“Record Heat in May

And Handling the Heat at the Death”

Match: 26 / 675

Won by 3 wkts

Team	Total
Isis CC	176 - 5
M. Reeves 2 - 23
FFTMCC	177 - 7
D. Shorten 68, A. Darley 30

The hottest day in May in the UK was back in 1944 when, genuinely, the mercury rose to 32.8 degrees. That record was broken over the bank holiday weekend with 34.8 registered somewhere in London, and as I write on the 26th might well be broken again. Two weeks previously the temperatures had struggled to reach 12 degrees. Thus, hot, blinking, pale lathered in suncream the teams prepared for this great bank holiday event at Queens. The outfield was still green from spring rains just a week or two earlier – it was a perfect setting for a game of cricket.

Shorten (batting) repelling the Isis attack.

Prior to the game Russ revealed that he had been practising his coin toss to determine which side is statistically the most likely to be correctly called. He didn’t seem very convinced by the argument that there being two sides that it would be a 50/50 call and so will go on dedicatedly trying to uncover some anomaly in probability mathematics at home in front of the TV flipping away merrily. Honestly this is just the tip of the iceberg with this team. Jake Hotson the keeper would swoop in with a greater mental aberration in asking to borrow a box for keeping only to realise that his was already in place. I mean glasses on your head is one thing but a big plastic shield on your knackers going unnoticed? The upshot of Russ’ study was shock and disbelief when he lost his first toss of the season, and we were stuck out in the field.

Drinks every 12 overs were absolutely necessary. It was hot and would only getter hotter through the day. Opening up were John Pyrah (4-0-17-0) and A Darley (4-1-11-0) and bowled good areas to keep the rate down and also induce what appears to be a clear edge off Pyrah from the bat of E Burn. The batter didn’t walk and the umpire was unconvinced and the mad fielders were left to chunter in the increasing heat. First change Shorten (4-1-4-1) repeated the exact same thing in his first over, but heard nothing, to then realise everyone had appealed and the batter was sent off by the umpire. Too many power tools over the years. Part time Madster part time Isis boy Alf Symons came to the crease and was troubled at times but made a well played 30. All the time Ollie Walter was confidently accumulating. Shorten and young Morgan Darley (6-0-41-0) kept a lid on the scoring rate to leave Isis well place at 87-1 at halfway but certainly not running away from The MAD.

Turner clips to leg.

The introduction of new northerner Reeves (4-0-23-2) and Timms (5-1-23-0) brought continued control of the scoring by the Mad with Reeves taking two wickets in an over - first Symons and then Duckitt, both carefully take by Rundle at Mid Off. And so, the innings progressed similarly until its conclusion. No side executed a killer blow – Stephenson (10), Wibblin (8) and Smokey Joe Walter (36*) accumulated well but equally Reeves, Rundle (5-0-26-1) and the returning Morgan Darley kept things under control. Rundle after three games wicketless can breathe again after taking a wicket in his last over – a lovely slower ball to deceive Stephenson who was looking to push on. Notable mention must go to J. Hotson who kept admirably in the heat with his unique falling over constantly style and only conceded 5 byes. So, the Isis had made it to 176. A decent total, but the outfield was quick. It felt like par, but chasing is never easy.

The temperature seemed to have gone up again after tea and reluctantly Isis left the shade and made their way to the middle. Williams (10) took 10 off the first over demonstrating his class but left his teammates surprised by being dismissed for that score soon after. Turner (27) joined Harris (0), but Harris was run out soon after taking on the young Wyatts arm to leave The MAD 11-2 in the fourth over. The discussion from the incoming Shorten (68) and Russ was to stabilise and see off the accurate N. Wyatt (7-3-16-2) and Symons (7-1-22-0). Both were bowling challenging lines and moving the ball occasionally. With this first goal achieved The MAD started to make some inroads on the total but never getting away from Isis. Russ provided stability whilst Shorten for once managed not to mentally capitulate and played the more attacking role in a controlled way. Mention goes to both the young Wyatts – both really great cricketers who both bowled with good control in the middle overs A. Wyatt (4-0-20-0) and W. Wyatt (5.5-0-44-0). We look forward to seeing them progress as cricketers as the years tick by.

All the while this was happening a steady accumulation of umpiring, scoring and spectator points was happening. These additions to fantasy are welcome if not a bit controversial and have definitely led to some defensive posturing as an umpire or over the scorebook. A regular umpire last year – I’ve barely got a look in this year. Anyway, it was great to see Lucan and Geoff come along to support us.

All good things don’t necessarily have to end – but they did – when Shorten trying a big heave off a slow delivery off Duckitt (2-0-13-1) missed and was bowled. With Russ falling LBW to N Wyatt without any addition to the score it was game back on after The MAD had begun to get the upper hand. However, a well played 105 run partnership gave The MAD a good chance.

Shorten and Turner sprint between the wickets.

57 still required off 12 overs meant we were back to the original asking rate with four wickets down – even stevens. The incoming A. Darley (30) showed again that he has remodelled his batting brain. Gone are the days of big shots then out. Instead, he and we were left wondering how it was that he was increasingly hot, bothered and knackered. The scorecard explained it – he faced 42 balls, scored 22 runs that were run and helped take The MAD from 120 to 165, and was partially melted in the process. Assisting were Timms (4), Reeves (4) and Pyrah (12*). Andy was eventually out caught at cow in the deep which left his son Morgan to join Pyrah in the middle. 11 balls left 11 runs required 3 wickets left. The definition of a squeaky bottom.

Pyrah came down the wicket to create a half volley off Stephenson and sent the ball to the mid on boundary with 8 balls to go – a confident shot in the John we know lurks beneath the doubts and nerves and would be appearing to emerge as the season progresses. 6 balls 6 runs and Morgan to face. The first ball of the last over was confidently knocked back straight to the mid-off boundary off the back foot to the utter relief of the onlookers. A couple more singles and The MAD would seal the deal with a ball to spare. Well done Morgan and John handling things at their most tense.

Library footage of Williams fending one off.

Notable mention has also to go to the field manoeuvres of Isis that meant The MAD innings took an astonishing 3 hours 20 minutes and J. Harris recording his latest ever arrival back home. Thanks to Dan and Kayleigh for providing a great tea and having the bar well stocked. Thanks to Isis to playing the game in a great spirit and making for yet another tight and memorable contest. Next!

’Lego’

*

Statto Scorecards

Far From the MCC versus Isis CC Played at Queens College, 24 May 2026 Isis won the toss and elected to bat Far From the MCC won by 3 wkts Far from the MCC debuts: n/a

26 / 675 35 over match

Team	Isis CC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	O. Walter	lbw b Harris	58
2	E. Burn †	c Hotson b Shorten	12
3	A. Symons	c Rundle b Reeves	30
4	J. Duckitt	c Rundle b Reeves	0
5	J. Walter	not out	36
6	R. Stephenson *	b Rundle	10
7	P. Wiblin	not out	8
8	H. Rees
9	W. Wyatt
10	A. Wyatt
11	N.H.R. Wyatt
	Extras	W11, LB6, B5	22
	TOTAL	(for 5 wickets, 35 overs)	176

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	A. Darley	4	1	21	0	5.25
2	Pyrah	4	0	17	0	4.25
3	Shorten	4	1	4	1	1.00
4	M. Darley	6	0	42	0	7.00
5	Timms	5	1	23	0	4.60
6	Reeves	4	0	23	2	5.75
7	Rundle	5	0	26	1	5.20
8	Harris	3	0	18	1	6.00

Team	Far From the MCC
#	Batsman	How Out	Total	Balls	4s	6s	FOW
1	C. T. J. Williams	b N. Wyatt	10	(9)	2	-	1-10
2	J. Harris	run out (N. Wyatt)	0	(8)	-	-	2-11
3	R. P. Turner *	lbw b N. Wyatt	27	(61)	2	-	3-116
4	D. Shorten	b Duckitt	68	(59)	12	-	4-120
5	A. J. Darley	c Duckitt b Stephenson	30	(43)	2	-	5-130
6	M. K. Reeves	b Stephenson	4	(11)	1	-	6-149
7	G. J. Timms	run out (W. Wyatt)	4	(8)	-	-	7-165
8	J. S. Pyrah	not out	12	(9)	2	-
9	M. F. Darley	not out	6	(6)	1	-
10	M. S. Rundle
11	J. C. W. Hotson †
	Extras	NB5, W9, LB1, B1	16
	TOTAL	(for 7 wickets, 34.5 overs)	177

#	Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wkts	Econ
1	N. Wyatt	7	3	16	2	2.29
2	Symons	7	1	22	0	3.14
3	Stephenson	6	0	32	2	5.33
4	A. Wyatt	4	0	20	0	5.00
5	W. Wyatt	5.5	0	38	0	6.51
6	J. Walter	1	0	15	0	15.00
7	Duckitt	2	0	13	1	6.50
8	Wiblin	2	0	11	0	5.50

MOTM: D. Shorten Champagne Moment: M. F. Darley’s straight drive for four in final over Buffet Award: M. F. Darley’s youthful chocolate mousse (extra cream) MAD Moment: J. C. W. Hotson losing his box, borrowing from A. J. Darley only to find he already had it on….

Opposition: V009 / 047 Ground: G008 / 030 Captain: C024 / 121 Match No: 35 / 259