Scorecard

Harberton v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sun 12 Aug 2012 at 2.00 pm
Erratics Cricket Club Won by 4 runs

Match report Match Report by Mark Phillips:

For once, a non-participant writes this report. Your reporter, originally due to play and scheduled for the Match Report, had managed to give himself a nasty eye injury playing cricket (regrettably for another side) two days earlier and decided to accept medical advice to resist the temptation of further cricket activity for a few days. Not very interesting, you might think, to simply be a spectator/ amateur sports journalist on the sidelines for 5 or 6 hours, instead of out there in the fray, but you would be wrong in this case. What a match to watch – it turned out to be very exciting. So much so, that your reporter convinced himself that he was better off avoiding the stress of participation, especially during the second (Erratics) fielding innings.

Harberton is a lovely ground, with long views across to Dartmoor, a cricket field playing area that feels about the right size, even if it has some alarming slopes in some parts and a soon-to-be-opened grand pavilion. (For now, we made do with the temporary get changed in the field arrangements, but supplemented by a good scorebox, tea and bench seating facilities.)

Erratics lost the toss and were put in to bat. Chris Ferro raced away to a very rapid 50, which included a six. He rarely allows the ball to leave his bat on anything other than a grass-skimming trajectory, so this event is worth noting. He was ably supported by Andrew Forrester who remained calm and solid, taking no risks in scoring 2 out of the opening partnership of 42 before being trapped LBW. Martin Wright then took over to continue the steady progress, contributing to another partnership of 40 before being caught at short mid-off. Dan Thistlethwaite was anticipating adding to the steady progress in the next partnership only to have his hopes dashed frustratingly quickly by a surprise stumping. (Or perhaps stumpings are always a surprise – not pleasant anyway.)

When Chris was caught and bowled for 77 (7 fours and 1 six) he had still produced the majority of the runs (104 for 3 at this point). There then followed a good partnership between Duncan Chave and Jonathan Kirby, with Duncan sending 4s to midwicket, long-on and the covers and Jonathan producing his characteristic leg sweeps for four, or often having to run three, that area of his targeting often being the furthest from any available fielders. He was caught at mid-on with the score at 153 for 4.

We finished the innings with a father/son contribution from Duncan and Fraser which was good to watch, with Duncan finishing on 52 not out (9 fours), including 3 fours to all parts of the ground in the last over. Erratics 186 for 5 in this 40-over contest looked like a set-up for a close match.

However, after tea, your reporter began to wonder if this would be the case after all. The slow start by Harberton can be portrayed by the first 5 overs being maidens and at 9 overs the score was 9 for 1. (Bowling from Rutherford and Kothamachu.) By now, your reporter was doing the scorebook and his opposite number from Harberton was muttering “so-and-so will be getting very frustrated by now” as shot after shot was going straight to an Erratics fielder without even the odd single being taken.

However, soon after this period, Harberton’s scoring rate did begin to pick up with Alexander and Tobias having a good partnership for the second wicket (52 for 2), followed by another one between Tobias (67 eventually) and Frankland (33 eventually), taking the score to 122 for 3 and then Gomall’s innings of 28.

At this stage there were enough overs in hand for Harberton’s required total to begin to look feasible and the game had spectators and players truly gripped.

Runs were coming thick and fast and Nigel Rutherford came back on to bowl with only 5 overs remaining. He pinned down the batsmen from what had become a bit of a boundary fest, though they still managed to secure many daring quick singles to keep the total rising relentlessly. Chris Ferro took a critical wicket in the 36th over when he bowled their No. 5, also breaking a well-running partnership.

After this, several batsmen came and went in quick succession in a frantic dash towards the end. Tobias was unfortunately run out. There then followed two more run outs and an LBW in the last few balls. It was exciting right through to the last ball, with Harberton finishing on 181 for 8, just 5 runs short of the Erratics total. No-one would envy Nigel having to deliver that last over.

What a match!

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 1w 4b 2lb 
for 5 wickets
10
188		        
Chris Ferro Caught  77
Andrew Forrester Lbw  2
Martin Wright Caught  12
Jonathan Kirby Caught  30
Daniel Thistlethwaite Stumped  0
Duncan Chave Not Out  52
Fraser Chave Not Out  5
Nigel Rutherford  
Matt Cook  
Phil Power  
Varun Kothamachu  

Harberton Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Harberton Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
9w 7b 6lb 
for 8 wickets
22
184 (40.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Nigel Rutherford8.041226.001.50
Varun Kothamachu5.02900.001.80
Matt Cook8.0326126.003.25
Phil Power8.104900.006.00
Chris Ferro7.0036218.005.14
Fraser Chave4.003900.009.75