London Erratics Cricket Club

Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment

Sunday 10 August 2003
London Erratics v FC London
at South Park, Fulham

Erratics are scorched
Richard Heller recruited a team, nine of whom turned up; with Richard himself unavailable, James Rivington captained. A 35-overs match. On a day of temperature records, the Erratics were the lucky ones to win the toss and decide to bat.
The pitch was almost as variable as the bowling: during the innings, the Erratics would pick up 25 runs in wides, 13 in no balls (mostly high full tosses). When a short ball nearly took Tristan Ward’s head off, he wisely sent for a helmet. But he and Tremayne Rennell (first appearance since 2000) played with skill and determination to post the highest opening partnership of the season.
The home team had been fielding with zest in spite of the heat, but when Tony Poulter hit a couple of big shots they visibly wilted. However, they were heartened by two LBW decisions by Bill Bush, neither of which endeared him to the batsmen. Neil Hay whacked the ball around; James seemed unable to get a bat on it, but was happy to applaud Tristan’s fifty.
In the last five overs, Bill and Martin Parsley provided good support. Tristan ensured he would be the first Erratic for a long time to carry his bat by calling David Unger for an impossible second run; but it truly was a splendid innings in hellish conditions.
LONDON ERRATICS — batting 4s  6s 
Ward NOT OUT  81 12   
† Rennell bowled 23 4   
Poulter lbw 10 2   
Eltringham lbw 5    
Hay bowled 12 3   
* Rivington caught 0    
Bush bowled 5 1   
Parsley caught 13 2   
Unger run out 0    
194 all out in 34.5 overs
Fall of wickets:  1–58, 2–102, 3–109, 4–129, 5–158, 6–173, 7–193
FC London provided the Erratics with a sub to give ten in the field.
In the searing heat, the visiting bowlers proved not much better at finding a good line and length. Matthew Eltringham could not settle into his rhythm; Neil’s bowling was fiery but too short. At the first drinks break after 10 overs, there had been no breakthrough, and FC London were on course.
For variation, Tristan was introduced and instantly found extravagant turn. He was rewarded when first James took an unnecessarily flamboyant catch at mid-wicket, and then Tremayne did sharp work behind the stumps. Although James also got the ball to move, loose bowling and mediocre fielding allowed the score to mount. But another wicket in his last over meant that Tristan had enjoyed a pretty good day.
Now the lack of depth in the Erratics bowling was exposed. Neil came back to finish off his overs, and Martin started with a wicket. But from this point the game slid away badly. The later bowlers couldn’t sustain the necessary pressure on the batsmen, and the Erratics became ragged, and the captain ill-humoured. A tight 33rd over from James merely postponed the inevitable defeat.
Boy, was it hot!
FC LONDON — batting
1   c Rivington b Ward 38
2   st Rennell b Ward 19
3   st Rennell b Parsley 23
4   b Ward 26
5   not out 25
6   not out 21
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
195 for 4 in 33.1 overs
Fall of wickets: 1–69, 2–88, 3–122, 4–140

LONDON ERRATICS — bowling
Eltringham 7 0 27 0
Hay 7 0 35 0
Ward 7 0 42 3
Rivington 6 0 26 0
Parsley 4.1 0 33 1
Bush 2 0 21 0
Erratics lost by 6 wickets
2003 Season
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