“Crystal Ball”

Match: 23 / 594

Match Abandoned

Team	Total
Headington Quarry CC	229 - 8
C. Williams 2 - 26, M. Rundle 2 - 30
FFTMCC	111 - 2
C. Williams 53*, J. Harris 16

Some people believe in mediums and supernatural guidance, others don’t. The MAD don’t have a crystal ball, neither do they have a clairvoyant nor a soothsayer, but they do have a ‘Mystic’ Meg [Turner]. Russ was appropriated the nickname due to his uncanny calling of the toss a few years ago. In the same way that Russ was nearly always correct, Gary was the reverse. But maybe coin tossing was the only superlative power Russ has [or had]? Because if he could see into the future, there is no fucking way he would have opted to have his troops field under a blazing sun all afternoon and then sat back in the pavilion watching it piss down when it came to bat….

Once more unto the breach, dear MAD, once more. Before it pisses down.

Rewinding the day and having been asked whether they would like to have first dig and enjoy splattering the bowling to all parts, a fusion of Quarry elders and Horspath yoot combined to pump 229 runs on the collapsible wooden scoreboard. Teens Hoffen (44) and Hicks [66* ret] were the most destructive, the former caught on the long on boundary to a one-handed seasonal [AGM] Champagne candidate. Tottering backwards and acutely aware of the boundary line, Mr Hadfield somehow stood tall and pouched the ball out the air with his outstretched right mitt. A stunning effort and one he can rightly feel was a stunning effort (Rundle 7-1-30-2 the grateful bowler).

Most of everyone in The MAD bowling corps got a bit of tap, with Roberts the tappiest, although as a team, the lads stuck manfully to their task whilst mumbling under their breath about the decision to field first. Moaning did miss the injured Howarth [knee] but did welcome the talents of Ainsworth [superlative effort across two hours for anyone who would listen]. It has been a pleasure to have Lee back in the fold these early season Sundays, we’ve missed his wit and cynicism and certainly his all-rounds talents with both bat and ball (7-0-33-1).

Lee tossing some right-handed donuts down.

Bollocking on about the weather is intrinsically linked to the British character, and with 35 overs of sweaty torment finally out the way, both teams retired for a Reeves tea and to grumble and bang on about just that. Depending on which app you trusted or to whom you listened to, after weeks of heat and humidity a thunderous intervention was rumoured to be intervening later in the day. It would be bringing with it a bucketload of rain, biblical flooding, lightning strikes and pestilence.

With the match restarting and The MAD replying with a serene 111-2 in 24 overs, the ominous doomsday predictions would prove correct. With Lucan (15) and John (16) having departed, and Williams (53*) retired safely and Turner (0* ret hurt) unsafely, skies darkened, winds picked up as players sensibly retreated to the arms of the pavilion. Here they were entertained by the intelligence of Hotson and Howarth, making a bold bid to act as lightning conductors as they fucked about with some metal covers. It then absolutely hosed it down as the ground and surroundings were smudged out in one extravagantly watery, [JMW] Turner-esque artistic mess. It came as no surprise that an abandonment was agreed by both skippers and hand-shakes all round.

A further retreat to the Tap Social would see the use of Hadfield’s towel to dry benches and thirsts being sated on beer instead of acid rain. A most genial game against always genial opposition, Team MAD look forward to some more intelligent captaincy in the coming weeks and months.

’K. Nee’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far From the MCC versus Headington Quarry CC Played at Brasenose College, 11 June 2023 Far from the MCC won the toss and elected to field Match Abandoned (rain) Far from the MCC debuts: n/a

23 / 594 35 over match

Team	Headington Quarry CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	P. Adams	c Hadfield b Rundle	1	(8)	-	-	1-6
2	C. Hofen	c Hadfield b Rundle	44	(33)	8	1	2-52
3	R. Hicks	not out	66	(48)	8	1	3-144
4	H. Matthews	c Rundle b Williams	35	(44)	4	-	4-172
5	J. Cummings	c Rundle b Cartwright	9	(11)	-	-	5-188
6	S. Khan	c Webster b Williams	33	(20)	5	-	6-202
7	A. Matthews	c Webster b Ainsworth	16	(17)	3	-	7-208
8	J. Frederick †	c Williams b Roberts	4	(11)	1	-	8-224
9	S. Matthews	run out (Turner)	10	(13)	1	-
10	S. Warner *	not out	3	(6)	-	-
11
	Extras	NB1, W3, LB1, B3	8
	TOTAL	(for 8 wickets, 35 overs)	229

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	Roberts	7	0	63	1	9.00
2	Rundle	7	1	30	2	4.29
3	Harris	7	0	49	0	7.00
4	Ainsworth	7	0	33	1	4.71
5	Cartwright	3	0	26	1	8.67
6	Williams	4	0	26	2	6.50
Note: R. Hicks retired on 62* and returned after run out of S. Matthews at 34.4 overs

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	C. T. J. Williams	retired	53	(59)	8	-	1-29
2	R. J. T. Hadfield	b Cummings	15	(15)	3	-	2-83
3	J. Harris	lbw b Hicks	16	(46)	-	-
4	R. P. Turner *	retired hurt	0	(4)	-	-
5	J. vdG. Webster	not out	7	(10)	1	-
6	L. G. Ainsworth	not out	10	(10)	1	-
7	G. Carter
8	J. A. Cartwright
9	J. C. W. Hotson †
10	C. D. Roberts
11	M. S. Rundle
	Extras	W3, LB1, B6	10
	TOTAL	(for 2 wickets, 24 overs)	111

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	S. Matthews	4	0	21	0	5.25
2	Cummings	4	0	25	1	6.25
3	Adams	5	0	14	0	2.80
4	Khan	4	1	13	0	3.25
5	Hofen	4	0	22	0	5.50
6	Hicks	3	0	9	1	3.00
Note: R. P. Turner retired hurt on 83-2; C. T. J. Williams retired on 93-2.

MOTM: M. S. Rundle Champagne Moment: R. J. B. Hadfield’s remarkable one-handed boundary catch Buffet Award: C. D. Roberts’ overcooked tall ginger bread men (chocolate dip) MAD Moment: R. P. Turner winning toss and fielding on perfect day for batting

Opposition: V101 / 008 Ground: G040 / 098 Captain: C024 / 073 Match No: 35 / 221