Far From The MCC

~ Est. in 1998 ~

 

“Mad Back Increased Use of Japery”

 

 

Sunday 1st June 2003

Result:  Won by 3 Wkts

Venue:  Cowley Marshes

35 overs

Marlborough House

103 - 9

A. Mann  3 - 13,  J. Hoskins  2 - 7,  D. Jones  2 - 20

FFTMCCC

104 - 7

B. Mander  28*,  M. Bullock  18

 

 

 

In scenes reminiscent of the last time this kind of thing happened, Far From The Madding Crowd CC today won a landmark victory for advocates of japery everywhere. Curiously, in a game almost without jape until the final overs, the japestering came thick and fast as an enthralling finale beckoned. With the Mad seven wickets down and needing 20 from 24 deliveries to wrap up the win, A. Mann (2 n.o.) nurdled the ball to mid-wicket and set off for a quick single, only to meet B. Mander (28 n.o) half way and bounce ridiculously off him. Both batsmen landed on the pitch with a thud, what larks! The surrounding fielders and Mad players could only look on in raucous laughter as the chuckling batsmen picked themselves up and capered home. On the far side of the oddly sloping field, the spectator gave a nod and a wry smile, as some cunt walking past shouted out, “Oi you fell down har har har oi Tendulkar oi Lara oi har har har!”

 

 

B. Mander (28*) contributed some lusty heroics.

 

Yet more japestering was to come when, the following over, J. Hotson at the umpire’s position raised his finger to dismiss B. Mander leg before and leave the Mad poised precariously at eight wickets down. Great was the merriment everywhere! yet even greater when, moments later, J. Hotson called the phlegmatic Mander back to the crease. “Actually, no, I’ve changed my mind,” said he. How the Marlborough players chortled at this, falling about unable to contain themselves, even as some cunt walking past shouted out, “Oi Tendulkar oi Lara oi har har har!” Said Mad Captain J. Hoskins after the three-wicket victory over a valiant Marlborough House, “Several japes today, well done to the lads, not nearly enough, there’s always room for improvement. But for japesters everywhere, this is a day for rejoicing. Jape on!”

 

Losing the toss on the weirdly sloping ground at Cowley, J. Hoskins was bade take the field first, and the Marlborough top order was soon back in the pavilion. A. Mann (3-13) found the seam and had the home team reeling, but a middle-order fightback eventually saw the Mad needing 104 to register their second win of the season. S. Dobner (0-21) bowled a fine spell without luck, and S. Hebbes (1-25) and B. Mander (1-13) were rewarded. D. Jones (2-20) and J. Hoskins (2-7) both continued their impressive form with the ball.

The Mad were considered in their reply, with M. Westmoreland (4) and J. Hoskins (4) going early, but N. Hebbes (15) and the implacable T. Mander (11) built a solid foundation for the middle order. Contributions from S. Dobner (6) and J. Hoskins (2) proved invaluable. Despite stump-tender M. Bullock (18) tearing into the bowling with gusto, the run chase looked set to founder in the customary collapse, until B. Mander’s lusty heroics, which saw The Mad home with an over to spare.

           

This was a historical win for The Mad, their first victory chasing a total in living memory or since those other guys used to play when the team was called something else, whichever came first. There seems every chance now that the Mad will win their next two games convincingly, and certainly not lose them by 60 and 120 runs respectively.

 

 

‘Blocker’

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

Statto's Scorecard

 

 

 

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