Scorecard

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics v Stokeinteignhead on Sat 03 May 2008 at 2.30pm
Match was Drawn

Match report The tea debate that had filled a number of email inboxes continued to rage as the Erratics gathered for their inaugural home fixture at Dunsford. Though there had been some initial confusion about what was expected, as the offerings were laid out the atmosphere relaxed as it became apparent there would be sufficient for all.

Kirby won the toss and elected to bat, sending in Ferro and McRae. As McRae was carrying a gardening injury Ferro took strike and was soon unleashing elegant cover drives across a slow outfield. He looked composed and at ease despite the slow, low bounce and continued in style until the ninth over when he was flustered with a strong (that is to say loud rather than convincing) appeal followed swiftly by a dropped catch.


The fifty partnership was reached in the twelfth over making it two consecutive solid starts for the Erratics. As Peter Thomson observed later in the pub, it was probably some time since we had achieved such feat, Kirby informed us authoritatively that it was certainly the first for at least eight years, and this with no reference to a scorebook!

Seven overs later McRae pushed forward and edged to the keeper, though many chances were to go begging throughout the day this one was cleanly taken and at 77 for 1 Sid Thomson entered the fray. There were soon two close calls in quick succession as first he was dropped and then, attempting to create space to cut, he chopped one ever so nearly onto the stumps.

Ferro glided to a fluent 50 and Sid expended his third life of the afternoon as he was dropped at deep mid off.

Athletic fielding from a youthful Stoke side meant many boundaries were cut off. Though their ground fielding was very effective they were proving to be more fallible with the ball in the air. Encouraged by this both batsmen started to explore the aerial route but they were still frustrated by the outfield. One of the great shots of the day, a flat square cut from Ferro ‘epitomised excellent elegance’ (J. Kirby). The ease with which Ferro and Thomson cruised past the 100 partnership caused the spectators to heap unjustified criticism on McRae for losing his wicket so cheaply, having scored 23 on his first outing this season, this was more than a little harsh.

As Thomson closed in on his 50 he used up another life, his fourth in fact, dropped in the deep. The Erratics were now on 180 with Ferro gracefully approaching a century when Sid pulled to midwicket and this time the catch stuck ending an attractive batting display on 47. This brought the captain, J Kirby, to the crease. Though he had enjoyed the preceding displays he had admitted that maintaining focus and body core temperature was always difficult in these situations. With only 15 minutes to go he began to make up for an afternoon waiting in the wings with an array of attacking, lusty blows.

The experimental tea was now in the making and there was a palpable sense of anticipation and anxiety as to whether it would be a success. As the captain clearly felt it was his responsibility to inspect the spread he sacrificed his wicket with 22 to his name. This allowed Weiler to take to the field for the final five minutes, he should have gone first ball but another chance was squandered as a caught and bowled was spilled.

Weiler played the most attractive shot of the day, unfortunately the bowler had failed to release the ball. The captain allowed him enough time to score his first four of the season and then declared with three minutes to spare. Ferro, once again not out, this time with 118.

There was more than enough tea to go round and plenty left for after the match. Peter Thomson gathered the teams together to welcome them to our first real home fixture in many years, observing how fitting it was that we should be playing one of our favourite oppositions. Fittingly the game was named the Jim Maher Memorial Match after the long standing and sorely missed Stoke-in-Teignhead player.

The Erratics had posted a total of 239 for the Stoke side to chase and they started brightly enough with two young batsmen engaging in some powerful strokeplay. The younger of the two, apparently only 14 years old, struck the ball particularly firmly and in so doing created a number of chances, in a repeat of the day’s first fielding performance all were dropped and a score of 76 was reached before the first wicket fell to McRae, smartly caught at gully by Weiler and now the catches started to stick. For a time the run chase was held in check though there was always a feeling that if wickets were lost in quick succession the batting side could shut up shop on a benign surface.

The Stoke number 3, D. Britcliffe led a brave charge, taking risks but scoring at a rate that began to bring our total within reach. However, when he was caught on 92 off J. Pearson the match was all but over. Stoke-in-Teignhead finished on a creditable 217 just 22 short and with only 6 wickets down, the Erratics had lost only 3 for their total. We had faced 44 overs and bowled 45. G. Oughton was the pick of the Erratics’ bowlers with a miserly 22 conceded off 10 overs which included 4 maidens and 1 wicket. A day of accomplished batting over we withdrew to the Royal Oak to discuss the afternoon’s events.

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 9w 8b 1lb 
for 3 wickets
20
239		        
Andrew McRae ct Harvey 23 3
Chris Ferro Not Out  118 11 1
Sid Thomson ct Britcliffe 47 5
Jonathan Kirby b Hawkins 22 3
Martin Weiler Not Out  7 1
David Pearson  
Matt Turner  
Gareth Oughton  
James Burrows  
John Pearson  
Jim Thomson  

Stokeinteignhead Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gray7.013000.004.29
Hawkins7.0034134.004.86
Harvey6.0024124.004.00
Prest8.004100.005.13
Putman6.003800.006.33
Britcliffe6.0127127.004.50
Barnes4.003400.008.50

Stokeinteignhead Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3w 2b 1lb 
for 6 wickets
6
211 (45.0 overs)		     
Russell ct D. Pearson 28
Grey ct McRae 46
Britcliffe ct Ferro 92
Thorton ct Oughton 0
Williams lbw Thompson 12
Barnes Run out  9
Putman Not Out  17
Hawkins Not Out  7
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Burrows10.0136136.003.60
David Pearson7.005400.007.71
Gareth Oughton10.0422122.002.20
Andrew McRae8.0242142.005.25
Jim Thomson6.0034134.005.67
John Pearson4.0025125.006.25