Far From The MCC

~ Est. in 1998 ~

“Goose Let Loose

Whilst Ben Gives Mixed Signals”

Friday 13^th August 2010
Result: Lost by 3 Runs
Venue: Honiton
40 overs
Honiton CC	187 ao
I. Howarth 4 - 30, J. Hoskins 2 - 20
FFTMCC	184 ao
J. Hoskins 50, N. Hebbes 45, S. Dobner 25

Some are born to greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them. Some are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when tour captains are being discussed. Who knows, but one way or another Dave Emerson was our skip on this day. He marshalled his team to the ground a full hour before the match was due to start and unsurprisingly found we were without opposition. Just time for a pre match warm-up which consisted of using the Mongoose bat to dispatch practice balls to the next county.

Pre-match exercises under the new skip involved a hearty smoke and 4 pints.

The team were in remarkably good spirits given the excesses of the night before and were not phased by the prospect of spending 40 overs in the field when Dave lost the toss. Our skip immediately turned to the season’s leading wicket taker, M. Westmoreland (8-3-34-2) to extract some early swing from the heavily over cast conditions. Martin was ably assisted by M. Reeves (8-1-30-2) who was making a rare return to bowling a full eight over spell. Reeves lured the dangerous looking C Lapping into a hoik down the leg side where Moo took a great catch running forwards, could it be our day?

During this period B. Mander chased a drive to the far boundary. Only he could tell whether the ball crossed the line. So, did it go Ben? Figure 1 below shows his response:

Figure 1: Sweeping Motion with Right Arm – no the ball did not cross the boundary.

Figures 2 and 3 show some of Ben’s other clear umpiring signals:

Figure 2: In response to an LBW appeal – the one raised finger indicates that the ball was missing leg by one inch, not out.

Figure 3: Arms Outstretched: Not a clue mate, I only had two hours sleep

Emerson (7-0-49-0) bought himself on, but by this time G. Meadows (67) was hitting his stride and our hung-over captain was rather harshly dealt with. At the other end Hoskins (6-0-20-2) was giving the west country locals a lesson. More used to pasties they couldn’t pick his up country pie, and a splendid quicker one bought rich reward.

Hotson took a skyer on the boundary, D. Edwards (4-0-19-0) bowled with precision. Howarth (4.5-0-30-4) frequently overlooked in the bowling department by the regular skip, despite his frequent and expansive warm-ups, was finally given his chance on tour. He grabbed it with both hands taking four wickets in the final few overs as Honiton looked to accelerate. Just eleven extras including no byes, a good day for S. Dobner making his season debut behind the stumps, meant that a more than respectable 187 was achieved. Still we’ve chased more than that this season, game on.

Matt enjoys the company of Mrs. Honiton Scorer Extraordinaire.

Anyone expecting a Devon cream tea was not disappointed as our hosts provided scones to complement the usual fayre. Local lad Reeves was pleased to see the Devon tradition of jam then cream was observed. During the break the tour top trumps competition continued. Join us next time for the thrilling conclusion of this event.

It is now something of a tradition that N. Hebbes (45) scores more runs on tour than in the whole of the rest of the season and it was pretty much the case here as a well crafted innings was curtailed LBW just shy of a half century. Edwards (6), Roberts (12) and Hotson (4) never really got going on a pitch which had more than a little life in it.

C. Roberts smears one to off during his epic innings of 12.

At this point J. Hoskins (50) arrived using a batting implement not seen before this side of the Bristol channel. What is that strange shortened blade and how’s he using it to dispatch the bowling to all parts of the ground? Watching team mates grew nervous as his tally progressed through the 20’s, 30’s and into the 40’s. At the start of the season it had been rather jokingly suggested that if James ever reached 50 using the Mongoose, all non goosing members of the team would have their fines doubled. With his score on 46 he planted one over the boundary for a thoroughly deserved 50. Is there anything finer in sport than a big innings? I don’t think so. Was it worth waiting eleven years for? Certainly. Well done Jamo, reach for your wallets everyone. James was so elated that he didn’t see the next ball, a high full toss heading straight for the top of middle stump. Jamo immediately set another first, the first batsman to dance from the pitch is a state of euphoria, having just been bowled.

M. Westmoreland prepares to face during the fraught finale.

B. Mander (1) came and went. Emerson (0) got a bronze to add to his buffet. Losing the toss bought him a holy trinity of captaining. It’s not easy at the top. The good work of keeper Dobner behind the sticks was again highlighted by Honiton first team wicky conceding nine byes.

Honiton, in a mark of respect, realised that the game was finely balanced and turned to Holmes, by far their fiercest bowler. He had been rattled during the Honiton innings by a rising delivery which somehow wedged inside his face guard and was now more than keen to return the favour. Common consent was that his speed was somewhere in the sixties, which combined with the bumpy pitch made the wearing of helmets more than advisory. He was too good for Reeves (8) and Howarth (5) although both contributed to their own demise.

Well done, Steve – you just lost us the game.

Finally, with 24 needed, the final pairing of S. Dobner (25) and Westmoreland (10 n.o.) came together. Could they steer us to a famous victory? Could they cock. With Holmes tying down one end and the overs running out the only option was to score quickly from the other. Both tried slaps to the on side. Martin getting away with one and indeed almost winning the match as a Honiton fielder stuck out an arm to stop a match winning four. Dobner was not so lucky and fell to a great catch on the boundary, three runs short. Cobblers. Head for the hills everyone, he’s not going to be pleased. In the event Steve left a permanent reminder of his disappointment in the door of the away dressing room. Ah well, on balance they were probably a bit better but we acquitted ourselves well. Every goose has his day.

‘Reevsie’

*

Bonus: "Captaincy Inspector's Report"

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Statto's Scorecard

Match Fines

MOTM: J. Hoskins’ first fifty

Champagne Moment: M. Westmoreland’s sliding catch in the deep

Buffet Award: D. Emerson’s New Zealand lamb chops (with mint sauce)

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