Far From The MCC
~ Est. in 1998 ~
“Sun Shines For Evening Whackathon,
As JP Develops
Split Personality”
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Friday 26th
June 2009 |
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Result: Won by 38 Runs |
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Venue: |
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20 overs |
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FFTMCC |
176 - 3 |
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M. Reeves 53*,
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FFTMCC |
138 - 6 |
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I. Howarth 2 - 9 |
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So
for most the usual routine of wake up, feel like shit, sober up, do some
drinking, play cricket, had to be replaced with wake up, feel like shit,
sober up, do a tiny amount of work, do some drinking, play cricket. For yes,
this was a Friday night’s 20/20 against our old friends the Bodleian.
Twenty20 cricket is a drinking
man’s game. The
chances of the game actually taking place were slim, given that a) M. Reeves
was captain and in three previous attempts at leading the side all had been
rained off, and b) getting all 22 players through a grid locked Although
the clouds were threatening Reeves was not to be denied on this occasion. The
toss was won and the Mad decided to bat on the artificial wicket. A late
stipulation on the part of our leader was that any player reaching 50 should
retire. No worries there for a captain who hadn’t scored over 35 in four
years in the Mad ranks. Two
big hitters D. Shorten (14) and T. Smith (9) were sent out and made a lively
start. S. Dobner (50*) (first choice skip, but still so haunted by the
Tetsworth experience that he chose to hand over responsibilities) joined in
and found the Bodleian pie much to
his taste. J. Hoskins (4) played a short cameo before M. Reeves (53*)
selflessly placed himself in front of the barrage of Bodleian jam tarts.
Dobner and Reeves gorged themselves on an assortment of pastries greatly
assisted by a rhubarb crumble of an outfield. Both players enjoyed a rare
double digit innings before being cruelly cut short by the rash agreement
from earlier on, reaching 50 and retiring. They were replaced by JP Collins
(20*) and
“It’s okay, guys – I’ll skipper,
score, get the beers in, and score the bloody runs!” A
140* partnership was scored for the 4th wicket by Dobner, Reeves,
Collins and Howarth, which despite the protestations of J. Hoskins (previous
holder) is a Mad record. It’s also a record number of players to contribute
to a record partnership. A record of this record feat will be recorded in the
Mad Records*. The
Bodleian appeared doubtful of getting the impressive Mad 176, but started
brightly against Leggate (3-0-29-0) and Emerson (4-0-16-0.) JP Collins posted
remarkable figures of 3-1-32-1. Remarkable in that they included a wicket
maiden and 2-0-32-0. After some leg side tosh in his first over JP’s alter
ego of PJ took over and bowled a blinding second over. But then PJ’s nemesis
JP wrestled control of his bowling back again and the third over was again
leggy dollop. Who will turn up next time? Only the bowling gods can tell.
Sunset’s aren’t usually
associated with games involving M. Reeves. For
the Bodleian, Patterson (51*) played well before being cruelly curtailed.
However they faded due to the economics of Hoskins (3-0-19-1), Dobner
(2-0-9-1), Shorten (3-0-15-1), and Howarth (2-0-9-2.) In the fading light the
Mad ran out comfortable winners by 38 runs. A few beers were quaffed at the
ground afterwards (make that a lot of). Probably wake up and feel like shit
tomorrow. Very little time to get back to full fitness in time for Sunday’s
game. As any test player will know, these back to back matches are tough. ‘Cloughie’ * -
Having studied guidelines set out by the Wisden Almanack, it is of
opinion that the undefeated partnership of 140 should remain classed as
“Other”. The official Mad Records are of the assumption the partnership
records are realised by just 2 batsmen – not four! |
*
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No
Fines on this Day |
MOTM: M. Reeves’ first 50 for
the Mad
Champagne Moment: T. Smith
sliding all over the place
Buffet Award: JP Collins’
Australian kangaroo burgers