Full Fixture Information

Result Descriptiom

Match drawn

Man of the Match

Rupert Hetherington

Champagne Moment

George Atkinson ? diving catch at short mid off

Teddy Bear Moment

Lakh ? nominally for fielding mishaps, but actually for leaving fines early.

Full Match Report

I sometimes struggle to know how to start match reports, but luckily this year I can just steal Tim L?s opening from this same match last year, which reads as follows: ?Our endless golden summer is over. The mercury has dropped and rain has begun to wash over the Rec. The parched sun-browned grass of previous weeks has turned soggy and the rain has encouraged green to return to the parts not yet burned off.?

So it was, as we turned out to play our much-cherished fixture against the Stroke Makers CC. The pitch itself was an emerald green, lying proudly in a lush square that screamed hosepipe ban defiance (fully permitted). It was a credit to the groundsmen. The outfield, which was dead, brown and afflicted by the occasional hardy weed, had an apocalyptic feel.

A few of us have been caught out by the recent 1pm starts, Tim for a second week running. In my haste I could not find my usual shirt and so was forced to don a too-small (and thus figure hugging) back up ? known to EMCC kit aficionados and Partridge fans for its red and green piping. Stand in captain Jimmy informed me that he had eschewed the usual coin toss in favour of a ?negotiation? and that, as a result, we would field first.

Rather to my shame I hadn?t played since 21 June against Captain Scott?s. I observed in the following sun-baked weeks of drought and wildfires a potential silver lining: rock hard pitches that would bring pace and carry, and with it fly slips and chin music. But that was not what Mother Nature intended and the pitch was in fact quite slow and tacky. Jimmy wandered over and suggested astutely that we put a couple of catchers in front of the bat.

Thus it was that in my second over, one Stroke Maker having already chopped on, another popped up a catch to Josh at short cover. Both batsmen lingered at the crease, contemplating with some disbelief the fact that the only glorious drives they would be executing that day were to and from the Heathrow area. Meanwhile Wayne was bowling very well up the hill, achieving a probing line and length which ultimately did for the other opener, who in a single delivery was somehow in successively lbw, bowled and caught behind for 1.

Two more wickets followed from the top end, one bowled middle stump and one a great catch from George, diving forward at short mid-off. George was justifiably happy about this catch, but not as happy as when he noticed my developing footmarks and saw an opportunity to get out George?s Big Bag of Sawdust. I offered to run it back to the boundary but Sticko observed correctly that ?you?ll never get that off him?.

Stroke Makers had been 15-4, were now 28-5 and would soon be 39-6 when birthday boy Aaron, who had replaced me at the Alpaca end, had Faisal Khan caught for 11. Might this be a steamroller victory?

No. The game became somewhat becalmed as Stroke Makers steadied the ship. Josh bowled a spell that we agreed at fines was a little boring and lacking in threat, although it was abstemious with only 9 coming off his six overs. Sticko also went wicketless but was hard to get away. Were the runs against him in the book byes? Probably, but then various disloyal teammates were cruelling encouraging the calling of wides.
Stroke Makers added a meagre 34 in 23 overs. The partnership was eventually broken when George, having seen his son miscalculate and watch a catchable chance sail over his head, decided two balls later to take the matter quite literally into his own hands, with a sharp caught and bowled to remove Khuram Tippu. 73-6.

That might have seen us mopping up the tail and an early tea, but Saheer M at number 8 had other ideas. He played a scintillating innings, dispatching Jimmy, Ollie and Tim to all corners. Stroke Makers have a fetching blue and red quartered cap, which at one point he switched to wearing backwards, as if to signal just how easy this was. When we next troubled the wickets column the score had progressed to 154. That was my pre-Rodders cap, and my post-Rodders cap came with the score on 186, courtesy of a steepling catch held in the safe gloves of debutant Paul Vickers. I ended with figures of 6 for 18 off 10, and should not have let out a loud expletive when, with my last delivery, Saheer hit a crunching six to cow corner. Wayne had also come back on and, with the last delivery before tea, took another good wicket, bowled, to end with 2 for 25 off 7. Saheer stood emphatically unbeaten at the other end, 123no having come in at number 8. A fine innings and Stroke Makers, having reached 204, could be very happy with their position at tea.

There were several highlights at tea. The culinary ones included deep-filled tuna sandwiches and Hannah?s polenta cake. The non-culinary ones included a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday for Aaron, and the presence of the youngest, and no doubt best Rupert, not yet three weeks old.

Lakh and Tim L opened up for the Meon. Lakh was unfortunately caught in the first over, bringing Jimmy to the crease, bearing the heavy weight of not only scoreboard pressure, but honours board pressure too. Could he score a fourth hundred in a row? Tim L played nicely for 13 before being bowled by Rashid, who had a quick arm and unerring accuracy. There followed a mini-collapse, as Ollie Cooke and Josh came and went in quick succession. At 37-3 the scoreboard had a distinctly English Test team feel about it. Debutant Vickers played some nice shots, middling six boundaries as the score reached 92-4 with about 15 overs left. Vickers holed out, departing for 26 and bringing Aaron to the crease. The stage was set for a birthday triumph. Jimmy farmed the strike. The score advanced to 128, a partnership of 36, of which Jimmy had scored?36. After Aaron was bowled, Sticko continued in the role of silent partner, asked to survive the sixth ball while Jimmy hit a succession of boundaries, including five monstrous sixes. The score had reached 149. Little did he know, Jimmy was now on 99 not out. The Honours Board beckoned.

But it wasn?t to be. Thinking he was in the late eighties he tried to up the ante still further, but miscued and was caught. It was a great effort, particularly the skill with which he managed the innings, and he deserved a hundred. Stroke Makers were jubilant, the prospect of a defeat well and truly buried, and the prospect of a notable victory hoving into view. But they hadn?t reckoned with the stubbornness of one G Atkinson who, first with Wayne, and then for short time with me, saw us ultimately to safety.

A game that had looked at 14.30 like cruise to victory and then at 18.00 like a chastening defeat, ended at 18.30 with what was probably the right result, an edifying draw. Well played Stroke Makers, well played EMCC.

It being a Bank Holiday, fines were a little looser than usual.