Scorecard

All Saints v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sat 29 Sep 2007 at 1.30pm
Erratics Cricket Club Won by 11 runs

Match report by Al Brunt

This was an enjoyable and interesting game all the way through to the last five overs, up to which point the result could have gone either way. In the event the Erratics ultimately won comfortably in a performance characterised by strong team discipline throughout.

That disciplined approach began with our strict observance of the terms of what has now become known as the “Kirby Encyclical”. The email calling for a commitment to a code of Erratic behaviour covering, inter alia; timekeeping, kit management and fiduciary order, had been issued a few days earlier causing much comment, but also cowed adherence. This report is your correspondent’s (albeit much delayed) response to its urgings. To describe the Encyclical as “Bull”, one Erratics response, was, I thought, to misunderstand the difference between these two types of Papal pronouncements.

The game was played in largely gloomy weather and the captains sensibly agreed to reduce its length to 30 overs a side. We batted first and our openers, Ferro and McRae, got us off to a well-ordered and solid start adding 69 before Ferro was caught on the boundary for 48. There was much admiration for Ferro’s class. His innings included elegant shots all around the wicket. One pull stroke was described as the best shot by an Erratic seen in a long time. A number of two’s were only prevented from being boundaries by the very wet outfield and all in all, the knock was probably worth half as many runs again as were recorded in the scorebook.

McRae’s calling has a discipline all of its own, and before play started he was gracious enough to acknowledge its shortcomings. However, in his defence he made what was agreed as a fair point when he explained that he’d only run himself out in the last two years, no other batsmen. He did so again today. But only after adding 21 and providing some strong support to Ferro.

Kirby’s characteristically innovative and energetic 32 kept the momentum going, but it was the only other significant score in the innings. Nevertheless we reached 149 for seven from our 30 overs, setting All Saints a required rate of five an over which was always likely to be an interesting target on that pitch.

The flavour of the Erratic discourse, on a variety of topics from the game itself to the virtues and shortcomings of contemporary architecture, was the usual blend of blithe optimism offset by the curmudgeonly dismissive. On the whole the changes to the Exeter cityscape resulting from the regeneration of Princesshay were welcomed I think, though I might be abusing the commentator’s privilege of recording the outcome as falling on his side of the argument.

The new found Erratics discipline extended to our fielding performance. We stepped onto the field with determination and into our fielding positions exuding athleticism. It was as if we’d had a team huddle.

However, their opening pair were every bit as confident and after five overs looked as though they would easily overcome our total with no further help required thank you very much! But, having reached 28 with the ease of two seasoned league cricketers, a fine ball from Curtis had Wellman reaching outside off and edging to the keeper.

Nevens and brother N of the Keylock twins, steadily put on 20, before the former was caught off Oughton’s bowling for 35. N Keylock was joined by his brother R, and together they again began to accumulate runs. But tight Erratics fielding kept them behind the rate and their growing frustration eventually became a handicap. N thrashed at a straight one from Oughton and was bowled for 27.

We’d contrived a dominant position from tight bowling (from Ellis and Oughton, 2-14, in particular) and fine fielding, wisely organised as usual by the capable Captain Thomson. Everyone contributed and I can’t remember any real howlers. Instead we all dived about and ran like demons. Even the throwing was comparatively accurate and created a run out late in the innings. A couple of “dropped” catches were in truth, difficult chances.

With ten overs to go and the required rate now six an over, the Erratics were on top. We had a scare when three or four overs of belligerent batting from S.Trott dragged All Saints back to a position where, against the odds, they could have won it. He scored seventeen from Ferro’s third over. But having thought about it in the outfield, Ferro came back in the next over with a peach of a first ball, on a length and straight, bowling him for 22. That ball put an end both to Trott’s batting canter and All Saints’ threat. They fell away and although they came to within eleven of our score we were always in control. In the final four overs, played in a steady drizzle, the accurate McRae in particular strangled any chance of a late comeback.

All in all whilst this was a good game enjoyed by both sides, it was particularly pleasing to see what we can do when we Erratics put our minds to it. And afterwards over a pint at the pavilion, the prospect of more cricket via the indoor league (“I’ll see thee”) and an historic first game in the middle of October, was one we looked forward to with optimism rather than resignation.





Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
4nb 13w  
for 7 wickets
17
149		        
Andrew McRae Run out  21
Chris Ferro ct Trott 48
Jonathan Kirby b Welman 32
Al Brunt ct Welman 11
Martin Weiler b Nevens 5
David Pearson Not Out  10
Phil Ellis Run out  3
Gareth Oughton Run out  2
John Curtis Not Out  0
John Pearson  
Peter Thomson  

All Saints Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

All Saints Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
5w 1lb 
for 7 wickets
6
138 (30.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Phil Ellis4.001800.004.50
John Curtis4.0029129.007.25
Gareth Oughton6.011427.002.33
David Pearson6.002500.004.17
Chris Ferro5.0032216.006.40
Andrew McRae5.0114114.002.80