Stragglers of Asia v Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, 8 July 2015 at RMA Sandhurst

Result: Lost by 10 wickets.

Match Report:

Before the game, it was debated whether the dark clouds that glowered above the Academy were an omen or stark reminder of the unpredictability of a British summer. Post-match it was clear that they were not only an omen but a bad one for the Stragglers. The runes looked even worse with two late drop outs and one catastrophic calendar calamity. The curriculum for officer cadets has had an increase in academia in order that they get qualifications. Nothing appears to have been removed from the course to accommodate this as cadets turned up late and told us they would have to return to lessons after the game. This led to an agreed 40 overs each at the toss which the captain fortunately won (as he was down to 8 players at this time) and chose to bat. The track looked true and hard; a masterful piece of deception that seems to be embellished year on year.

Tim Lerwill and the new boy Will Cunliffe strode to the crease but their purposefulness soon diminished in the face of the lively pair of opening cadets who used the uneven bounce to restrict early scoring. Lerwill was bowled for 8, uncharacteristic in its method and sum. Youth replaced experience, yet Matt Sucklilng aslo struggled to get the ball away departing the lateral movement for the same score. Parkyn got a pig of a ball and the Stragglers were 22 for 3 and then 36 for 4 as Cunlliffe lost a leg stump. Consolidation and fluency was required and Tom Calder and Villa stepped up. Calder made the pitch look easy, played straight and put away the bad ball well. Very ably supported by Villa the score crept towards what was agreed as a par of 160. Sadly it was not to last and Villa departed before Calder was adjudged to be LBW (the review system was not working). The skipper had spotted a flockless padre and convinced him into whites and pads, allowing Nino to acquire vital runs. After Nino walked after gloving a lifter it fell to Wild Bill Kincaid to delay the cadets long enough to allow Tony Hooper to arrive. His timing was nearly impeccable but padre could only survive long enough for Tony to drive a sumptuous all run 4. This left the Stragglers 136 all out, below par something to bawl at or not.

After tea the cadets came out all guns blazing and didn’t lose a wicket. They chased our score in 16.2 overs.

Sadly not as even a game as last year’s see-saw that the Stragglers could not muster a defendable total.

Team Batting First: Stragglers of Asia

Team Batting Second: RMAS