: C. T. J. Williams Champagne Moment: D. Emerson’s reactive
slip catch (final over) Buffet
Award: K. Girase’s lamb saag aloo
with poppadum starters MAD Moment: K. Girase’s woeful first aid
on a stricken I. Howarth’s arm |
Opposition:
V087 / 02 Ground: G079 / 02 Captain: C022 / 82 Match No: 35 / 173 |