London Erratics Cricket Club

Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment

Saturday 25 June 2005
London Erratics v V&A
at Stonor

Magdalen duo give battle in vain
V&A — batting
1   b Ward 32
2   c Stephenson b Ward 18
3   c Bush b Ward 0
4   c Stephenson b Ward 26
5   not out 92
6   b Ward 13
7   b Ward 3
8   c Moore b Ward 0
9   st Bush b Moore 9
198 all out
Fall of wickets: 1–30, 2–43, 3–??, 4–133, 5–151, 6–181, 7–192

LONDON ERRATICS — bowling
Stephenson 11 2 47 0
Ward 14 1 70 7
Dunabin 4 0 32 0
Rivington 3 0 13 0
Campomar 2 0 29 0
Moore 0.1 0 0 1
Nine-a-side, with the opposition lending the Erratics two players, Andreas Campomar and Chris Moore. Hugh Evans, pride and joy of skipper Michael, made history by becoming (probably) the youngest player ever to feature for the Erratics (just turned 9). The V&A won the toss and accepted the recommendation that they should bat.
As at Fernhurst, Mike Stephenson beat the bat regularly and frustratingly. At the other end, Michael E started with the leg-spin of Tristan Ward — imaginative captaincy, or desperation? Tristan found lots of turn: the catch behind by Bill Bush was a classic spinner’s wicket. At lunch (taken after the 18th over), the Erratics were well pleased to have restricted the opposition to 73 for 3, Tristan having just bowled the No. 1 round his legs.
After a nice lunch (very good game pie), Tristan and Chris Dunabin had trouble with their length, and the No. 5 hoicked ball after ball to leg. Tristan continued to buy wickets — Mike S took a second catch, and the No. 6 was punished for his ambitious reverse sweep. The loan players were proving a mixed blessing. Andreas was hit for three sixes. Chris M, who had badly dropped the No. 5 before he had got going, finally held on to a trickier chance at mid-on; then, just after Bill had dropped the snick by No. 5 that would have given Tristan a most satisfying clean sweep of wickets, Chris M ended the innings with his first ball.
Young Hugh had achieved a certain presence on the field — sledging his own captain while the bowler was running in — then opted for absence instead.
LONDON ERRATICS — batting 4s  6s 
Rivington caught 58 1   
Dunabin caught 0    
Ward bowled 14    
Campomar lbw 2    
Moore bowled 4    
† Bush run out 25 4   
Stephenson NOT OUT  5 1   
* Evans M bowled 0    
Evans H bowled 0    
122 all out
Fall of wickets:  1–4, 2–46, 3–56, 4–66, 5–103, 6–117, 7–117
The V&A bowlers achieved accuracy and movement, and demanded respect. James Rivington and Tristan were appropriately watchful, and the loss of the latter in the over before tea (the 17th) was a severe blow.
After tea, the loan players continued with their modest contribution to the Erratics effort. The arrival of Bill was refreshing, with his trademark boundary to get off the mark. With an excellent eye, he laid into the off-spinner and joyfully rattled up the runs. It was a tragedy when his legs let him down as he took on a throw from the deep.
James had been pottering along, keeping out the straight ones but having a swish at the few loose deliveries — there were some nice square drives off the back foot. He only hit one four over the slow outfield (and that was a snick between keeper and slip), but he hit nine threes! As we progressed into the final twenty, he got twitchy and was caught behind flailing at the off-spinner — but had accumulated his highest total for the Erratics.
Michael E lasted one ball — fewer than son Hugh, who nobly hung around long enough for a handful of extras to be scored. The Erratics were beaten with 13 overs of the final 20 left, and only the ex-Magdalen pair could take some personal comfort from the day.
 
Temporary match report lifted from the V&A web site
Erratics lost by 76 runs
2005 Season
Erratics HomePage