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A random shot of Trev, JG and Damien at Victoria because some idiot forgot to take pictures at the game. Plus Trev randomly searching his bag on Victoria concourse for a 20p for the loo
Monday, August 11, 2008
10.8.08: In a tight-ish game, LSSC lose to debutants Platt CC in penultimate over of six hour clash in Kent... Steve Keenan reports
THE format was two 20/20 games against a new team (the honourable Platt CC, home village of part-time LSSC player Dewi) with combined scores a result. Both had 10 men. We agreed the format, we won the first, then lost the second by a slighter bigger margin, so we called it 1-1.
While the Test match lost time to rain, not a drop fell in the pretty village of St Mary's Platt, a long, lonely one-mile walk uphill from the railway station. Trust me. Hence while six LSSC members drove in comfort to the ground - and three got the right train to arrive in time for a lift - one idiot arrived 45 minutes late. Work it out.
Now, given that Damien Chalmers scored 34 runs (including a mighty six) and took three catches, it would be unfair to say his stumping cost us the match. No, that would be unfair.
But that didn't stop certain unsympathetic LSSC members voicing the opinion that if he hadn't been so damned enthusiastic and good, a lesser batsmen would have been at the crease instead of Platt's Australian who, having tonked 30 in the first innings, came out to bat at around 7.50pm for the last three overs.
Then, they needed 18 to win. With two overs to go, it was 17. And then the Australian (Gooding, Nev to give him his due credit) got to face. And six balls and 20 runs later, we lost the game and the bowler, DT, announced his retirement from cricket. For this week, at least.
But before all that, you followers of LSSC cricket reports, there were plenty of talking points.
For starters:
* THE FIRST BALL OF LITTLE JOHNNIE LOOMES' (LJL) FIRST OVER - edged, flies to wicketkeeper Damien, who pushes the ball up, volleyball style, for Paul Pearce at slip, who also pushes it up then tries to trap the ball between his thighs while on the ground. Not content with a circus juggling act, the ball falls to Trevor Mayhew who shies at the stumps, misses, and Platts score three runs in overthrows.
And then there was:
* Paul Pearce attempting the remarkable and hitherto unknown LSSC feat of following a skied ball to the boundary, then turning his back and trying to catch the ball between his buttocks.
* Veteran LSSC batsman Neil Hotston, playing his first game of the season, running towards where the ball had passed him before turning sharply left and following it to the boundary. The unconfirmed comment from Trevor Mayhew was "You don't have to introduce yourself to the ball, Neil."
* The idiot who missed the train not only allowing three strikes through his legs to run for four, but for all three to be off the skipper's bowling. The idiot, feeling downcast at his third gross error, was cheered to hear Trevor hollering: "Don't worry Steve, there isn't a tosser on this field who hasn't done that." Only for Trevor to add: "Mind you, I've never seen somebody do that three times in one game."
* Damian, having run out John Griffiths and Neil, in the two innings, admitting that was three innings in a row he'd run out a colleague. Only for DT to comfort him by opining: "It's OK Damien, you only have to look at the girth of those you ran out."
* Kumar, another one run out, this time by LJL. Worse than that, he hadn't faced a ball - a diamond duck.
BUT THERE WERE HIGHLIGHTS
* Top knocks of 35 from LJL, 33 from Damien and 26 from JG.
* Wondrous catches from Paul Pearce and Neil Hotston in the deep, both of which were greatly aided by the convenience of not having to move.
* Being encouraged to sledge Dewi, last man in for Platts first time around, who faced Pete Berkeley on a hat trick ball. Curiously, the sledging consisted of: "Hit it for four, Dewi!" (Sub-editors note: it should be recorded here that Dave Thomas caught the ensuing shot, meaning that Pete's over read 4, 4, pudding-ball-batsmen bowled, simple catch to Paul Pearce in covers, Dewi fucked up) - i.e., hat trick
* LJL buying a round in the village pub afterwards.
THE MATCH IN ONE PARAGRAPH
Pearcey slashes, great stand, Damien runs out JG, top late hitting = a fine total in our first innings. Good bowling, Aussie nemesis performance, Berkeley five-for = 18 run lead. Loose shots, LJL holds innings together, bogged down, loose shots = Platt 108 to win (25 runs short of a winning target, really). Dewi plays out of skin as does Gooding, Nat (duck in first innings), breakthroughs, steady run rate, don't let the Aussie bat, Damien stumping = LSSC lose.
MAN OF THE MATCH
A series of contenders - Damien (until he lost us the match, but that would be unfair), Pete Berkeley (six wickets, 25 runs, gentleman walks in 2nd innings), Hotston entertainment, JG runs (until Damien ran him out) and Dewi for introducing us to a team on our level. All contenders - but it goes to LJL, a No 11 batsman for holding it together in the second innings and scoring 35 while others lost it all around.
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT
Where do you start? But the bottom line is Pearcey and his buttocks.
SCORECARD - FIRST INNINGS
LSSC
Pearce b Smith, M 5
Griffiths run out 26
Chalmers b Carey 33
Hotston b Richards 14
Kumar run out 0
Berkeley not out 19
Thomas c Smith M b Richards 3
Mayhew not out 14
Extras 23
TOTAL 137 (20 overs)
PLATT CC
Carey c Chalmers b Kumar 20
Richards c Thomas b Berkeley 16
Gooding Nev b Thomas 30
Mearns b Thomas 0
Smith M c Chalmers b Berkeley 0
Slater b Berkeley 26
Gollan b Griffiths 15
Smith G not out 10
Gooding Nat c Pearce b Berkeley 0
Dewhirst c Thomas b Berkeley 0
Extras 2
TOTAL 117 (19.5 overs)
Keenan 4 0 16 0
Loomes 3 0 18 0
Kumar 2 0 22 1
Berkeley 4 0 20 5 (* includes hat trick)
Thomas 4 0 19 2
Griffiths 3 0 24 1
SECOND MATCH (INNINGS)
LSSC
Keenan c Dewhirst b Slater 0
Loomes c b 35
Mayhew c Gooding Nev b Richards 10
Thomas c Gollan b Smith G 3
Berkeley c Gooding Nev by Smith G 6
Kumar c b 11
Hotston run out 6
Chalmers st 1
Pearce not out 5
Griffiths b 2
Extras 10
TOTAL 89 (19.2 overs)
PLATT CC
Dewhirst c Hotston b Pearce 21
Gooding Nat c Mayhew b Pearce 33
Smith G b Keenan 4
Gollan c Chalmers b Thomas 18
Slater b Thomas 0
Smith M st Chalmers b Berkeley 5
Mearns not out 2
Gooding Nev not out 17
Extras 10
TOTAL 108 for 6 (19 overs)
Keenan 4 0 9 1
Berkeley 4 0 17 1
Pearce 4 0 21 2
Loomes 3 0 22 0
Thomas 4 0 40 2
