London Saints V Road Runners
Home Win v Roadrunners 4/8/24
Gather round people so the story can be told: An epic knife edge victory that will soon become legend. Many more than the brave eleven will say they were there: but we who were will bear true witness to the drama. Based on a true story.
London Saints 166-8 (Thomas 35no, Nanton 31, B.Collis 26)
Roadrunners 159 all out (T.Collis 3-12, Thomas 2-14, Pearce 2-21)
LSCC’S INNINGS
A used but goodish wicket, sunny weather, two determined young women, and only one player over seventy – we had hope in our hearts – then DT elected to bat…
It started quietly enough when our Septuagenarian opener creaked out to the middle for the first time this season – and a few overs later creaked back again after one slowly run err…. run.
Fellow opener Dickie made a promising 14 before also being bowled, and Guy and Oscar well they didn’t add up to much. So the last of the youngster’s Dr Ben strolled in and started pushing on but after a promising 26 he played a rare defensive shot and the diagnosis was ‘Piccadilly and Bakerloo’.
63 for five.
It was now down to the oldster’s Dave Nanton stood tall, and with Pearcy started the recovery. Unfortunately, John the Slow was brought on… now you’d think Paul would know about slow, slow bowling but having scuttled a decent ten runs, Tiger pirouetted as the ball descended from the ozone layer and the ball, ignoring the bat that flashed by, limped to the stumps and reluctantly managed to dislodge a bail.
82 for six.
A captain’s innings was needed and DT provided it. With DN the partnership put the bowling to the sword and even ran up and down the pitch – scoring many singles and one of those LSCC rarities – a three!
Six of our batters were bowled in this innings and Dave N was the last. One that kept low…?.
128 for seven.
Like the end of the Battle of Waterloo that setback was followed by the arrival of decisive re-enforcements. In this case our new recruit Emily – another from the Pearcy stable – who along with DT enjoyed a partnership of 20 including scoring a neat first run – a nudged single into the legside to give DT the strike. Roadrunners showed proper courtesy to the debutant but finally Emily holed out having helped the skipper make a significant contribution.
148 for eight.
This was not the end of the rearguard reinforcements, however: Lana strode to the wicket to join our brave captain. And in a lively stand of 18 that included a cleverly run two when they confused the oppo fielders into throwing the ball randomly around whilst they gathered in the middle of the pitch before setting off in many directions. Fortunately, Lana took control and no damage was done.
But even that moment paled in comparison with Lana’s final action of the innings a square cut for four of which even Johnny G would have been proud. Lana’s vital seven not out – which also saved Speedtwin from having to bat – and DT’s 34 not out brought the 35 overs to a satisfactory end.
166 for eight off 35 overs.
Tea was provided by the ever cheerful and smiling Tea Lady and then the drama really began.
An experimental opening bowling partnership of Dave and Dr Ben had mixed success but Dave dropped quickly onto a good line and length frustrating the batters enough for Cal to prod one to B.Collis at short cover.
19 for one.
Oscar replaced Dr Ben – to release him for fielding and then wicket keeping duties – and snaffled a wicket using his variety to trap Matt into a loping one up to Guy who took a very good catch.
40 for two.
Pearcy was then invited to twirl his stuff and gained some revenge for his own dismissal by delivering a ball so slow that the speed gun – like a car cruise control, refused to register under 20 mph – but was estimated by square leg to be around 5mph. In a carbon copy of Tigers own experience it ignored the bat and sneaked to the wickets where a solitary bail fell grumpily to the ground.
45 for three.
Paul’s spell continued and had Vinay LBW. Now there are often controversies surrounding LBW decisions. In this case it didn’t revolve around height or direction but whether the ball had enough energy to dislodge a bail. Nevertheless…
65 for four.
Scoring was slow and the batters obdurate for some time and it was the then that the genius of captaincy was seen with DT turning to the oldsters bringing himself on at one end and getting Jaso caught, off one of his quicker balls, by the new wicket keeper Ben C.
72 for five.
And at the other end the inspired choice was our Septuagenarian – Collis T with his wobbly dobblers. Neill had been steadily accumulating twenty or so until Terrence got a bit of extra bounce – it’s all in the wrist position apparently – and Collis B tight behind the wicket snaffled the finest of top edges.
82 for six.
And that wasn’t the end of it in his next over the oldster provoked John into stroking an even slower ball into the hands of Oscar.
89 for seven.
Then in his third over Terrence staggered the field, and in particular himself, by diving forward – some described it as a slowly toppling falling oak tree – and taking a return catch. A new version of Caught and Bowled Collis.
112 for Eight.
After one more slightly more expensive over and despite having taken three wickets DT took the difficult decision to replace TC with Dave Nanton to finish them off.
DT had also tried Guy and Dickie but Vic was on a mission with Craig to get these runs and no breakthrough came. There was an LBW decision given to Dickie but the batman complained that – of all people – our beloved skipper was talking as the bowler delivered. With the generosity and commitment to fair play all associate with LSCC, the appeal was withdrawn and the batter who will remain anonymous stayed on to score more and they reached 157 for eight with two overs to go.
The tension was unbearable but never one to shirk responsibility DT brought himself on for the final over and thanks to a spectacular catch by the wicketkeeper took Craig’s wicket
157 for nine.
Vic however was still there and in that last over, desperate to get the strike, was run out after quick thinking by Dr Ben who dived to the wicket with Vic narrowly short.
159 all out.
Champagne Moment
A great and narrow victory for LSCC with so many great moments and performances. The champagne moment? Could be any of these: Emily’s defiant single and defence in her partnership with DT. Lana’s cracking four square of the wicket in our last over. (the runs these two batters scored were the margin of our victory). Terrence’s diving caught and bowled, or Dr Ben’s quick run out reactions to win the game. Pearcy’s succumbing to a bowler that in his own words; ‘bowls even slower than me’. DT bravely bringing himself on for the final over, and showing extreme good sportsmanship in recalling a batman over alleged ‘talking’.
Lana’s Four
And the Champagne Moment goes to Lana scoring a splendid boundary that set our winning score and preventing her father from having to bat.
PoTM
Player of the match is equally difficult to decide: The skippers all round performance two wickets, 34 not out, inspired captaincy and exemplary sportsmanship, Dr Ben’s four catches – three and a run out as wicketkeeper – and 26 runs to get the batting rolling. Terrence’s four overs, 3 for 12 and a diving catch. Dave Nanton’s 31 runs and tight bowling of 1 for nine in seven overs.
But it is clear that the PoTM is David Thomas…
A great game that contained all the best about our sort of cricket: a competitive and exciting close game, inclusivity and sportsmanship on both sides, a decent tea, and love of the game. Long may it continue.
TC 8/8/24
London Saints
T. Collis b Vinay 1
Cushion b James 14
Cowley lbw b Vic 9
Sykes b Vinay 4
B. Collis b Vic 26
Nanton b Neil 31
Pearce b John 10
Thomas not out 34
Emily Pearce ct Neil b Matty 1
Lana not out 7
Extras 29
Total 166 – 8
Roadrunners
Cal ct B.Collis b Nanton 4
Mark b Pearce 19
Matty ct Cowley b Sykes 14
Neil ct B.Collis b T.Collis 22
Vinay lbw b Pearce 10
Jason ct B.Collis b Thomas
John ct Sykes b T.Collis 9
Louie ct + b T.Collis 4
Vic run out (B.Collis) 37
Craig ct B.Collis b Thomas 16
James not out 0
Extras 20
Total 159 all out
Nanton 7 – 1 – 9 – 1
B.Collis 3 – 0 – 25 – 0
Sykes 6 – 0 – 30 – 1
Pearce 5 – 0 – 21 – 2
Thomas 3.3 – 0 – 14 – 2
T.Collis 4 – 0 – 12 – 3
Cowley 3 – 0 – 10 – 0
Cushion 3 – 0 – 25 – 0
Become a Member
Become a member of London Saints from as little as £5.