“Bernard Two, Show Time for the Equine”

Match: 25 / 663

Lost by 29 runs

Team	Total
Timberscombe CC	215 - 4
J. Hoskins 2 - 35
FFTMCC	186 - 5
C. Williams 49, I. Howarth 47

Sunday morning dawned dull and overcast as The MAD convened outside the Beach Hotel. Cooked breakfasts had been consumed (for the third day running) and pasties purchased, again, not for the first time this trip. With showers forecast and various members of the party either crooked, or running on fumes, the sensible decision was taken to start at 12:30 and limit proceedings to 25 overs per side.

Arriving at the ground, the air was heavy with expectation. Is he here, can it really be him? Yes! It’s Bernard, the invisible, flying, storytelling, rock climbing horse was exactly where we left him last year. Go on Bernard, do your party trick. There, he did it, he turned around, then turned back, then ten minutes later walked off for a bit, then walked back, amazing, what a top stallion.

Bernard.

Back to the cricket and Timberscombe had managed to muster just seven players including some who’d already beaten us this trip and one who was a former neighbour of Russ. No matter, the sides were reduced to ten each, with three of the MAD, Darley, Cartwright and Hotson eyeing up the Judas records.

Skipper for the day Bob, happy just to have made it to the final day this time around, won the toss and asked Timberscombe to have first go on a parched and sloping pitch. Opening for them was Darley (53 n.o.) putting aside his mental demons and just getting on with the job of hitting the damn thing, which he did very well in sending it to the boundary ten times. Enjoy the good times dude and don’t dwell on the bad. As in cricket as in life ‘If’ only I could think of a poem to articulate that.

The fielding was all about one man, ball magnet for the day Ainsworth. First, he dropped a relatively simple one to dismiss the full flowing aforementioned Darley, then dropped another more difficult chance before taking an excellent one in the deep and an absolute blinder off his own bowling. He rounded things off by spilling a really difficult chance after making a lot of ground and getting both hands to it.

Pick of the bowlers was Hoskins (4-0-35-2), but in the end 215 from the 25 overs looked challenging especially considering the number of tired bodies and minds who would have to mount a chase.

Rundle and Ainsworth achieving some movement.

Captain Bob put himself at number one, along with his builder mate at number two. Together they constructed a partnership of nine, but the foundations of their innings were never solid and Bob was soon bulldozed for eight LBW. It was controversial at the time, with height being mentioned, but both the square leg umpire and Dave at the non-strikers agreed with Geoff’s initial assessment.

Captain Roberts gives it some humpty.

After that we scored some runs, Williams (49) with a glorious six and Spam (47) batting well but failing AGAIN to hit the telegraph pole from 21 years ago. Too soon The MAD had fallen 29 runs short, bags were being packed and fond farewells exchanged as promises were made to return in the not-too-distant future. All that remained was the joys of the M5 whilst listening to England throw it away against India.

Roll on 2026.

Then and now….

Fifth Test Update

Day 4: England 247 & 339-6 (RSP) , India 224 & 396

Day 5 (Post Tour): England 247 & 367 , India 224 & 396 (India win by 6 runs)

’Reevsie’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far From the MCC versus Timberscombe CC Played at Timberscombe, 3 August 2025 Far From the MCC the toss and elected to field Timberscombe CC won by 29 runs Far from the MCC debuts: n/a

25 / 663 25 over match

Team	Timberscombe CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	P. Sparks *	retired	51	(34)	9	-	1-90
2	A. J. Darley	retired	53	(45)	10	-	2-137
3	A. Salter	lbw b Hoskins	1	(3)	-	-	3-150
4	T. Sparks	c Ainsworth b Shorten	27	(17)	4	-	4-215
5	S. Pettit	c & b Ainsworth	9	(6)	2	-
6	J. A. Cartwright	b Hoskins	17	(20)	1	-
7	A. Gubb	not out	36	(28)	5	-
8	B. Lang	not out
9	S. Yaw
10	J. C. W. Hotson †
11
	Extras	NB7, W5, LB5, B4	21
	TOTAL	(for 4 wickets, 25 overs)	215

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	Reeves	3	0	15	0	5.00
2	Howarth	3	0	15	0	5.00
3	Rundle	4	0	37	0	9.25
4	Roberts	2	0	25	0	12.50
5	Hoskins	4	0	35	2	8.75
6	Shorten	4	0	23	1	5.75
7	Ainsworth	3	0	22	1	7.33
8	Williams	2	0	34	0	17.00
Note: A. J. Darley, J. A. Cartwright & J. C. W. Hotson guested for the opposition

Team	Far From the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	C. D. Roberts *	lbw b Salter	8	(8)	2	-	1-9
2	D. Shorten	c Hotson b Yaw	11	(11)	1	-	2-25
3	C. T. J. Williams	c T. Sparks b Pettit	49	(38)	7	1	3-93
4	R. P. Turner	st Hotson b P. Sparks	32	(51)	1	-	4-155
5	I. Howarth	c P. Sparks b Cartwright	47	(23)	6	1	5-166
6	L. G. Ainsworth	not out	17	(13)	2	-
7	M. S. Rundle	not out	7	(6)	1	-
8	M. K. Reeves
9	J. D. Hoskins
10	G. Carter †
11
	Extras	W7, LB1, B7	15
	TOTAL	(for 5 wickets, 25 overs)	186

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	Yaw	3	0	15	1	5.00
2	Salter	5	0	31	1	6.20
3	Pettit	6	0	49	1	8.17
4	T. Sparks	5	0	35	0	7.00
5	Cartwright	2	0	21	1	10.50
6	Gubb	2	0	17	0	8.50
7	P. Sparks	2	0	10	1	5.00

MOTM: C. T. J. Williams Champagne Moment: L. G. Ainsworth’s reactionary caught and bowled (superb) Buffet Award: C. T. J. Williams’ steak burgers, potato croquettes and taco beans MAD Moment: I. Howarth’s middle aged (non) boundary fielding

Opposition: V032 / 005 Ground: G023 / 005 Captain: C019 / 003 Match No: OT / 047