“Judas Does a Lucan
As MAD Give Blake the Run Around”
Match: 24
/ 615
Won by 3 wkts
|
Team |
Total |
|
Sydenham CC |
158 - 8 |
|
G. Timms
4 - 34, M. Rundle 2 - 14 |
|
|
|
|
|
FFTMCC |
159 - 7 |
|
C. Williams
55, L. Ainsworth 21 |
|
|
Nestled in the lowlands
of the Chilterns is the idyllic cricket ground of Aston Rowant. A beautiful
ground boasting two pitches and a lively club house serving a range of draft
beers. Why we didn’t head straight there is anyone’s guess, instead ploughing
further into the Oxfordshire countryside passing million-pound homes at every
turn to the pristine village of Sydenham. A quick drink there and it was back
towards the M40. Today we were on the second pitch, which although we were
about two weeks early for the opening of its dedicated clubhouse was
nevertheless considered a good thing as it was less public and crucially,
smaller. Sydenham are our kind of
team, appearing to be the same demi graph in terms of age, portliness
and general outlook on cricket / life. The weather was unseasonably warm and
miraculously dry so on winning the toss Sydenham had no hesitation in
batting.
Later in the match, Williams tonks one to cow. First out to bat was
66-year-old T Blakeley accompanied by… no hold on, I know that guy, isn’t he
one of us? Indeed, it was Matthew John Reading, player number #133, who
debuted in 2014, scoring 1 in his first innings against Horspath. However, it
was in his second match that he really became one of us, when he made a
roughly 100-mile round trip to a field in Wiltshire to play the Nomads. Matt
fitted straight in, getting a golden duck and
picking up the buffet. He stuck it out for another two years before drifting
away, until now that is…. He’s still an opening bat, who now gets in to
double figures (10) and is pretty decent behind the stumps. Good to see you
Matt. Turning up for the opposition after eight years, that must be some sort
of record. The Sydenham wicket
offers an optical illusion. From the boundary it looks to be uphill from the
far end, whereas when you’re out there it’s uphill from the near end. Thus,
it was that Reeves (5-0-14-0) opened up the hill, down the slope whereas
Roberts (7-0-27-1) toiled away down the up slope from the near far end. Sydenham were trundling
along at 34 without loss after 12 overs when skipper Russ Turner turned to
his turner Timms (7-0-35-4). Spin was certainly the order of the day and Gary
got several to spit and bounce allowing him to rip through the engine room including
a decent caught and bowled plus the ball of the day to clean bowl C Loftus
for a golden. He also lured Sydenham star player D Bradley LBW (19) whilst
attempting an ill-advised reverse sweep. Hats off to the umpires for giving
that one (even through it was plumb) and for being lenient on the wides. We
hope the bowler’s union repaid that in kind.
A riveting day out for all concerned. The Sydenham innings
seemed to be limping to little more than three figures when in came tail enders D Reynolds (41*) and B Lamb (27).
They hoiked and biffed in tremendous fashion whilst
several MAD teamsters drop catches until Lee held on to a missile in the
deep. The Sydenham innings concluded on 158, more than respectable. Tea was
leisurely and wonderful, then it was our go. Chris (55) and Lee (21)
got us off to a flier and at 75 for 0 after 11 overs the game seemed to be
done and dusted. However, Sydenham had other ideas, using nine bowlers with a
variety of styles to keep The MAD guessing and
struggling to score. Wickets fell at regular intervals. It would be easy to
say all fell to stupid shots, but that is to do an injustice to the bowling
and field placing, much more canny than it appeared.
Keeper Reading watches on as Lee slaps one
through the covers. The MAD innings was
hindered by Judas fielding from our own team. Howarth inexplicably stopped
what was a certain two with his bat, whilst standing at the non-striker’s
end. A little later umpire Russ at square leg, failed to get out of the way
of one sailing towards the boundary. Nice work lads. Still needing 11 for
victory and with only 3 overs and 3 wickets remaining some on the boundary
were getting the jitters. Not so James Hoskins who declared loudly and
frequently that it was not in doubt and had been over for 20 overs or more.
He was proved correct as finishers Timms (11*) and Rundle got us over the
line courtesy of a few wides.
Sanity prevailed and we
travelled no further than the Aston Rowant clubhouse to celebrate with our excellent
hosts. A good close game played in an excellent spirit. Just time to kick the
Leeds football around for Blake to chase, like the lovely lad that he is. ’Reevsie’
|
*
Statto Scorecards
|
Far From the MCC versus Sydenham CC Played at Aston Rowant (Pitch B), 19 May
2024 Sydenham CC won the toss and elected
to bat Far from the MCC won by 3 wkts Far from the MCC debuts: n/a |
24 / 615 35 over match |
|
Team |
Sydenham CC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
T.
Blakeley |
b Rundle |
31 |
|
4 |
- |
1-36 |
|
2 |
M. J.
Reading † |
c & b Timms |
10 |
|
1 |
- |
2-49 |
|
3 |
P. Brine |
c Williams b Timms |
5 |
|
- |
- |
3-67 |
|
4 |
D.
Bradley * |
lbw b Timms |
19 |
|
2 |
- |
4-67 |
|
5 |
C.
Loftus |
b Timms |
0 |
|
- |
- |
5-72 |
|
6 |
R.
Senior |
c & b Timms |
0 |
|
- |
- |
6-82 |
|
7 |
P. Reynolds |
not out |
41 |
|
6 |
- |
7-87 |
|
8 |
S.
Ferriter |
c Hotson b Hoskins |
4 |
|
- |
- |
8-144 |
|
9 |
B. Lamb |
c Ainsworth b Roberts |
27 |
|
1 |
- |
|
|
10 |
T. Roe |
not out |
4 |
|
- |
- |
|
|
11 |
M. Jones |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
NB1, W8, LB5, B3 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 8 wickets, 35 overs) |
158 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
Reeves |
5 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
2.80 |
|
|
2 |
Roberts |
7 |
0 |
27 |
1 |
3.86 |
|
|
3 |
Timms |
7 |
0 |
35 |
4 |
5.00 |
|
|
4 |
Rundle |
7 |
1 |
14 |
2 |
2.00 |
|
|
5 |
Hoskins |
6 |
0 |
41 |
1 |
6.83 |
|
|
6 |
Howarth |
3 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
6.33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Far from the MCC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
C. T. J.
Williams |
c & b Ferriter |
55 |
(55) |
7 |
1 |
1-75 |
|
2 |
L. G.
Ainsworth |
c Senior b Reynolds |
21 |
(32) |
2 |
- |
2-88 |
|
3 |
R. P.
Turner * |
c Rowe b Ferriter |
3 |
(11) |
- |
- |
3-89 |
|
4 |
I.
Howarth |
b Blakeley |
20 |
(44) |
2 |
- |
4-122 |
|
5 |
M. K. Reeves |
b Bradley |
16 |
(28) |
3 |
- |
5-132 |
|
6 |
J. D.
Hoskins |
b Bradley |
1 |
(11) |
- |
- |
6-140 |
|
7 |
J. A.
Cartwright |
c & b Brine |
7 |
(8) |
1 |
- |
7-147 |
|
8 |
G. J.
Timms |
not out |
11 |
(8) |
1 |
- |
|
|
9 |
M. S.
Rundle |
not out |
0 |
(6) |
- |
- |
|
|
10 |
C. D.
Roberts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
J. C. W.
Hotson † |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
NB5, W10, LB1, B9 |
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 7 wickets, 33.1 overs) |
159 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
Jones |
7 |
0 |
34 |
0 |
4.86 |
|
|
2 |
Loftus |
1 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
23.00 |
|
|
3 |
Bradley |
7 |
1 |
18 |
2 |
2.57 |
|
|
4 |
Reynolds |
3 |
0 |
15 |
1 |
5.00 |
|
|
5 |
Roe |
6 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
3.17 |
|
|
6 |
Ferriter |
4 |
1 |
14 |
2 |
3.50 |
|
|
7 |
Blakeley |
3 |
0 |
9 |
1 |
3.00 |
|
|
8 |
Brine |
2 |
0 |
14 |
1 |
7.00 |
|
|
9 |
Lamb |
0.1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
18.00 |
|
|
MOTM: G. J. Timms Champagne Moment: J. C. W. Hotson’s catch
above head whilst stood up (as keeper) Buffet Award: J. D. Hoskin’s sour-dough vegetarian pizzas (extra cheese) MAD
Moment: R. P. Turner stopping a
pulled boundary off Howarth by using his arm (as square leg umpire) |
Opposition:
V110 / 004 Ground: G102 / 004 Captain: C024 / 085 Match No: 35 / 230 |