Thursday 8 June 2017

Rascals vs East India Club - Chairman's Log 04.06.17

 By Mark Beattie

Garnering a full team for this game proved surprisingly easy once the match manager, The Chairman, had enlisted the help of The Skipper's whatsapp; something that The Chairman's Nokia Series 3 simply did not understand. He has now succumbed to familial pressure and purchased an EyePhone...... The team, rather delightfully, contained no less than three fathers and sons (Tobes and Jake Clifton, Tobes and Arthur Mynott, Neilo and Billy Grigson).

The weather gods were munificent, and, after a pleasant session in The Bell, we managed to get onto the field before 3pm, having lost the toss (care of PK). The indomitable Guy Denning stood in for errant Grigsons, who arrived a short time later. Neilo was happy for Will Drew to continue at the helm.

In the fourth over Arthur Mynott struck and the EICC's opening batsman was caught, either by Arthur or his father (PK, as it happened, ed.). The scorebook does not elucidate, and my memory fails me once again. However, after this, bats 2 & 3 very much got stuck in. It took many, many overs to dislodge Read (no 2), who, by the time he was bowled by a rejuvenated Jez Sheldon, had scored 98. I'll bet Jez felt less than rejuvenated on Monday morning! With overs running short, bat no 3 retired after scoring 50 and after the allotted 32 overs (?? c/o Rascals 'Tosser' PK), the oppo had run up 169 for 3. It has to be said that despite a spirited Rascals' effort in the field, we did drop a good number of catches, which may or may not have proved our eventual undoing.

Tea, prepared and served beautifully The Lady Chairman and Lady Tosser was a triumph. Whilst umping at square leg, a neighbouring oppo fielder commented to The Chairman that, whilst the Stonegate slope was similar to that at Lords, the tea was far superior.

It might be fair to say that the EICC's bowling attack was a tad more troublesome than ours. Whilst the majority of Rascals contributed well (six into double figures), no one was able to post more than PK's 21. The two run outs might have indicated a degree of indolence between the wickets, but, in truth, they were both wonderful direct shys. There was a glimmer of hope towards the end of the innings with an aggressive Toby Clifton and a magnificent Billy Grigson at the crease, but once Billy fell for 13 (13 more than his father!) we were left with much to do. Pressure resulted in two stumpings, and when The Chairman, no 11, came to the crease, there were a good twenty runs required, with two overs to go. Despite taking his time to study the field positioning, he spooned it to silly mid on, first ball.......


We repaired to The Bell to join The Impediments and The Collier XI for a good aling (is there such a thing?). We imbibed and caroused in fine spirits, safe in the knowledge that, whatever was to come, The Grannies, two weeks previously, had ensured that we would not suffer a 'beaten season' . Hussar!

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