SJFCC 174 all out off 46 overs lost by 58 runs to
Cockfosters 2nd XI 232 for 4 off 45 overs (scorecard here)
Chalk Lane, Cockfosters, Sunday May 15th 2011
Match Report : Simon Marriott
On the menu today: Lots of food, wine, beer, runs, lots of dot balls and some dodgy fielding…
Let face it there was a degree of trepidation when we rolled up 5 mins before we were meant to start, Cockfosters after all have 5 Saturday league teams to choose from, a real pitch, pavilion (with bar), and umpire – are we at the right ground?
After a contrived tossing (bungle was not involved here you will be glad to note), Cockfosters elected to bat – Dave and John W opened up and within the two overs one of the openers had snicked on from John and was caught behind (opens for the first team apparently..) and oh yes caught behind by Dave Summers, yet another Fishers Keeper.
From then on batting took centre stage and on a fast pitch the ball flew to all corners (it might have been down to the fast outfield or the 2 x first teamers – a straight six off dave was hit so hard it bounced back off the sightscreen to land back to the umpire). Luckily by Lunch, yes lunch (2 hours after we started) they were only near 200, still in it – no real chances went missing and apart from some fielding malfunctions (no names mentioned Chris Ramsey, but letting the ball between your legs, 4 times on the boundary can get slightly annoying)
Lunch: Starters of Tuna and bread, with white wine, Main course of Chicken, potatoes and salad (with red wine this time) and finished with a cheese course – taking to the field after this Fishers were even more lethargic than normal.
Sadly after this feast the oppo decided to keep on with the centurian and ex herts miner counties batsman, fishers meanwhile were trying to keep their collective lunches down and interest levels up. Amazingly the oopo began to realise that quite possibly we were not upto Herts Division 1 standards and ran themsleves out (so kind) and after some a wierd period when keith was given several chances to drop the ball, likewise matt and bungle, they declared.
So to Fishers batting, where to start? well Keith and Robin opened up – robin lasted 3 balls and then quickly Matt, Chris R and Mr Mills followed, leaving fishers wallowing at something like 15 for 4. The middle order then gained a few runs, supporting keith, well mostly outscoring him with their second shot (Keith 5 runs off 13 overs) – oh hang on more food – teas at 5 was a creme tea…
Then afterwards, Keith held up an end whilst small contributions came and went at the other (si 24, Warmsley 23, Dave S 30. Dave B 17 and finally skip Bungle 18)
With a very faint glimmer of salvation (unlike West Ham) Keith playing classically at one end – Bungle asessed the situation and then tried to mow everthing through mid wicket – a classic ying yang of batting techniques. Keith in the end carried his bat for 46 overs and 43 runs amd Fishers were all out for 174. If the first teamers had been left out it would have been a more equal game, but at least Fishers could head to the bar with a degree of pride.
Man of the Match: the Food Keith
