Batcome v London Saints Somerset Sunday July 20, 2025
London Saints 147 – 5 (Cohen and Mousley 30 retired, Rogers 20 not out)
20 over game due to overnight rain risking cut-up pitch
Two overs per bowler, retire at 30no
DAWN broke over Frome with disturbing news from the team hotel about suspected Batcombe tactics to disrupt preparations for the game. “Fawlty Towers has no hot water in the sinks or shower, not handy when I had a head full of shampoo,” complained DT. “Had to use the last of the hot water trying to get deep heat out of my eye,” revealed Just Whack it Dover. Even worse, reports that Dickie had disappeared on his way to the kebab house at 1.30am, having tried every drink in the Blue Boar and impressing teammates by recounting all his exes’ names backwards. Whatever happened to Naomi?
That morning was wet and as the squad reconvened on top of the Somerset hill that is home to Batcombe CC, news emerged that it would be a 20/20 to reduce damage to the pitch. Moreover, 10 players would bowl two overs each. Batcombe skipper Mark Henry opened with Gilbert and quickly demonstrated where to hit the ball with the strip just 25 yards from a massively overgrown boundary hedge. Hedge Stopped Play many times as the ball sailed into or over the obstacle, with Max Cohen suffering most.
With 48 runs off the first four overs, it didn’t take long for both openers to retire, especially as No3 bat Siz was an undersized 11-year-old. Siz started slowly with Oscar benefitting by recording a maiden over. But Siz has earned a cricket scholarship at Millfield. He was 16 not out at the end, adding a boundary to his singles from a particularly shite ball from the author (one of many). George retired, Mac was 22 and our only wicket came from Johnny Mousley with a fine caught and bowled. At least the run rate slowed towards the end, Batcombe finishing 165 off 20.
The second half
IT was a fast start to our innings, just what was needed. Dickie had been found clattered two boundaries, while Max having studied the oppo, launched two sixes over the hedge and quickly retired on 30. LSCC were 51-1 off six. Ben Collis was in at 3, with DT telling him: “Speed up the run rate, nothing silly, take your time.” Ben, clearly confused by this order, was back shortly after with the board on 60. Then Dover failed to whack it like Saturday and was out for a Golden. “Out twice in two balls,” he confirmed on return. Oscar quickly added a second duck to the scorebook and suddenly LSCC were 68-4. Indeed, from the 12th to 15th over, only six runs were added. But Johnny added much needed sparkle as he also peppered the hedge and retired on 30. The upturn clearly inspired the team.
With victory a long shot, pride was certainly restored as Phil Rogers and David Nanton added 40-odd runs to bring us within 18 runs of the total, a commendable score against a very strong team.
Man of the Match
Great batting by Max and Jonny: Max was unbeaten on his two innings on tour and was Man of the Tour as he also took four wickets yesterday, played golf and was on the winning quiz team. Not bad. But the award goes to Jonny: he’s played for LSCC twice this season, scoring 50no and 30no today, took our only wicket and with it, our only catch.
Terrence Collis Excellence Champagne Moment
See above: that caught and bowled wasn’t easy, with Johnny moving quickly and taking a tumbling catch to remove their No5 and keep the dampeners on their late scoring rate.
Cock up Champagne moment
Lana being left stranded in the middle of the hedge when DT walked away having supposed to be helping her out. Or there was DT’s precise instruction to up the run rate, do nothing silly and take your time. A masterclass. But Lana’s indignation trumps it.
SCOREBOARDS
Innings of Batcombe
Henry M retired 30
Gilbert retired 31
Siz not out 16
George retired 32
Keinan c&b Mousley 13
Mac not out 22
Extras 21
TOTAL 165 – 1
LSCC bowling
Rogers 2 0 19 0
Cohen 2 0 29 0
Calais 2 0 25 0
Sykes 2 1 5 0
Pearce 2 0 15 0
Cushion 2 0 20 0
Keenan 2 0 15 0
Thomas 2 0 10 0
Mousley 2 0 14 1
Nanton 2 0 16 0
Innings of London Saints
Cushion c b Carl 14
Cohen retired 30
Collis c b Henry B 9
Calais c b Siz 0
Mousley retired 30
Sykes c b Henry B 0
Pearce b Matt 9
Rogers not out 20
Nanton not out 14
Extras 21
TOTAL 147 – 5
Batcombe bowling
Harrison 2 0 18 0
Steve 2 0 19 0
Carl 2 0 6 1
Matt 2 0 12 0
Siz 2 0 12 1
Henry B. 2 0 14 2
George 2 0 9 0
Matt 2 0 4 1
Keinan 2 0 22 0
Henry M. 2 0 22 0
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