“Reduced Over Sunday Game

Predicts World Cup Final Result”

Match: 26 / 685

Won by 5 wkts

Team	Total
Isis CC	96 - 6
J. Harris 2 - 8, M. Rundle 2 - 23
FFTMCC	99 - 4
D. Shaw 34*, C. Williams 30*

The latest conflict against ISIS was shortened into a T20 due to old fashioned expectations that England would be playing in the Football World Cup Final – and if the footballing world had been watching this contest, they would have seen what was to come later in the evening. ISIS (representing Argentina) missing a few Maradona’s of the past had moments of passion but ultimately falling in a rather Messi defeat against The MAD. The MAD (representing Spain) played with patience, dominating possession without putting the game to bed initially but finally having structure and belief in their system to become the Champions and lift the trophy.

The tone of The MAD fielding innings was set by the opening bowlers M. Rundle (4-0-23-2) and J. Hoskins (4-0-1-18). Rundle bowled economically throughout but especially so in the first over, striking with the fourth ball. Fantasy Economy awarded but he would ultimately also bag a rare Buffet such was the tightness of the other bowlers.

J. Lamb (32) for ISIS as with Messi for Argentina, attempted to drag his side through the first half of the Match, dominating the strike and looking dangerous, but Hoskins managed to bag his wicket with the last ball of his spell.

The first bowling change brought on I. Howarth (4-0-10-1), who bowled a consistent nagging line and length, Howarth frequently guffawing with disbelief as the ball beat everything bar the ever-alert springing keeper R. Turner. G. Timms (4-1-18-0) at the other end turning the screw in more ways than one to keep the scoreboard pressure up in the middle of the innings.

At the death on came D. Shaw (2-0-10-0) and J. Harris (2-0-8-2) and just as Spain’s relentless pressure eventually wears opponents down, The MAD bowlers squeezed the life out of the ISIS innings. Both death bowlers having fantastic economy and saw Harris netting another couple of wickets to his seasonal haul.

Library footage of Harris (bowling) in action.

Due to the quality of the bowling, no other ISIS batters ever really got going – a valiant attempt by M. Navqi (20*) but being off 43 balls – it was too slow. B. Stansfield (17) the only other batter to get into double figures but he was expertly stumped by R. Turner.

On the balcony during tea that wasn’t, Turner reflecting on (in his opinion) perhaps “the best bowling unit performance seen from the MAD” and commenting it was “a Keeper’s Dream” unlike Shilton’s remarks in that fateful Hand of God performance of 1986. The batting scorecard was now established and looking down the scorecard perhaps The MAD tail could be forgiven for being confident enough that they would not be needed to breach the meagre target of 96.

C. Williams (30 rtd) strode to the crease with D. Shaw (34 rtd) who started their chase with aplomb, easily keeping up with the run rate set by ISIS. D. Shaw came out of the traps first, accelerating to 27 off his first 18 balls while C. Williams was left behind in single figures but then the tables turned and it was Williams turn to accelerate to the retirement figure, such was the synchronicity of this opening partnership, both retired at the end of the 7th over with the score on 64.

Shaw and Williams leave the field after sharing a fine opening stanza.

T. Williams (11) in at No.3 started strongly bagging ten runs off his first over, but it was from the 9th over that the runs just seemed to dry up. R. Hadfield (6) partnered Taiga and was batting with his newly repaired bat (repaired by G. Carter, who was currently setting France on fire) Hadfield seemed to be batting tentatively, perhaps protecting said repaired bat, so obviously the slowed run rate was all Geoff’s fault.

After R. Hadfield and T. Williams departure there was perhaps a little concern when J. Harris (0) bagged a seven-ball duck followed by J. Cartwright (0), a four-ball duck. Could it be possible that ISIS would mirror Argentina’s dramatic last minute Football World Cup recoveries?

Pace veteran K. Ponsford here seen just prior to banging it in.

No, not to be. With roomies I. Howarth (9* – despite needing a shit due to no toilet paper in the Pavilion) and finally M. Rundle (4*), bringing the trophy home, Psycho striking the killing blow with a superb boundary to seal the Match and claim Player of the Match to boot.

We retired to the Slow and Steady pub to convene around the Team Table, berating Spam for inappropriately removing hat wear from the field of play and basked in our 2-0 seasonal victory over ISIS – for the second year on the trot…. Happy Days.

’Motson’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far From the MCC versus Isis CC Played at Brasenose College, 19 July 2026 Far From the MCC won the toss and elected to field Far From the MCC won by 6 wkts Far from the MCC debuts: n/a

26 / 685 20 over match

Team	Isis CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
	TOTAL	(for 6 wickets, 20 overs)	96

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1
2
3
4
5
6

Team	Far from the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
	TOTAL	(for 4 wickets, 15.2 overs)	99

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

MOTM: M. S. Rundle Champagne Moment: Double retirees! D. Shaw & C. T. J. Williams Buffet Award: M. S. Rundle’s infected donna kebab (dodgy salad side) MAD Moment: Hat confusion with keeper Russ handing Spam his hat (to keep) to then use his helmet and Spam lobbing it over the wrong boundary!?

Opposition: V0 / 0 Ground: G0 / 0 Captain: C0 / 0 Match No: 20 / 208