Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment
Sunday 29 July 2001
London Erratics v Withered Lilies
at Magdalen College, Oxford
We can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way
The Withered Lilies won the toss and elected to bat.
|
WITHERED LILIES — 71 all out |
LONDON ERRATICS — 73 for 7 |
| Meller | 11.4 | 2 | 20 | 5 | Andrews | caught | 14 | ||
| Middleton G | 7 | 3 | 11 | 0 | Roberts | lbw | 5 | ||
| Haria | 9 | 4 | 7 | 4 | Poulter | c & b | 0 | ||
| Evans | 2 | 0 | 15 | 1 | Berrigan | bowled | 1 | ||
| Heller | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | † | Dimopoulos | lbw | 1 | |
| * | Rivington | run out | 0 | ||||||
| Evans | bowled | 0 | |||||||
| Meller | NOT OUT | 26 | |||||||
| Haria | NOT OUT | 12 | |||||||
| Middleton G | |||||||||
| Heller |
Fall of wickets: 1–11, 2–13, 3–38, 4–41, 5–47, 6–51, 7–51, 8–65, 9–69 |
Fall of wickets: 1–7, 2–16, 3–17, 4–25, 5–28, 6–28, 7–28 |
Won by 3 wickets
| NARRATIVE |
| The Withered Lilies were short one man. It was agreed that Alastair Baird, who had come along as an Erratics spectator, should play for the Lilies. Weather: a scorcher, with the saving grace of an occasional breeze. |
| The ambitious, weather-induced decision of the Lilies to bat first appeared not so reckless when the opening Erratics bowlers had trouble controlling the shiny new ball. But Felix Meller soon found his range, and two batsmen were on their way back to the pavilion with their stumps in disarray. Lilies skipper Mike Goldacre joined opener Baird, and they nudged the score along. At the other end, Giles Middleton swung the ball prodigiously and was again unlucky not to break through. The third-wicket partnership was just beginning to gain momentum, when drinks were taken. The interruption favoured the fielding side; Felix, who was about to be taken off, ripped through the defences of Goldacre, and in his next over bowled the new batsman too. Desperately seeking his first five-wicket haul, Felix was dismayed to be stood down, as captain James Rivington sought to open up the game by introducing Michael Evans. This intention was frustrated when the dangerous No. 6 bat became mesmerised by one of the loopiest deliveries Michael will ever bowl, played back, prodded at the ball, missed and allowed the ball to bump gently into his pads; almost in embarrassment Michael appealed. (The batsman later claimed that the ball had pitched outside leg and spun in; Michael was able to rebut this by saying that he had never spun a ball in his life.) Now it was the turn of Ketz Haria to torment the Lilies batting with his off-spin, supplemented by newly mastered leg-breaks, and he took two wickets in one over. John Redwood MP delayed progress for a short while with his individual batting style, until he was bowled by Ketz not playing a shot. Ketz then helped himself to a fourth wicket — all of them bowled. Now James relented and brought Felix back to have a go at an American law professor playing cricket for the first time, and Felix duly achieved his ambition. Baird was left stranded on 28, the only batsman to get into double figures. |
| At tea the Erratics were in good humour, as they spoke of the beer match they would play after they had knocked off the runs. The Lilies bowling was lively, but the openers looked solid and went for their shots — until Hywel Roberts was unlucky to be given out having taken a decent stride down the pitch. Peter Andrews carried on picking up runs, but suddenly it was two wickets down as Tony Poulter gave a low return catch. Never mind, here comes Brian Berrigan — oh dear, he’s just played round one. Stay calm, Peter is still there and Corin Dimopoulos is in good form ... oops, not today. That’s four gone for 25, potential matchwinners are back in the pavilion, and the target is looking a long way away. We’ll dig in and get it in quick singles, says James ... not with a direct hit like that you won’t — 28 for 5. Next over, Peter finally snicks one to the keeper — 28 for 6. Michael swings at the first ball of the next over — 28 for 7. OK, now we can panic. Bugger the idea of a beer match; we’ll just slip away quietly in disgrace. What’s our record lowest score? But Felix and Ketz aren’t panicking, and Felix spanks some glorious boundaries. Lucky break! — Ketz is dropped behind. The score climbs. Careful Felix, don’t get carried away and get run out. With the target now in striking distance, the opening bowlers finally come off. And Felix carts the Lilies skipper to the mid-wicket boundary to win the match. Felix and Ketz are enthusiastically applauded off by their team mates, having shared a heroic partnership of great maturity. |
| Men of the match: guess. |