Far From The MCC
~ Est. in 1998 ~
“A Tale Of Two Nemeses”
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Sunday 9th
August 2009 |
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Result: Lost by 4 Runs |
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Venue: |
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35 overs |
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Blenheim Park CC |
187 - 9 |
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JP Collins 2 - 30,
A. Fisher 2 - 32 |
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FFTMCC |
183 - 9 |
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D. Edwards 78,
JP Collins 24 |
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Blenheim
Cricket Club are not a team we have played for long. Indeed if the rumour
mills are to be believed they have only wanted to play us since we got rid of
the French Partisan to
The return of Blenheim marked the
return of the Barrow Boys. But
we like them already. Their pavilion isn’t up to much. The scenery at their
home ground is a bit bland and the spectators they bring to the game don’t
seem to be able to grasp the rule about moving in front of site screens. But
we don’t care about that. They all turn up to the pub afterwards and that is
the important thing. What
I meant to say was that the cricket seems to win in these encounters. Could
it be we are forming a dual Nemesis to be ridden out over the sands of time
until perhaps one day the clash between Blenheim and the MAD will become as
famous as the history behind the palatial ground of their home? Probably
not. Anyway.
Perhaps the first thing to mention as a difference between the two teams is
around game format. This formed most of the discussion in the pre-match warm
up at the Folly whereupon During
this conversation it actually appeared that even though the game at Blenheim
was of the timed format, we actually faced the same number of balls….oh no,
wait, hark, is that a chorus of “Ade, we think you might be wrong on that
one?” YES! Indeed, it appears that Adie had to plead guilty to being ‘mostly’
wrong on this point since we actually faced three balls *less* than Blenheim. So,
should we have had three more balls to score those three more runs for
victory? Another
point of evidence was that Blenheim claim despite the timed game, they
usually end up playing the same number of overs each anyway – so come on
Blenheim – let’s see who’s the winner…none of this Winning Draw nonsense.
The return of the Barrow Boys
marked the return of Vicki. Worrying
word came in from JP who was training at the ground. No worrying words
muttered from JP but the worrying thing was that he was training at the pitch, instead of the formal MAD pre match warm
up at the Folly. We put this down to perhaps him forgetting who he was
playing for – or could it be that he is taking this highest wicket taker
thing far too seriously? Play
commenced on the Queen’s ground, as we thought this would make Blenheim feel
at home. A late start ensued, but instead of the suspected one-upmanship to
cut short the Folly training session, it seems there were some communication
issues around the start time of the game. Blenheim
elected to bat first and got off to a bit of a slow start thanks to the
steady opening partnership of JP Collins (7-0-30-2) and S. Dobner (7-0-21-0)
who surely deserved a wicket for his Freddie like perseverance. Despite the
short leg side boundary first change J. Hoskins (7-2-24-0) kept the runs at a
minimum. Liddicote (40) tried his best to up the pace off the hobbling
bowling of M. Clarke (2-0-12-0) but still progress was slow in the sweltering
heat.
The return of the Vicki marked
the return of the Manders. Enter
the Nemesis of Blenheim. You could hear the whispers on the boundary as the
next bowlers name was shouted back to the scorer “Leggate - did they say
Leggate? Isn’t he the demon leg A
tray of pastries were baked up from the Secret Garden end which S. Liddicote
devoured with salivating joy, until he consumed one Bakewell Tart too many
and hoisted one down to long off where the Skipper was waiting with his safe
hands. The
next over it was M. Cox’s (18) turn to be sucked in by the temptations, but
this was no gimme wicket. Slogged at full pelt straight down the pitch
Leggate was too slow to get out of the way and the ball struck him in the
solar plexus with such force he was knocked onto his back and thrown fully
five feet to the ground. The field rushed in on Leggate who appeared to be
having some sort of spasm – looking worryingly like the sort of spasm you
might have if your solar plexus had been smashed to smithereens by a cricket
ball. But, oh no, Leggate was merely groping for the ball which he knew must
be lying somewhere near his left armpit. Like King Arthur’s sword rising from
the lake, the ball was raised aloft claiming one of the most comedy catches
of all time. The batsmen waited around for a while just in case he was
dreaming, but was sent back to the hutch, truly Leggated (4-0-40-2).
The return of the Manders marked
the return of Billy Paparazzi. The
Blenheim attack dawdled along until entry of the lefty A. Smith (32) who
hoisted some sixes taking advantage of the short boundary. If
the statement catches win matches was ever to come true then surely the MAD
would not lose this after bagging no less than six – Edwards sprinting to
snap one up in gully, Clarke pouching a solid strike to square leg and
Westmoreland safe as ever in the deep (A. Fisher 4-0-32-2). Blenheim
T/20 specialist O. Nelson (25) came in late in the innings to splat a few
around and run a few people out thanks to sharp off balance fielding hitting
one stump (but enough said about that J ) The
return of G. Littlechild (4-0-6-1) was welcomed by one and all. Not phased by
hanging up his orange gloves to make way for his Apprentice Hotson behind the
stumps he took to the field to show his bowling prowess – with some success
taking his first ever MAD wicket with a scorcher of a ball striking the bails
so hard they threatened to take out the Geese flying overhead. Blenheim 187
for 9 off their 35 overs.
Paparazzi marked the return of
attractive strokeplay. After
the trudge backwards and forwards to collect tea from Brasenose, the MAD
return was led by Edwards and Westmoreland. Just
four overs in disaster struck as Westmoreland (6) went for a comedy slipping
dismissal. Later he was heard on the boundary to be claiming a ‘spike
malfunction’ although when queried further on this it appeared he only just
attached spikes to his footwear, therefore it was more likely he would be
fined for not ‘running his footwear in’ D.
Edwards (78) built a solid innings – perhaps one of his best batting displays
of the season so far judging by the fact that no-one mentioned anything about
too many dots. A few dots for sure, but interspersed with some marvellous
late cuts, cover drives and nurdles around the corners to keep the scoreboard
ticking over nicely. Return
of G. Littlechild (8) to the crease was short lived taking an lbw decision
very sportingly indeed. No, honestly, he really did – at THIS level. Edwards
had to yet again witness a self destruction around him. S. Dobner (19)
although looking promising for a steady innings and timing the ball well just
lost his concentration for a split second and let a straight one through
frustratingly.
Attractive strokeplay brought an
entertaining D. Edwards (78). Disaster
struck when Edwards himself decided to up the pace and took a swing at one
that kept low. A. Fisher (10) with his recent form promised potential but
also couldn’t go on. The run rate was lagging when M. Clarke (10) came to the
crease with JP (24) Things picked up with some healthy lashes but Clarke
eventually let one through to bring Hoskins (6) to the crease. Just
thirty needed off the last five overs then – it would be close but JP was
beaming with batting confidence and Hoskins knew how to run a quick single.
Things were going swimmingly until JP got a little over adventurous to a fast
one on off stump to be met with groans from all around apart from the
Blenheim faithful. Not
a good time for a MAD collapse but that its what ensued – although cleverly
manufactured by the Blenheim skip who brought back the opening bowler M. Cox
(6-0-16-1) to tighten things up and have a pop at the tail enders. As
the MAD ran out of balls of the physical sense not the metaphorical sense A.
Morley (0) tried his best to swipe at a Cox fast ball,
Another close finish brought another
failed attempt at glory (J. Hoskins - left) In
the end six runs required off the last ball with J. Hotson (1) at the non
strikers end. A complete replay of four weeks earlier when Hoskins required
three runs off the last ball with Hotson encouraging from the other end. Well
all I can say is, I learnt from four weeks ago. At least I came down the
pitch…and got to the pitch of the ball – just didn’t reach the boundary L Nemesis
indeed. But at least we had a Winner – well done Blenheim. Winners by a
measly 4 runs. Back
at the pub the Skip announced the tour starts here, and wearily the MAD
departed their separate ways with common thoughts of what they were about to
unleash upon themselves the coming weekend. ‘Hoskers’ |
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No Fines on this Day |
MOTM: D. Edward’s fine
innings of 78
Champagne Moment:
Buffet Award: