London Erratics Cricket Club

Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment

Saturday 7 September 2002
London Erratics v Bank of England
at Roehampton

Always the bridesmaid
A warm sunny afternoon. The Bank won the toss and elected to bat.
An efficient performance by the Erratics in the field formed a pleasing backdrop to the wedding party being hosted at the Bank Sports Club. The Bank 3rd XI batting line-up had its normal mix of talents and ages, but under the firm leadership of Peter ‘Archie’ Andrews, the Erratics proved too potent a force.
The openers bowled well, but it was Mark Hattam who made the first breakthrough. Richard Heller found the spot, and Ketz Haria had the batsmen in all sorts of trouble. Temporary signs of resistance were snuffed out, Mark taking a good catch in the deep to remove a big hitter.
Even when Michael Evans came on to bring some variation to the attack, he took two wickets in his first over — though his second allowed the Bank score to creep above three figures. But Giles Middleton returned to wrap things up, a diving catch by Nasir Khawaja rounding off a solid performance behind the stumps.
Tea in the marquee was taken in good humour.
BANK OF ENGLAND — batting
1   b Hattam 15
2   b Haria 15
3   c Haria b Heller 7
4   c Khawaja b Heller 9
5   st Khawaja b Evans 7
6   b Heller 2
7   c Hattam b Haria 17
8   not out 19
9   c Rivington b Evans 0
10   b Haria 5
11   c Khawaja b Middleton 4
106 all out
Fall of wickets: 1–28, 2–39, 3–51, 4–55, 5–60, 6–77, 7–90, 8–90, 9–92

LONDON ERRATICS — bowling
Middleton 4.5 0 18 1
Eltringham 5 2 8 0
Hattam 5 2 10 1
Heller 8 1 18 3
Haria 12 4 22 3
Stephenson 4 0 11 0
Evans 2 0 15 2
When James Rivington went off to pad up, he joked ‘So let’s go and make a meal of this.’ This tempting of fate did not seem too reckless when he and Nasir comfortably got the score to twenty. Nasir’s dismissal, a snick behind, came as rather a surprise.
The arrival of Tony Poulter at the crease was accompanied by a change in bowling — off-spin at one end, then leg-spin at the other. Tony had looked untroubled, but then played down the wrong line and was bowled by the off-spinner. Michael E immediately announced his intentions by smacking his first two balls back past the bowler.
James had become mesmerised by the spinners and in despair fell to an off-break. Michael Stephenson brought a more attacking approach to the task, and together the two Michaels played their shots. For a moment the spinners seemed flustered, and the score climbed healthily (though both batsmen were lucky to survive dropped catches).
But the leg-spinner, who had been producing big turn, stood the game on its head. Michael E was caught behind, then Michael S and Matthew Eltringham (first ball) were bowled. Now batting on the dusty pitch looked perilous, and the modest target seemed distant.
Ketz, batting down the order, used his feet well and hope flickered. But when last man Richard tried to do the same he proved not so nimble, and the Erratics left the field in utter dejection.
LONDON ERRATICS — batting 4s  6s 
Rivington bowled 10    
† Khawaja caught 11 1   
Poulter bowled 11 2   
Evans caught 17 3   
Stephenson stumped 21 2   
* Andrews bowled 5    
Eltringham bowled 0    
Hattam bowled 1    
Middleton NOT OUT  2    
Haria caught 4    
Heller stumped 2    
92 all out
Fall of wickets:  1–21, 2–32, 3–43, 4–74, 5–78, 6–78, 7–81, 8–81, 9–88
Erratics lost by 14 runs
2002 Season
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