Stonor CC vs Weekenders CC
17th April 2011
Stonor CC 65 Weekenders CC 66-5
Weekenders win by 5 wickets
Match Report by
Peter Lee
The Weekenders and
their esteemed opponents endeavoured to discover a new form of cricket
yesterday as they played out a fixture that barely lasted twenty overs apiece
and was all done and dusted within around three hours. Their collective
view was that such a format would never catch on and they agreed to play a more
traditional format next time around.
Eight Weekenders
arrived at the delightful Stonor CC ground on a sun-kissed spring afternoon. As
ever, despite fourteen players being available during the week, a full
complement was unable to assemble for the start of the match with Wahi and the
Skipper caught in traffic and Jeyaratnam caught with his pants down. Stonor
batted first and generously allowed the ÔEnders the use of a green-tinged track
and a couple of their better fielders. The combination of humidity and
moisture saw the opening bowlers swing it more than a Glenn Miller themed
wife-swapping party which was all too much for opener Dickie who saw his
timbers spread early doors by Douglas. Number 3 Harris cracked away an
accomplished pull-shot before looking to drive aerially off Dibley and being
snaffled by a mortified-looking Sub (Maidlow). Lovatt eschewed the
traditional approach of playing the conditions by seeking to smash every ball
into the next door county but having connected with a couple, he was bowled
neck and crop for DouglasÕs second wicket.
19-3 looked
extremely precarious as skipper Powell and left-handed biffer Nicholson looked
to steady the ship. The former had cracked a crucial 79 in the corresponding
fixture the previous year but this time he displayed an unerring accuracy in
picking out the fielders. In particular, Wahi and he appeared to be
playing their own fixture for long spells. Fourteen more runs were added
before Powell finally succumbed for 10 off 56 balls, nurdling a catch to Dunne
who promptly sustained his traditional hand injury. The fall of the
fourth wicket and the introduction of Dunne were taken as a sign by Nicholson
to launch an assault, fourteen runs coming from three consecutive balls.
The ÔEnders brains trust got together and hatched a cunning plan – two
fielders were sent out to the boundary and Nicholson promptly launched Dunne
towards the sightscreen where Lee had plenty of time to consider the pivotal
point the match had just reached before clinging on one-handed.
At 55-5, Stonor were
in serious danger of failing to make three figures. With plenty of overs
left, the option of grinding out a score was available. Casting caution
to the winds however they decided Bothamesque attack was the best form of
defence. 10-5 suggested they may have been watching too many England
batting powerplays. Dunne nibbled it away off the seam to bowl Harris and
Agar in the same over before Hussaini repeated the feat, beating Denton in the
flight and winning an LBW decision against Maidlow. Bradshaw finished
things off with a swipe to mid on off the excellent Dunne, all out for 65.
With tea still an
hour away, Weekenders took to the field knowing even a fairly incompetent
batting effort would be enough to secure an early season win. This proved
fortunate. Brockis was critically dropped in the second over before
taking control of the innings with a masterful 47. His impending
appearance in ÒBatman LiveÓ where, as Bruce WayneÕs father he will be getting
triggered by a Joker early doors on a nightly basis had clearly inspired him to
fill his boots as quickly as possible. All around him, a succession of ÔEnders
contrived to throw their wickets away, only McDonald being unfortunate to play
on off the pacey Harris. Jeyaratnam in particular will have cause to rue
a 22,000 mile round trip culminating in a slash to a very wide ball outside off
stump. Despite the best attempts of five members of the top six, the
efforts of one were enough to seal victory.
The only blot on an
excellent day was the early finish prevented a return to The Crown, requiring a
comic procession around the local highways and byways to find an alternative.
Man of the match
award goes to the small child who took part in the following exchange with two
Weekenders at the end of the match:
Child: Who won?
WÕs: We did
C: How many runs did
Stonor make?
WÕs: 65
C: How many did you
make?
WÕs: 66
C: Oooh, that was
really close!
A future as a Sky
Sports cricket commentator awaits.
Scorecard:
Innings of Stonor
CC Dickie b Douglas 1 Powell ct Dunne b
Dibley 10 Harris (I) ct sub
b Dibley 7 Lovatt b Douglas 8 Nicholson ct Lee b
Dunne 24 Maidlow lbw
Hussaini Harris (S) b Dunne
1 Agar b Dunne 0 Denton b Hussaini
0 Bradshaw ct Lee b
Dunne 3 Kimber Not Out 0 Extras 5 Total: 65 all out Bowling Douglas 7-1-20-2 Dibley 9-3-16-2 Dunne 5-1-21-4 Hussaini 2-0-6-2 |
Innings of
Weekenders CC* Brockis not out 47 McDonald b Harris
2 King b Harris 6 Jeyaratnam ct
Harris (I) b Powell 2 Lee b Denton 3 Wahi ct & b
Denton 2 Dibley not out 0 *I was given a
boundary but I didnÕt score any. I donÕt think anyone did apart from
Darrell so IÕve given him the extra 4. If anyone else wants to lay
claim, photographic evidence will be required. Extras 5 Total 66-5 Bowling Harris (S)
8-3-11-2 Bradshaw 4-0-18-0 Kimber 2-0-9-0 Powell 2-0-11-1 Denton 3.2-0-11-2 Agar ?-0-6-0 |