London Saints

London Saints v Old Chelmsfordians

July 28, 2024 – Old Haberdashers CC, Borehamwood

Old Chelmsfordians 134-7 (R. Griffiths 3 – 35)

London Saints 135-2 (McIntyre 47 n.o.; J. Griffiths 36 n.o.)

On a hot day in Borehamwood, we welcomed a formidable-looking line-up of Old (mainly not-so-old) Chelmsfordians with an LSCC squad that was definitely not as strong as the one that inflicted on them a 90-run defeat earlier in the season when we were on a winning streak.

After yet another appeal from our long-suffering skipper for players, we had managed to pull together a full squad of 11, which included the retired permanently-hurt Andy Mayhew; Gary Speedtwin, making a welcome first appearance of the season; and Guy Cowley, who had made his LSCC debut at Coldharbour this year. The current situation is a far cry from the days of squad rotations when DT often had too many players wanting to play each week. Hopefully, with a few more newcomers like Guy who is also playing in our next two fixtures, we can return to those days… please! Now on to the cricket.

The skipper decided it would be wise to field first to make a game of it as there was a genuine concern that the alternative might see the game all but over by tea. O ye of little faith!

As is often the case, One Liner’s opening over was like the proverbial box of chocolates, so no one could predict what he was going to get with his 5th legal delivery which itself would likely have been called wide had batter Matt not greedily gone after it, only for the ball to be gobbled up by McIntyre in the covers. Score: 8-1. It was then Oliver Griffith’s turn a couple overs later to clean bowl their No. 3 Jimmy to leave the Chelmsfordians reeling at 15-2. Indeed, both opening bowlers were now serving up better fare – with two maiden overs apiece and only 2 runs scored off the last six overs of their eight-over opening spell.

Mike and Richard G (Son-in-Law No. 1) continued dishing it up, with Richard bowling the other opener, John, for 5 and McIntyre keeping things tight on the other end, bowling four overs (including another maiden) for just four runs. Mike was playing his final game of the season ahead of a shoulder operation, prompting One Liner to wonder out loud: “If he’s bowling like this with a dodgy shoulder, he’ll be like the $!*!% bionic man when it’s sorted!” Best wishes to Mike for a successful op and speedy recovery!

We also missed Tony Grimes, a regular attendee at our home fixtures, who couldn’t make it on Sunday due to illness, but he would have particularly enjoyed seeing his two sons-in-law starring with ball and bat, along with his grandson Oliver. Young Ollie was being quite vocal – as usual – at one point shouting over to the oppo watching on: “Can you update the scoreboard?” to which there was an immediate chorus of “PLEASE!” from his teammates and Johnny G loudly enquiring as to who the lad’s parent was (that would be Johhny G, for the newbies!).

One highlight was the dismissal of one of their top batters who had tonked us all over the pitch last year. Jack came to the crease with the score at 23-3 and immediately set about wielding his bat, with a boundary off his first ball. After another big heave to cow corner, DT decided to move One Liner a few yards in that direction and Jack fell right into the trap, with Nanton running in to grab the ball to give Richard his second wicket. (Ed- DT insisted that his inspired field directions be noted, and it is only fair that I do so. However, unbiased reporting requires me to also mention that it became the norm during the game for his teammates to shout a warning every time the ball came DT’s way. One ball hit straight to him seemed to magically pass under his grounded feet on its way to the boundary!)

The Saints were generally outstanding in the field, with very little getting past Gary at square leg and Andy’s leg at mid-off. And with Richard taking his third wicket in as many overs, the opposition were in trouble at 48-6 at the drinks break. However, a rearguard stand from the Chelmsfordians oldest players, Jez (47 runs) and Duncan (29 n.o.) added an extra 86 runs – with some hefty boundaries between them and even two threes – to take the score to 134-7 at the end of their innings. A direct throw from Dickie, fielding at midwicket after swapping wicket-keeping duties with Mike at the break, ran out Jez. Dickie also picked up a wicket with a successful LBW appeal to finish on 11-1 off his four overs.

After tea – which at Old Habs is often like the aforementioned box of chocolates – Mike and Dickie were selected to open, with Johhny G at 3, Guy at 4 and One Liner at 5.

The Saints were feeling confident but stayed firmly grounded – so much so that, as the openers walked out to bat, One Liner started padding up and advised Guy to do the same. Johnny G already had his pads on, but seemed nervous (probably because his old mate from school was looking on – only the unkind would suggest it had anything to do with the young 12/13-year old bowling for the Chelmsfordians!) and spent his time on the sidelines asking everyone within earshot to bat ahead of him.

Mike and Dickie were fired up and scoring fairly quickly – Dickie’s first scoring shot was a huge 6 to cow corner, followed by a couple more boundaries, before he was bowled for 14. Judas had convinced the uninitiated Guy to take his place, and he rapidly added 19 with Mike brilliantly anchoring the innings at the other end, just as he had done at the Chelmsford game. With Guy out LBW (Score 50-2), and everyone else ignoring his pleas, in strode Judas. At that point One Liner, padded up since the first over, decided that it might be wise to put in his box and have his gloves and bat to hand. He need not have bothered. Some excellent batting from Johhny G (36 n.o.) and Mike (47 n.o.) brought a partnership of 85, just six short of the third highest for the 3rd wicket, that saw us through with 3 overs to spare.

It was a very composed batting performance – Tiny Temper calmly keeping things ticking over with singles and the occasional boundary, while Dickie, Guy and Johhny G went on the offensive. It was a terrific game, played in great spirit with everyone contributing in the field, and with bat and ball – a victory made all the more sweeter by the fact that we were definitely the underdogs on the day. But there is fight in the old dogs yet!

Player of the Match

I am going to give it to Mike, who batted (47 n.o.) and bowled (4-1-4-0) brilliantly, fielded well and took over wicket-keeping duties at the halfway stage. Mike’s composed, steady batting anchored our innings and it’s a shame he didn’t make it to another 50.

Special Mentions

Mike’s was just one of several outstanding individual performances. This really was a team effort, with two other players having a major impact on the game (sorry DT, your fielding directions didn’t make the final cut) and deserving of special praise:

  • Dickie delivered his usual excellent performance behind the stumps, but after switching with Mike at the drinks break also bowled very well with figures of 4-0-11-1. He was very good in the field too, and ran out their top-scoring batsman with an excellent direct hit.
  • Richard’s bowling was spot on, accounting for arguably some of the oppo’s best batters in his first spell with 7-0-35-3. Those wickets helped turn the game in our favour.

Champagne moment

Oliver takes this for the second time in as many games. We have all got used to his shouts of “CATCH!” for anything hit in the air even when it is miles away from the nearest fielder; and for his excited appeals for LBW, sometimes from square leg. But the comic timing of the loud chorus of “PLEASE” from his teammates in response to his shout to the opposition to update the scoreboard was brilliant. A decision as taken after the game to open the voting to all LSCC members on what Oliver’s nickname should be. His dad, himself no stranger to a nickname, kicked off the suggestions with “Big Gob”. Send your votes to the skipper!

Old Chelmsfordians

Matt       c McIntyre b Nanton       6

John       bowled R. Griffiths         4

Jimmy    bowled O. Griffiths         5

Oscar     LBW b R. Cushion        13

Jack       c Nanton b R. Griffiths   10

Mark C   bowled R. Griffiths         6

Jez         run out R. Cushion         47

Duncan   not out                           29

Ian         not out                           0

Will         DNB

Mark O   DNB

Total            134-7 off 35 overs

D. Nanton     7-2-25-1

O. Griffiths    6-2-23-1

M. McIntyre   4-1-4-0

R. Griffiths    7-0-35-3

G. Cowley     3-0-18-0

D. Thomas    4-1-14-0

R. Cushion    4-0-11-1

London Saints

R. Cushion      b. WIll         14

M. McIntyre    not out        47

G. Cowley       LBW b Ian   19

J. Griffiths       not out        36

D. Nanton       DNB

D. Thomas      DNB

R. Griffiths      DNB

O. Griffiths      DNB

Extras                               19      

Total            135-2 off 32 overs

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