Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment
Sunday 15 July 2001
London Erratics v Great Milton
at Great Milton
Down to the last ball
The Erratics won the toss and elected to field.
|
GREAT MILTON — 179 for 6 dec |
LONDON ERRATICS — 176 for 9 |
| Middleton G | 6 | 1 | 18 | 0 | Andrews | caught | 5 | ||
| Hattam | 6 | 1 | 18 | 0 | Poulter | caught | 0 | ||
| Walker | 8 | 0 | 25 | 2 | Rivington | bowled | 54 | ||
| Heller | 10 | 2 | 31 | 2 | † | Meller | caught | 37 | |
| Dimopoulos | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | Evans | bowled | 9 | ||
| Evans | 3 | 0 | 27 | 1 | Middleton G | caught | 0 | ||
| Rivington | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | Dimopoulos | caught | 35 | ||
| * | Bush | caught | 4 | ||||||
| catches: Andrews, Meller 2 | Walker | bowled | 7 | ||||||
| stumpings: Meller | Hattam | NOT OUT | 1 | ||||||
| Heller | NOT OUT | 1 | |||||||
Fall of wickets: 1–55, 2–67, 3–69, 4–74, 5–110, 6–132 |
Fall of wickets: 1–2, 2–14, 3–105, 4–114, 5–114, 6–127, 7–163, 8–166, 9–175 |
Match drawn
| NARRATIVE |
| Quite who was and who wasn’t to be included in the Erratics team fluctuated up to the last minute. At one point it looked as though it might be twelve-a-side, with Max McKay playing for us and Corin Dimopoulos playing for Great Milton. But then Patrick Cheney didn’t arrive on time, so we settled for the eleven listed above. When Patrick did turn up he umpired. And Nasir Khawaja came along later to barrack. Weather: sunny, some cloud. |
| Giles Middleton and Mark Hattam gave the Great Milton openers plenty to think about, but couldn’t break through. Skipper Bill Bush turned to the old firm, Jeremy Walker and Richard Heller — bowling together in tandem for the first time in over a year. Their measured bowling brought success. Jeremy removed the openers (a fine catch by Peter Andrews, avoiding the onrushing Mark to hold on to a lofted catch at mid-on). Then Richard disposed of the next two cheaply (good catch behind by Felix Meller off the faintest of edges), and things were looking comfortable. Time to mix up the bowling. If the plan was to feed Great Milton some runs, it worked very well and very quickly, as Corin and Michael Evans served up some tempting deliveries. The No. 6 tucked in and was soon racing to his half century. Felix confirmed a good performance behind the stumps with another catch and a stumping. But the runs flowed right to the end, even after the return of steadier bowlers — Richard was hit for six in the last over. This was a good total on an unpredictable pitch. |
| The Erratics innings got off to a wobbly start with the early dismissal of the two openers — Tony Poulter falling to the first of several fine catches by the Great Milton fielders. James Rivington and Felix put the innings back on course. Felix hit some delightful boundaries, and James scored 14 runs in one over, including a debut straight six into the playground. The acclaim that greeted James’s half century may have suggested that the performance was not typical. When he was out shortly afterwards, the stand was worth 91. What would the Erratics do with this platform? Two overs later Felix had gone too, and two overs after that Giles succumbed to a reaction slip catch. When Michael was sixth out, the asking rate had climbed to seven and a half an over, and the chase was looking doubtful. But no one had reckoned on Corin, who was inspired by the presence of his captain at other end to launch himself at the Great Milton bowlers. An incredible flat-batted six into the playground was followed in the next over by a similarly low-trajectory six over the extra cover boundary. The spectating Erratics were drunk with joy as the runs flowed in an avalanche of mixed metaphors. But cricket’s cruel pendulum swung back as Corin holed out in the deep. Now it’s 15 needed off two — but the first of these yields only two runs and Bill is caught behind. Thirteen off the last over. ... A precious bye off the first ball, bringing Jeremy on strike. ... The second ball sails back over the bowler’s head, over the boundary hedge, and crashes into the brickwork of the house behind (owned by the fielder at long-on), a staggering six. ... Dot ball. ... A wide! (well done Tony) ... The next delivery pitches half-way down the wicket, never gets off the ground and Jeremy is gone. Cometh the hour, cometh the Richard. ... A scrambled single. ... One ball left, four to win, Great Milton need one wicket, Mark on strike. ... A swing, a miss, a dot ball, and both sides are content. A very entertaining game in which everyone participated, with a gripping finish. |
| Result listed on THIS IS OXFORDSHIRE web site (if you scroll down far enough!) |