London Erratics Cricket Club

Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment

Sunday 25 August 2002
London Erratics v Bampton
at Bampton

Bampton batsmen duck out of their duties
A 35 overs match. Weather: pleasant.
When only 4 Erratics were on the starting line at 2.15 and one of those rushed off for an instant restorative in the pub, we were virtually obliged to bat first. The opposition won the toss and duly obliged.
Ward and Khawaja started soundly until Ward was bowled for 7 with the score at 18. This brought in guest player Miles Martin (Old Talbotian star all-rounder and regular opponent), and it was a matter for gloom when he was caught brilliantly low down at slip for 4. Matthew Neal opened with a streaky four and then dominated a stand of 58 with Nasir, before being needlessly bowled trying to hit their change bowler over his head for the third time in an over. Simon Davie, making a welcome first appearance, was starting to look good before being the first of four victims to miscue a catch from the uncertain artificial wicket. Meanwhile Nasir as usual held the innings together, punishing bad balls and working good ones around the wicket, but our total was still looking a little thin when he was finally caught behind for 75 out of 140.
But a late flurry of hitting from new signing Michael Stephenson, Giles Middleton and reluctant signing Max McKay (ordered to wicket after all night coach trip and Channel crossing), enabled us to set a target of five an over. Max’s 8 not out represented his first Erratic runs and included two powerful pulls.
LONDON ERRATICS — batting    
† Ward bowled 7    
Khawaja caught 75    
Martin caught 4    
Neal bowled 30    
Davie caught 7    
Haria caught 2    
Hattam caught 3    
* Heller bowled 0    
Stephenson caught 11    
Middleton NOT OUT  6    
McKay NOT OUT  8    
176 for 9 in 35 overs
Fall of wickets:  1–18, 2–23, 3–81, 4–104, 5–110, 6–136, 7–140, 8–162, 9–??
Tight hostile bowling by Middleton and, especially, Martin left Bampton at 30-2 off the first 12 overs, Martin constantly beating the bat outside off stump.
Mark Hattam began expensively, but was rewarded with two wickets when he got his line right, the first an Oscar nomination running catch by Simon Davie at point. Troubled by a stiff breeze, Ketz Haria had a few problems with length and was occasionally punished by Bampton star Parks, but Richard Heller recovered from an awful first ball to strangle the Bampton innings with 2-14 (both caught and bowled).
Michael Stephenson dismissed an underage batsman twice after being forced to withdraw a justified lbw appeal but the final word was to Max McKay who bowled an impeccable last over at Parks (apart from a public warning for delivering a beamer).
Fined for absenteeism: F Meller (Reading Festival).

[ Match report: R H ]
BAMPTON — batting
1   b Middleton 0
2   c Ward b Martin 0
3   not out 78
4   c Davie b Hattam 11
5   b Hattam 4
6   c & b b Heller 11
7   b Haria 4
8   b Haria 0
9   c & b b Heller 0
10   c Haria b Stephenson 0
11   not out 0
134 for 9 in 35 overs

LONDON ERRATICS — bowling
Middleton 5 1 14 1
Martin 7 1 16 1
Hattam 6 0 37 2
Haria 8 0 40 2
Heller 5 1 14 2
Stephenson 2 0 2 1
McKay 2 1 3 0
Erratics won by 42 runs
2002 Season
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