Stragglers of Asia CC v Butterflies CC – 2 June 2019 at Wokingham CC

Result: Lost by 79 runs

Match Report:

With Match Manager Perry nursing a fractured thumb (acquired at Pangbourne a couple of weeks previously) and thus banished to the Stygian gloom of the scorebox, an eager XI assembled at Wokingham CC to take on the Butterflies on a glorious sunny morning. Having lost the toss, Steve Booth led the Stragglers out to field first.

Butterflies’ decision to bat looked initially to have backfired badly – tight early overs from Leo Hadcock and the evergreen Mark Hunt, and some comic confusion between the batsmen, saw Butterflies slump to 10-2 in the 6^th over. Harrap Sr and Benson had other ideas, putting on 86 before Booth’s sixth over ripped Benson and his replacement Johnson out within 4 balls. Wiggs lasted little better, and lunch saw Butterflies precariously placed on 124-5. Into the afternoon, however, Thomson and the lower order batsmen played inventively to restore some sense of order and decorum through a series of short but productive partnerships. Booth’s removal of Harrap Jr was particularly impressive, the late movement tripping the batsman up and reducing him to all fours surveying the wreckage of his castle. Both Booth and Hadcock bowled with pace, bounce and control, but the batsmen got after the other bowlers with plenty of enthusiasm, making full use of the fast outfield to drag the score up to something defensible.

As with the Butterflies’ innings, Stragglers lost two early wickets with Holloway sending both guest Tom McClellan and Alex Asher back in successive overs. Once again nos. 3 and 4 set about repairing the damage, giving the watching Stragglers hope until Matt Cavanagh feathered one down the leg-side to the waiting Wiggs. Nick Hadcock and Phil McDuell continued the mission, lifting the score to 66, but then fell in successive balls. Hadcock was snared off a steepling chance at mid-on, while McDuell was picked up superbly, low to the fielder’s right at mid-off off the full face of the bat. Jonny McDuell and Alexei Franks pushed things forward but again both fell as soon as hope began to build, to see the side teetering on the brink at 89-7. Booth, however, ably supported by Leo Hadcock, set about the bowling with gusto, being particularly harsh on Benson and Harrap and reaching his 50 in only 30 balls. At this stage Hammond clearly decided enough was enough and cleaned up the last batsmen with three successive wicket maidens, to seize victory just before the drizzle came down and leaving Nino Trapani stranded having faced but a single ball.

Big thanks to all eleven for turning out and – notwithstanding the result – making a thoroughly enjoyable day. Revenge will be sought in 2020. Thanks also to Wokingham CC for providing an excellent playing surface, generous lunch and a comprehensive tea, and a pleasant environment for a quiet drink afterwards.

Team Batting First: Butterflies

Team Batting Second: Stragglers of Asia