Friday 3 October Stragglers of Asia vs Cross Arrows
Result: Lost by 26 runs
Team Batting First: Cross Arrows
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Score | |
| 1 | F Stewart (capt) | Bowled | Jaganathan | 134 |
| 2 | A Padhani | Bowled | Jaganathan | 12 |
| 3 | C James (+) | Caught Jaganathan | Pollock-Hill | 66 |
| 4 | A Jarvis | Bowled | Duff | 10 |
| 5 | M Abbott | Bowled | Duff | 6 |
| 6 | M Umarrji | Caught Duff | Jaganthan | 40 |
| 7 | B Ashfaq | NOT | OUT | 1 |
| 8 | J Bailey | NOT | OUT | 4 |
| 9 | J Stephenson | DID | NOT | BAT |
| 10 | H Cupitt | |||
| 11
|
T Kazim | |||
| Extras: 6 | TOTAL: 280 |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| C Phillips | 5 | 1 | 34 | 0 |
| N Jaganthan | 8 | 2 | 27 | 3 |
| J Caiger | 9 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| R Pollock-Hill | 6 | 0 | 48 | 1 |
| T Lerwill | 9 | 0 | 56 | 0 |
| A Duff | 6 | 0 | 48 | 2 |
| P Surendran | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 19 | 120 | 153 | 183 | 261 | 276 |
Team Batting Second: Stragglers of Asia
| Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Score | |
| 1 | J Cavanagh | Caught Stephenson | Bailey | 47 |
| 2 | J Musgrave | Caught Stephenson | Cupitt | 17 |
| 3 | I Salter | Bowled | Stephenson | 47 |
| 4 | P Surendran | Caught Umarrji | Ashfaq | 43 |
| 5 | T Lerwill (capt) | Caught Bailey | Cupitt | 3 |
| 6 | N Jaganathan | NOT | OUT | 30 |
| 7 | J Caiger | Caught Stephenson | Bailey | 31 |
| 8 | C Phillps | Caught James | Cupitt | 0 |
| 9 | R Pollock-Hill | Bowled | Bailey | 15 |
| 10 | A Duff | NOT | OUT | 7 |
| 11 | A Trapani (+) | DID | NOT | BAT |
| Extras: 13 | TOTAL: 254 |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| H Cupitt | 9 | 2 | 55 | 3 |
| J Bailey | 9 | 1 | 38 | 3 |
| J Stephenson | 9 | 1 | 43 | 1 |
| T Kazim | 9 | 2 | 42 | 0 |
| B Ashfaq | 9 | 0 | 66 | 1 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 35 | 102 | 130 | 159 | 171 | 213 | 217 | 246 |
Report: A balanced and eager Stragglers’ XI arrived at Lords for the biennial match against the Cross Arrows with a strong sun to welcome the team. The previous three occasions had fallen foul of the weather and this was to be the first played for six years. John Stephenson, MCC Cricket Secretary and Cross Arrows captain on the day, won the toss and elected to bat.
The Stragglers’ were happy with fielding first and the three card trick was pulled early on Asif Padhani (playing for the opposition) but then disaster struck: Charlie Phillips fell awkwardly and pulled up after only 4 overs. Until then, his pace and movement had dominated, had seen two catches dropped and with Nathan Jaganthan’s left arm medium pace difficult to play at the other end, the Stragglers were looking good with two batsman back in the hutch. Unfortunately, batsmen now at bat, having been given a life, began to dominate in their turn. Both went to a hundred before Robert Pollock-Hill conjured up a ‘magnificent’ wicket: the batsman advancing struck the ball with some force straight back and Robert taking avoiding action headed the ball to mid-wicket where, with all players concerned for Robert’s health, Nathan made the catch! Robert disappeared to hospital while the team manfully dug in as the Cross Arrows reached 280 for 6off their allotted 45 overs.
The Stragglers’ reply started well but James Musgrave fell early and though Joe Cavanagh (47), Ian Salter (47), and Pradeesh (43) batted superbly all fell with a half century in sight. Andy Duff showed aggression and Robert, returned from hospital exploded while Nathan batted through to hold the later innings together and the target remained tantalisingly within reach. However, the Stragglers’ ended up 26 runs adrift on 254 for 8 and were left thinking what may have been had catches been held and all the batting sparked.
Though it was a Loss, the team enjoyed their day at ‘HQ’ and some will have the opportunity to correct the result in two years’ time.