London Saints CC vs King George CC Sunday 10 August, Old Haberdashers’ (35 overs)
London Saints 155/7 (35 overs) Jones 53 n.o., Nanton 21 n.o.
King George 58 all out (14.2 overs), Rogers 5-6, R. Griffiths 2-6
Saints win by 97 runs
Despite what you may have heard about some of our games this season, we still try to put the “friendly” in friendly cricket. It was a scorching day in Borehamwood on Sunday, and with the skipper having lost the toss, the real test of friendship began immediately, with a father-in-law / son-in-law combo (Tony and Judas, respectively) umpiring the innings. The stage was set for some truly impartial decision-making – and the possibility of some awkward post-match conversations over a pint.
With Andy “White Viv” Jones and Richard “Dickie” Cushion opening, things were off to a decent start, with Jones continuing his recent renaissance, hitting several onside cuts and drives to the boundary against some very good bowling – channelling the great man Richards, almost 34 years to the day of his retirement from Test cricket. Indeed, Andy seemed to be taking the “rolling back the years” mantra a little too literally, calling for runs and charging down the wicket almost every ball. Several close shaves highlighted the risk, and a direct hit on the stumps would have surely ended his innings prematurely.
But the Fates had clearly decided that it was to be Jonesey’s day. That much was clear when they even intervened to deflect the deathly Judas Curse – “Andy’s batting really well” our Soothsayer of Doom was heard to utter. Surely White Viv’s fate was sealed! But somehow it was Richard who fell right afterwards, given out LBW by father-in-law Tony for 10. Dickie did look to be a fair bit down the wicket, but did not make much of a fuss about it, so all was well. It was the first of a few LBW decisions in the game…
Phil, coming in at number three, looked set for a good score with three boundaries but was caught out for 16 shortly after the drinks break.
Enter your reporter, promoted up the order to Number 4. He was quickly joined by Ben Sherriff as Andy had to retire after smashing another boundary to bring up a well-deserved 53 not out. Jonesey has been in a rich vein of form lately, and his timing was impeccable. A fantastic innings from the Renaissance Man!
One Liner managed to get off the mark with a single but then had to wait almost three overs before facing his next ball. It felt much longer, as the opposition was quite slow between overs and even between balls – changing the field, chatting amongst themselves, checking online scores, blackberry-picking and engaging in some good-natured Saints sledging. A couple of boundaries from Nanton suggested some big hitting might be on the way but the bowling was tight and wickets started tumbling on the other end – Ben (7), Dover (1), Griffiths (0) and Pearcey (2) all going cheaply. The oppo were appealing for everything, so when Tiger decided to walk after gloving one to the wicketkeeper, a somewhat exasperated Andy Mayhew, umpiring, responded to the loud appeals with, “OK, OK, calm down… He’s walking!”
The mini-collapse clearly called for a more studied approach from One Liner, with several forward defensive(!) shots needed to keep the innings alive. This uncharacteristic performance from Nanton prompted a barrage of comments from the sidelines – mostly in the vein of “Get a bloody move on!” – but he remain unruffled. Water off a duck’s back.
And speaking of ducks… Considering DT’s recent rearguard performances, your reporter was surprised that he sent in Ed ahead of himself, until it was later pointed out that Ed was DT’s closest rival for the Duck Trophy. The opposition had brought back a couple of their better bowlers, after all, so the less kind among us might suggest that this was all about duck avoidance! Nanton (21 not out) and Ed (11 not out) saw out the overs for a final score of 155/7, with Mr Extras contributing 32. King George did bowl a LOT of wides, even with some generous umpiring. Had all been awarded, Mr Extras might have also had to retire!
Coincidentally, we had exactly the same score against the same opposition last year – 155. It is not a bad total to defend, and we had easily done so last year, but we didn’t have the most mobile team line-up this time around and the King George players had that look in their eyes… In fact, they looked quite confident with the bat for all of two overs before Phil quickly changed the game’s momentum.
Two LBW decisions off the 2nd and 3rd balls of Phil’s second over were quickly followed by a fourth off his 6th ball, having upended the stumps of their No. 4 bat with his 5th. Three overs, four wickets, four ducks. Oppo at 16-4. It made Phil’s first over — in which he conceded just three runs — seem quite poor in comparison! Ollie then followed with a wicket off the first ball of the next over to remove their other opener Rana (top-scorer with 15), making it a combined LSCC hat-trick. Phil then took his 5th wicket in his fourth and final over to finish with enviable figures of 4-1-6-5. But he wasn’t done tormenting the opposition, taking two catches off the bowling of Dover and Griffiths. The latter finished with two wickets and spookily, exactly the same figures from the corresponding fixture last year – 2.2-0-6-2. Pearcey also chipped in, bowling Usman for 14. King George all out for 58.
It was a fantastic day of cricket for the Saints and we have now won five out of last six games at Borehamwood. It could be home advantage, or Pauline’s teas, but some have might say it is the impact of Il-Duceball, the new edgy approach from our skipper that has recently rattled opposition teams.
Bring on the ex-Blues!
Man of the Match
There was much debate about whether this should go to Andy or Phil, with each also insisting it should go to the other. Both performances had significant influence on the game. Andy’s batting against some very good bowling set the foundation for a respectable score of 155 but it was Phil Rogers’ five wickets and two catches that definitively decided the game in our favour. Five wickets for just six runs in four overs is a remarkable feat in any cricket match, and it completely dismantled the opposition’s top order. Well done, Phil!
Terrence Collis Excellence Champagne Moment –
Andy Jones takes this for continuing his fantastic run of form with a well-deserved 53, brought up with a cracking boundary.
Cock up Champagne Moment
There were a few mishaps and memorable off-field moments in the running for this one – from DT’s hissy-fit when Phil dared to refer to the Park Run as a “fun run” to Jonesey’s post-match subs negotiation of “I haven’t got a tenner but I do have two very squashed bananas.” And it is still not clear how Ed injured his… well, his arse, right at the start of the game.
But the bubbly goes to John Griffith’s emphatic declaration (in response to a query from one of the King George players, who had noticed the matching surnames) that his son Ollie was “not related” to his uncle Richard Griffiths. And you wonder why Judas remains “No. 2 Son-in-Law”!
London Saints Batting
Jones retired 53
Cushion lbw Bilal 10
Rogers c Usman b Zain 16
Nanton not out 21
Calais b Zain 1
Sherriff b Yusuf 7
R. Griffiths b Bilal 0
Pearce c Adnaan (wkt) b Bilal 2
Price not out 11
Extras 32
Total 155/7
King George Batting
Rana c Cushion b O Griffiths 15
Adnaan LBW b Rogers 0
Zaki LBW b Rogers 0
Sule LBW b Rogers 0
Faheem LBW b Rogers 0
Khalid b Rogers 1
Usman b Pearce 14
Zain c Rogers b Calais 5
Bilal c Rogers b R Griffiths 11
Yusuf not out 5
Akmal b R Griffiths 1
Extras 5
Total 58 all out
LSCC Bowling
Rogers 4-1-6-5
O Griffiths 4-1-20-1
Calais 2-0-3-1
Pearce 2-0-18-1
R Griffiths 2.2-0-6-2
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