“Great Team on Toilet Paper”

Match: 26 / 682

Lost by 65 runs

Team	Total
OUP	198 - 7
G. Timms 2 - 25, J. Pearson 1 - 12
FFTMCC	133 - 9
D. Shorten 47, R. Turner 29*

With the previously scheduled match at a doomed Jordan Hill lost to violent downpours and covers that leaked all over the wicket, this Sunday’s joust at a sun-baked Brasenose provided a totally contrasting setting. The biggest decision here would be to bat first in the early afternoon heat or chase down a target in the later afternoon heat, a decision all The MAD’s with Russ snapping a 5-toss losing streak and opting to chase some leather.

Turner (right) finally wins a toss.

MAD bowling was mostly on point throughout the first stanza with only a few lapses in the field, with the visitors never really running away with the game in posting a commendable 192-8 off their 35 overs. Pick of the bowling was perhaps Timms (2-25), whose leg spinning bamboozledry was a pleasant change from the occasional pie-twatting competition we see from time to time. Andy Darls (1-26) again flowed nicely both at the start and death of the innings, and only once or a dozen times moaned about his Achilles tear and upcoming brain surgery. Pick of the OUP batting was perhaps Lawrence (52*), better known for his bowling over the years but on this day couldn’t be arsed and so was given a bat instead.

After being deputised the previous week, buffet was today served up at the tea interval by Kate Reeves (the delivery and later gratitude accepted by her bean counting husband). A mention must go to the plate of popular, sliced watermelon, a delicacy that encouraged Mr Shorten to start boasting about how he was going to convert his swimming pool into a fruit growing paradise and instigate the beginnings of a new business empire.

Young M. Darley attempts to skewer a low-flying duck.

Make no mistake, this was a very fine MAD batting line up on this day, with the top nine protagonists boasting one or many half-centuries to their name, and in some cases, hundreds which were no doubt better innings than any that Brian Lara managed during his pomp. Naturally then for the FFTMCC, things didn’t go quite according to plan.

Pearson would duly go for a golden and Hadfield (duck) wished he’d stayed in Zagreb, a yearning perhaps shared by his teammates. This early innings malaise was then rescued by the in-form batters Shorten and Turner, who demonstrated the complete lack of poison in the wicket in compiling a routinely trouble-free 70-run partnership in less than 12 overs. Game on.

Daddy Darley tries to spank one into Kurdistan.

Time for David (47) to subsequently have a little daydream and time for Turner (29 ret) to add to The MAD’s growing list of injury worries with some pulled thigh/groin melodrama. No matter, Howarth and Harris would pick up the baton and now bring the team home, or maybe they wouldn’t.

After spanking a few fours down the ground, Howarth (18) predictably hit one to a pair of hands in the covers a ball later and not to be outdone, John (21) decided to do the same. This allowed the all-round talents of Timms, Reeves and Darley Jr the opportunity to slip into the popular and burgeoning duck pond, leaving Andy (11) to flail about knowing that the curtain would soon to be drawn. Geoff did get a bat at the end of this match, and he did a get a run, but Turner thought better of hobbling back out to the middle to no doubt watch Carter get himself out and simply buggered off for an early shower. OUP win by 65 runs and a most excellent piece of scoring on the day thank you, Chair Bullock.

This match certainly won’t go down in MAD folklore, but it will certainly be very quickly forgotten.

’Dulux’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far From the MCC versus Oxford University Press Played at Brasenose College, 5 July 2026 Far From the MCC won the toss and elected to field Oxford University Press won by 65 runs Far from the MCC debuts: n/a

26 / 682 35 over match

Team	Oxford University Press
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
	TOTAL	(for 7 wickets, 35 overs)	198

#	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 9 wickets, 27.3 overs)	133

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

MOTM: D. Shorten Champagne Moment: M. K. Reeves’ excellent diving catch in the gully Buffet Award: J. Harris’ extra special vanilla donuts (iced topping) MAD Moment: G. Carter’s thirty second missed stumping (living in his own slowed down universe…)

Opposition: V0 / 0 Ground: G0 / 0 Captain: C0 / 0 Match No: 35 / 254