Old Chelmsfordians 6th XI v London Saints CC, Sunday 8th June 2025 played at Chelmsford
London Saints 254 – 2 (Patient 52no, Rogers 51no, Sykes 51no, Mousley 50no – all retired)
Old Chelmsfordians 126 (Thomas 2-4, Cushion 2-7, Collis 2-38)
London Saints bounced back from a narrow defeat in their opening fixture at the hands of Trafalgar with a thumping win over the Old Chelmsfordians. This was the OCs’ 6th (Sunday) eleven. We have previously done battle against the 5ths, but familiar faces still greeted us at Admiral’s Park, a well-kept ground just down the road from their main clubhouse. Three of their number, however, were still on the golf course. It meant extra fielding duties for some once DT, winning the toss, decided to have a bat. Two less familiar faces were to be found in the away dressing room. James Patient, making his debut, and a Merv Hughes look alike – none other than Harry Rogers – who had grown a Merv-like tash since the previous Sunday.
Your openers wondered if the skipper was competing for a new “Spirit of Cricket” award in offering up Messrs Collis and Sykes as the substitute fielders. Nevertheless, the added athleticism in the OC ranks failed to prevent Harry and Judas getting the Saints going with a 50 run partnership. Further acceleration followed after Judas (15) holed out to a fine catch at long(ish) off, with our next three batsmen – debutant James Patient, Jonny Mousley and Oscar Sykes all joining Harry Rogers with undefeated half centuries before retiring. Notably, Oscar hit the final three balls of the 35th over for four to move from 39 to 51 not out.
n the course of the run fest, a minor diplomatic incident occurred when Umpire, Il Duce, prematurely signalled 4 only to be informed in no uncertain terms by his opposite number that he had stopped the ball short of the boundary. Ben Collis, in at six and looking also to fill his boots, was cut off in his prime (LBW) by your trigger-happy umpire. (Backing up, Oscar confirmed “it was plumb”). The OCs persevered in the field. Implored at one point by skipper, Alan Ball, to “keep it up” an outfielder quickly retorted “keep what up, skip?” It was that kind of afternoon.
The best tea of the season, so far, then followed, with a fine selection of pork products, home made sarnies and cakes. PP gave it the Teas’ Committee seal of approval – with a particular commendation for the eggs with mayonnaise.
The OCs set off in pursuit of 255 at a cracking pace reaching 40 in the 5th over before losing opener Branch-Woodward to the first ball of Il Duce’s spell of wily off-spin. Wicket-keeper and other opening bat, Linsell, threatened to make hay, but was stopped in his tracks by a superb diving catch in the deep by Harry Rogers off the bowling of Ben Collis. Thereafter, the Saints steadily chipped away at the OCs’ middle order, with the wickets shared among six of the eight bowlers used. Particular mention should go to Dickie Cushion, returning from a nasty foot injury and who, having kept for 18 overs, turned his arm over and picked up two for 7. Some late resistance from the OCs was finally ended by Jonny Mousely who found an unerring length and got the wicket he deserved.
Champagne moments – Champagne moments should really be awarded for something that happens during the game, but your correspondent was amused to overhear the seldom-on-time, Ed Price, giving young Mr Sykes some life lessons on the way to the match: “Don’t leave it the last minute.” But on the field, there could only be one winner of the (“Ooh Nurse!”) champagne moment. Coach Ed, again, featured – demonstrating how not to perform a long barrier, as he let a four go through his legs. Bowler Paul Pearce was not impressed (double tee pot; face like thunder), but it got worse for our slowest of slow left armers. Next ball, a sharpish single became 5, when over-enthusiastic Ben Collis shied at the stumps . . . and missed. However, all’s well that ends well, as Pearcy picked up a wicket with the final ball of what was clearly a Champagne Super Over . . .
As for the moment of genuine class, as DT said in the bar afterwards, in our first two games we have now witnessed two of the best catches in recent London Saints’ history. Merve himself would not have got near it; well done Harry.
Man of the Match – not easy to pick out one of the four half-centurions. Harry already has the CM and last week’s MoTM, so I am pleased to choose James Patient (in the hope he might play for us again) for his all round performance with bat, ball and in the field.
London Saints
H. Rogers not out (ret) 51
J. Griffiths ct. Robertson b Scarse 15
J Patient not out (ret) 52
J Mousley not out (ret) 50
O Sykes not out 51
B Collis LBW Firth 13
E Price not out 4
R Cushion DNB
P Pearce DNB
D Nanton DNB
D Thomas DNB
Extras 19
Total 254 for 2 (35 overs)
Old Chelmsfordians 6ths
J. Lindell ct Rogers b Collis 34
Branch-Woodward b. Thomas 21
Ward c Cushion b Collis 0
Robertson b Cushion 26
A Ball c Mousley b Thomas 10
D Ball c Collis b Pearce 9
Clifford c and b Cushion 5
Scarse c Price b Patient 10
Firth b Mousley 12
Greenwood not out 0
Hodger DNB (hurt)
Extras 0
Total 126 for 9 (29.1 overs)
Nanton 5-0-19-0
Collis 5-0-38-2
Thomas 4-1-4-2
Pearce 5-0-30-1
Sykes 3-0-16-0
Cushion 2-0-7-2
Patient 2-1-11-1
Mousley 2.1-1-1-1
(3 maiden overs, one wicket maiden) London Saints won by 128 runs
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