Scorecard

Lustleigh v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sun 17 Jul 2005 at 2pm
Erratics Cricket Club Lost by 6 wickets

Match report by Matt Cook

It was again time for the annual Lustleigh trophy game, the Erratics hoping to retain the burnished David Lloyd figurine and commemorative plinth following a fine victory the previous year. It was an occasion steeped in history, but on arrival the Erratics realised that no member of the Wright family would be playing for the first time since anyone could remember.

C. Cook who was the Erratics captain shook with Lustleigh skipper N. Sawtry-Cookson, and the coin showed in Cook’s favour on what was a memorably warm and pleasant day. Choosing to bat, the Erratics contemplated what might be a good score on Lustleigh’s wicket, an interesting question what with a particularly small boundary on the river side of the field. However the rebellious track that awaited them would perhaps make runs less accessible and wickets more so. Naturally the constraints and nuances of the facilities were far from being the Erratics sole adversary. Lustleigh’s bowling attack always presented a threat, as well as some sublime fielding.

Opener Mileham unfortunately succumbed in the first over; caught looking to make use of the short boundary, he left the field with a slow disillusioned mosey. Brunt enjoyed a flurry of well-timed drives off both front and back feet before being snaffled by the Lustleigh Captain with the day’s most astounding catch. This was to be the second of B. Goff’s fine three wicket haul. Nevertheless, the Erratics looked to dominate the bowling by S. Thomson’s considered stroke play and M. Cook’s (that’s me) attempts to fire the ball everywhere.

M. Cook’s reckless style eventually gave Goff his final wicket and brought the monumental Captain Cook to the crease. Having played Lustleigh for a league side the previous afternoon, and struck 77 on a similar track, a large onus of responsibility had seemed to descend upon the captain, despite the consensus being that the Erratics had fielded a strong batting side. Still, as long as the immaculate accumulator S.Thomson remained present, things could surely not go amiss. Cue the run out debacle that followed, and possibly the first indication that it was not to be the Erratics’ day.

Sid called an unlikely run, but Cook declined and Thomson would have to go back, hindered by the worry his back might go. A costly error as Cook continued to bat with changeable partners. Horne exited first, then Weiler following a lusty 12, and then Birbeck with an unfortunate duck. Next P. Power had something to prove to the Captain, but was triggered by yours truly. The Erratics batting had evaporated in the gentle warmth of the afternoon, and all eyes - including those of a certain Geoff Fox, supporting the occasion - turned to the unpredictable S. Berry for a last ditch cameo.

Catastrophically however, the very first single Steve took, he pulled up in agony and had to be escorted from the pitch unable to continue. Steve had decided not to take a runner due to his having had the beginnings of the injury prior to the game. So in came last man E. Thomas with some quirky defensive strokes, trying to play himself in and to support C. Cook at the other end. But Cook had other ideas, believing the game to be up, he tried to hit hard, and witheringly miss-cued the ball to a fielder.
Nine wickets down, and only the injured Berry to potentially return. Lustleigh, upon realising the situation, generously offered the by-standing Courtney Wright as a replacement. The Erratics agreed seeing as Steve’s wounded calf would prevent him from taking any further part. Ultimately, it also meant that a Wright would indeed be participating in the fixture; if not for the Wright side. A fruitful partnership between E. Thomas and Courtney Wright ensued, and the Erratics added a much needed 20-odd to a seemingly lacklustre batting card. E. Thomas proved more dynamic than C. Cook might have believed; he hauled two boundaries including a momentous six into the nearby stream.

During the interval, it was decided that as "Steve Courtney-Berry" was reluctant to participate further despite the success of his batting, another change of circumstances was to occur. After 7 years in the wilderness, Mr Geoff Fox made a welcome return to the team, hopefully as a permanent addition to the squad. Clad in mismatched vestments donated by his contemporaries, he took to the field as if he had never left it. The Erratics began to bowl with archetypal style, T. Mileham trying to make amends for his early dismissal with some lean pace bowling, rather waywardly at first, and C. Cook tethering the batsman to the crease with some flat and mean spirited off spinners. Following Mileham, Power proved his legspin to be a menace, turning and bouncing the ball past the outside edge. But the occasional hit caused the Captain to take him off.

Such was the nature of Lustleigh’s batting, always aware of the quality to come, they began slowly and sensibly. R Hughes scored an anchoring 28, including one voracious six which subsequently lost the match ball. This came from the otherwise splendid bowling of long-time absentee Fox who wowed the supporters with a seamless return to Erratic action. This was one of the moments that stood out for the president in recollection of the game at the post-match presentation. He was to the Erratics chagrin to be awarding the victory to the home team.

They were steered home comfortably despite Fox and Cook’s best efforts by P. Foot, arguably the most able individual involved in the game. Having taken a wicket for few runs during the Erratic innings, Foot’s careful and selective ball-munching cost the Erratics dear as they allowed Lustleigh victory with ample overs to spare. An unsuccessful result to an indubitably successful occasion, followed by the usual arguments and what-ifs at the beer-friendly Cleave.

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
7w 19b 4lb 
for 9 wickets
30
145		        
Tim Mileham Caught  0
Al Brunt Caught  13
Sid Thomson Run out  7
Matt Cook Caught  19
Chris Cook Caught  38
Ken Horne Caught  1
Martin Weiler Caught  12
Nick Birbeck Bowled  0
Phil Power Lbw  1
Steve Berry Retired Not Out  2
Ed Thomas Not Out  14

Lustleigh Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Lustleigh Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3w 5b 1lb 
for 4 wickets
9
148 (35.5 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Chris Cook13.0636218.002.77
Tim Mileham3.001000.003.33
Phil Power4.001000.002.50
Al Brunt8.0237218.504.62
Matt Cook5.503000.005.14
Ed Thomas2.001900.009.50