“Jams and Chicken Nuggets”
Match: 24
/ 617
Lost
by DLS
|
Team |
Total |
|
Isis CC |
138 - 2 |
|
L. Ainsworth
1 - 14 |
|
|
|
|
|
FFTMCC |
89 - 6 |
|
J. Pearson
33, J. Pyrah 14 |
|
|
Hopes were high in
advance of this Bank Holiday weekend for a magical cricketing melodrama to
etch itself into the storied MAD folklore so celebrated among the few people
who have bothered reading our books(s) or are largely unaffected by the early
onset of dementia. We all hoped in earnest for this latest joust against our ‘quiet’
neighbours to become one of those oft-talked about
encounters where the balance shifts this way and that before the most
dramatic of conclusions where, well... obviously we win. That synopsis didn't
quite materialise.
The car journey to the
ground took in the delights of a static Abingdon Road, traffic inching along
the only route into the city centre towards the exaggerated joys and shopping
experience which is the revamped Westgate Centre. There we would sit outside
a very quiet, if slightly sad Tap Social pub looking back at the even sadder
faces of people stuck in cars and buses, contemplating their absurd folly to
even attempt the wretched journey into town. I can only hope the bargains in
Primark and discounted fashion brands justified their exhausting afternoon
commute. Forecasts for the Sunday
didn't exactly pique ones optimism, but which gloomy
app to believe? Certainly, the day was likely to be interfered with by the
weather gods, but to what extent and when exactly? Reducing the length of the
match from the outset seemed a good idea, at least until it pissed it down barely an hour in and players found
themselves sheltering under the eaves of the pavilion, reimagining their day
somewhere warm and sunny or at least sat in a nice cosy pub nursing a pint or
six.
Time to run for the hills. Or at least the
pavilion. An early tea provided a
modicum of cheer and certainly the chicken nuggets went down a storm,
particularly for young Blake who now resembles some breaded, deboned chicken
meat having eaten his body weight of the stuff. The pizza slices were nice
too, as were the smorgasbord of sandwiches and delicacies that also begged to
be scoffed. The raspberry cheesecake was a nice addition. After a prolonged period
of sitting down, eating, moaning, talking shit, getting up, sitting down,
eating some more, and wandering out onto a damp Queens College pitch to
demonstrate your skills at predicting the direction of cloud traffic and
potential rainfall, a group of wisened men huddled about to agree a further
shortening of the match to a T20 and for the home team to complete overs
16-20 and accumulate a total of 138-2 (Ponsford Jr 52, Stephenson 59). This
period of play was both miserable, wet and cold but
did achieve its ultimate goal of completing an innings. Mark Rundle would
catch a ball and Ian Howarth would not, although the latter was brought in
off the boundary to see the following ball sail handsomely over his head. Trapsing off for another
elongated recess and moan, a group of wisened men now huddled around a mobile
phone and some ridiculous DLS app for contriving to realise a completely
unreachable target*
(179) off a further 20 overs. The Sunrisers Hyderabad might have struggled
with this target given the vagaries of a pitch offering pop, zero pop and
lateral movement by the bucketload. Whether the weather (sic) was to blame
for the resulting malaise, the extended period of being sat on your arse
ingesting food and allowing limbs to stiffen or simply the target being an
unachievable fantasy (even for JMO) is open to debate, but for the next hour
or so the match meandered to it’s inevitable, dispiriting
and obvious conclusion (i.e The MAD lost).
Pearson cows one to cow (ridiculous target in the
background).
Debutant Mr Pyrah about to run into James…. There were a few bright
moments to report on however: Pearson (33) does what he always does and
scored runs at this venue, John Pyrah (14) opened his MAD account and avoided
the famed ‘Duck on Debut’ club, Geoff gloated on because he avoided playing,
little Blake discovered a further plate of uneaten chicken nuggets and Mike
Reeves was able to remain defiant and unbeaten at the end after a
breathtaking innings of 0 not out [worth the entrance fee alone]. Predictably, the sun
would finally overcome its shy demeanour and once again reappear after the
match concluded, enough that players could sit on the wet outfield on broken
plastic chairs and sink a beer or two. That, or sit inside a darkened room
within the confines of the pavilion and play some poker.
We have had many
wonderful May Bank Holiday matches against our neighbours and there are many
fond memories to cherish, this one unfortunately ticked neither box. Here’s
to a hopefully much more uplifting weekend reunion in July. * - The DLS target remains shrouded in uncertain mystery,
although what is certain is that 100% of The MAD team understood that to
having been agreed as FACT. ’Batty Absentia’
|
*
Statto Scorecards
|
Far From the MCC versus Isis CC Played at Queens College, 26 May 2024 Far from the MCC won the toss and
elected to field Isis CC won by DLS (or by 49 runs) Far from the MCC debuts: John
Pyrah (166) |
24 / 617 30 over match reduced to 20 overs |
|
Team |
Isis CC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
J. Duckitt |
b Reeves |
3 |
(11) |
- |
- |
1-11 |
|
2 |
J.
Ponsford |
c Rundle b Ainsworth |
52 |
(54) |
7 |
- |
2-128 |
|
3 |
R.
Stephenson |
retired hurt |
59 |
(40) |
9 |
- |
|
|
4 |
M. Abi† |
not out |
7 |
(7) |
1 |
- |
|
|
5 |
H.
Stoneman |
not out |
4 |
(8) |
- |
- |
|
|
6 |
H. Rees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
J.
Walter * |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
J. Asplet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
N. H. R.
Wyatt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
A.
Symons |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
A. East |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
W5, LB3, B5 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 2 wickets, 20 overs) |
138 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
Howarth |
4 |
1 |
18 |
0 |
4.50 |
|
|
2 |
Reeves |
4 |
0 |
27 |
1 |
6.75 |
|
|
3 |
Rundle |
4 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
5.75 |
|
|
4 |
Pearson |
3 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
6.67 |
|
|
5 |
Timms |
3 |
0 |
29 |
0 |
9.67 |
|
|
6 |
Ainsworth |
2 |
0 |
14 |
1 |
7.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: R. Stephenson retired at 109-2 (16.0 overs) |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Far from the MCC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Batsman |
How Out |
Total |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
FOW |
|
1 |
C. T. J.
Williams |
b Symons |
1 |
(4) |
- |
- |
2-8 |
|
2 |
L. G.
Ainsworth |
b Symons |
2 |
(13) |
- |
- |
3-51 |
|
3 |
J. S.
Pyrah |
run out |
14 |
(29) |
- |
- |
4-60 |
|
4 |
J. W.
Pearson |
b Wyatt |
33 |
(26) |
4 |
- |
5-67 |
|
5 |
J. A.
Cartwright |
b East |
9 |
(12) |
1 |
- |
6-81 |
|
6 |
R. P.
Turner * |
not out |
9 |
(25) |
- |
- |
2-8 |
|
7 |
G. J.
Timms |
c Duckitt b
Walter |
3 |
(8) |
- |
- |
|
|
8 |
M. K.
Reeves |
not out |
0 |
(6) |
- |
- |
|
|
9 |
I.
Howarth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
M. S.
Rundle |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
J. C. W.
Hotson † |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extras |
NB5, W9, LB2, B2 |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
(for 6 wickets, 20 overs) |
89 |
|
|
|
|
|
# |
Bowler |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Econ |
|
|
1 |
Symons |
4 |
0 |
9 |
2 |
2.25 |
|
|
2 |
Asplet |
4 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
4.50 |
|
|
3 |
East |
4 |
0 |
23 |
1 |
5.75 |
|
|
4 |
Wyatt |
2 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
4.00 |
|
|
5 |
Walter |
4 |
0 |
15 |
1 |
3.75 |
|
|
6 |
Duckitt |
2 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
6.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Match length adjusted
from 30 to 20 overs per side (rain) with DLS formula applied |
|
||||||
|
MOTM: J. W. Pearson Champagne Moment: M. S. Rundle’s catch in
the deep Buffet Award: G. J. Timms’ chicken nuggets with garlic mayo dip (side fries) MAD
Moment: R. P. Turner’s decision to
bring Howarth in off the boundary to see the ball then fly over his head for four |
Opposition:
V009 / 042 Ground: G008 / 025 Captain: C024 / 086 Match No: OT / 042 |