A smiling Stragglers side with the Patiala Bowl though it remains in Eastbourne hands for another year
Skippers toss at Eastbourne College
Stragglers of Asia vs Eastbourne College at Eastbourne College
Result: Lost by 162 runs
Match Report:
Stragglers gathered on the south coast on a beautiful, cloudless day, ready to do battle again for the Patiala Bowl. Still and quiet it was, in the close, and hot, but before very long a light breeze started up from the far end of the ground, that was to blow steadily for the whole day, bringing relief to the players; and also before long many school spectators emerged, taking to the benches and grass banks around the ground. And encouragingly, it appeared that a Stragglers record for the number of players sporting club blazers might have been set…
35 overs a side was agreed to be the format; such unfamiliarities as fielding circle, power plays and free hits were inflicted on the Stragglers and then Eastbourne won the toss and elected to bat.
The Eastbourne openers got off to a very brisk start, the new ball seeming to find the gaps when it wasn’t clattering into the Chairman’s Chin or the Archivist’s Knee… and probably a few more Straggler body parts … a couple of no balls and thus free hits also hurt. The Stragglers bowled with heart and skill; none more so than McDuell, Whyte and Fidler. Phil started his exemplary spell with the Dot of The Century; sure enough more magic and wizardry was to follow from Phil, as he nibbled and wobbled through a masterful spell, including the first wicket, so valuable to Stragglers given the start that the College had, and the intent. By now Tom Whyte had started his spell from the far end, bowling with flight, guile, skill and his usual determination and humour; he would have loved to have reeled off the other twelve overs from the Blackwater Road end, but alas a maximum 7 overs per bowler rule was in place. Jon Parker and Charlie Fidler came back at the death, Charlie’s persistence eventually earning him a deserved wicket. But suffice to say the Eastbourne batsmen had been ruthless, maintaining a punishing scoring rate almost throughout, not least by means of a number of sixes in the general direction of the Grange Road ice cream van…
Archivist Willy Boulter regaled the players and staff at tea most entertainingly with tales of HAV Maynard, whose name is inscribed on the honours board on the wall of the pavilion, and more generally on the history of the Stragglers.
Stragglers got away to a decent start, thanks to some silky shots from Chris Rogers, and with James Melhorn continuing in his vein of good form, but of course the asking rate of almost ten runs per over for 35 overs was always going to be very tough for the Stragglers, lacking either the form or the power (or in the Chairman’s case, both) to send as many into or over the wall as were required. After Rogers and Melhorn, Jon Parker dispatched his first ball with some style, but soon perished, and then Phil McDuell and Adam Abbott put together a very good stand, McDuell in good style with his bandit bandanna, and Abbott hitting the ball very hard and crisply, getting to an excellent and well-deserved fifty in the last over. With time up Stragglers had made 174 at almost exactly 5 an over – which for many Stragglers matches would be a competitive rate – but on this day it left us a little short…
New master in charge of cricket Matilda Callaghan very generously laid on a couple of beers after the match, and after a few words from our president Tim Lerwill as he handed over (again!) the Patiala Bowl, there was a convivial hour of post-match chat, and we were delighted to secure a few names and numbers of Eastbournians interested in playing for the club.
In all a wonderful, inspiring day in beautiful weather, in a great setting, and in good company at Eastbourne, despite a rather heavy limited over game loss. “It was Boys Against Men” indeed.
Innings of Eastbourne College
| No. | Batsman
|
How out | Bowler | |
| 1 | J Grieg | Bowled | J Cavanagh | 85 |
| 2 | H Heming | LBW | Ph McDuell | 40 |
| 3 | P Cooper (capt) | Retired | 101 | |
| 4 | F Horsham-Holt | Ct | J Parker | 36 |
| 5 | E Nolan (wkt) | Bowled | C Fidler | 72 |
| 6 | F Mann | Not out | 14 | |
| 7 | R Seavill | Not out | 7 | |
| 8 | T McDonald | Did not bat | ||
| 9 | A Bailey | Did not bat | ||
| 10 | W Daniels | Did not bat | ||
| 11 | J Hall | Did not bat | ||
| Extras | 11 | |||
| TOTAL | For 4 wk (35 overs) | 336 |
FOW 1-90; 2-162; 3-285; 4-329;
Bowling
| Bowler
|
Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| J Parker | 7 | 0 | 71 | 1 |
| C Fidler | 6 | 0 | 89 | 1 |
| T Whyte | 7 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| P McDuell | 7 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| C Rogers | 5 | 0 | 69 | 0 |
| J Cavanagh | 3 | 1 | 21 | 1 |
Innings of Stragglers of Asia CC
| No | Batsman | How Out | Bowler | Runs
|
| 1 | J Melhorn | Bowled | A Bailey | 34 |
| 2 | C Rogers | Ct Seavill | J Hall | 25 |
| 3 | J Parker | Bowled | A Bailey | 4 |
| 4 | A Abbott (wkt) | Not out | 50 | |
| 5 | I Perry | Bowled | F Horsham Holt | 4 |
| 6 | Ph McDuell | Run out | (J Hall) | 27 |
| 7 | J Cavanagh (capt) | Not out | 0 | |
| 8 | T Lerwill | |||
| 9 | W Boulter | |||
| 10 | C Fidler | |||
| 11 | T Whyte | |||
| Extras | 30 | |||
| TOTAL | 5 wkts (35 overs) | 174 |
FoW 1-63; 2-69; 3-77; 4-106; 5-156
Bowling
| Bowler
|
Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| T McDonald | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| W Daniels | 5 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| J Hall | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| A Bailey | 5 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| F Mann | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| F Horsham-Holt | 7 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| H Heming | 6.1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| R Seavill | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Umpire: