Scorecard

Philanthropists v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sun 01 May 2011 at Unknown
Erratics Cricket Club Won 83 runs

Match report Match Report by Martin Weiler

After all the fervour and excitement it was back to cricket. The hype and hysteria had calmed down; the flags and banners put away for another day. Yes the big Exeter City v Plymouth Argyle derby was done and dusted and normal life could be resumed.

And for the Exeter based Erratics travelling to Torpoint there was even the temptation of a little triumphalism as we passed Argyle’s Home Park on the way to the ferry.

The journey over the Tamar takes longer than you think so several of us were still on the ferry when an agitated Martin Wright rang skipper Jonathan Kirby to say that the hosts were eager to toss up. Martin was deputed to the task and luckily called correctly. He elected to bat and so give time for the stragglers to arrive.


This was a new look Erratics line up with no less than 4 debutants (Peter Cox and son Sam, Mark Hailwood and Dan Thistlewaite) and one in only his third game (Varun Kothamachu).

But there was a nostalgic link with the past with the Parker dynasty represented - Tamsin and family there entertaining themselves on the boundary as so many Parkers have over the years.


Despite a glorious April this first day of May did not look as promising with storm clouds brewing as we went out to bat in a 40 over encounter. “It’s bleak out there” said an Erratic. There was also much talk about the wicket: “It’s greener than the rest of the square”. The usual negativity set in – “160 will be a good score” was one verdict. This got a wonderful retort from John Curtis of “160 is always a good score”.

Debutants Peter Cox and Mark Hailwood got us off to a steady start with Peter in particular looking good as he scored 15 of the opening 23. But he skied one to leg and left the field muttering “whose idea was it to put edges on bats?”.

In the ninth over the heavens opened and the players left the field. For a time it didn’t look good at all but despite the continuing rain we were impressed to see Peter Cox take his son Sam out for a practice. Did he know something we didn’t? Well he should do as Peter is the University’s Met Office Chair in Climate Systems Organics. And sure enough the rain stopped and play continued uninterrupted for the rest of the afternoon.


We made slow but steady progress and after 22 overs drinks were taken with the score at 82-3. It was Martin Wright leading the way with an excellent innings of patience and guile. In particular he showed the Erratics how to keep the scoreboard ticking with 1s and 2s on a ground where boundaries were hard to come by.

Martin was having the best weekend of his Erratics career. The previous day saw him make his maiden half century in the game with Dunsford and he matched this with another one (52) in this game. Martin admitted he had really wondered whether he would ever reach this milestone after several forays in to the 40s but never more than 49. “I’m chuffed” he declared and so he should be.

Martin was ably supported by Al Brunt (25) and Jonathan Kirby (20) who picked up the pace just when it was needed.


Towards the end of the innings we had a scene so typical of the Erratics’ spirit and ethos. Dan Thistlewaite came out to bat with the admission that it was nearly 50 years since his last innings at junior school! As he confidently played his first ball the Erratics comments started: “Well he’s a photographer he should have a good eye” and “I’ve seen less competent Erratics”. Sadly he was run out in the last over as we scrambled to an above par 171. Second top scorer was Wides with 32.

As we returned to the dressing room for tea we were galvanised by messages on the walls: “Defeat is worse than death; you have to live with defeat”; “winning is not everything – it is the only only thing” and most apposite for us “Nice guys come second”.


Suitably inspired we took to the field and put immediate breaks on the batsmen with some tight bowling; Varun Kothamachu looking very lively from the Tamar end. But no breakthrough as the openers accumulated 30 off the first ten overs.

Then it was all change as Peter Cox came on to bowl. In a quite remarkable spell he tore the heart out of the Philanthropists top order. The pivotal point came as the home star turn slammed a half volley towards the boundary only for Varun to leap into the air and hold on to a stunning catch. Amazingly Peter took 4 wickets without conceding a run and then frustratingly bowled a wide before picking up his fifth victim. He finished with figures of 8-4-9-5. Welcome to the Erratics Peter!


At the other end John Curtis was his partner in crime – also taking 5 wickets for 29. This included ex Erratic Simon Topping who came in to some friendly sledging and made a couple of scoring shots before falling to a Curtis special. “I shouldn’t have played the same shot to every ball” lamented Simon.

The bowlers were well supported by Jonathan Kirby behind the stumps who took three catches and a superb take close in by Dan Thistlewaite – his first ever catch!

Philanthropists had collapsed to 88 all out and so left the Erratics winning by a very commanding 83 runs. But all competition was soon put aside as the teams retired to the picturesque Tamar-side Wilcove Inn for chips, sandwiches, beer and good conversation.

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
9nb 22w 4b  
for 10 wickets
35
171		        
Peter Cox Caught  15 1
Mark Hailwood Bowled  5
Martin Wright Caught  52 2
Sam Cox Caught  4
Al Brunt Run out  25
Jonathan Kirby Caught  20 2
Martin Weiler Bowled  8 2
Mark Phillips Caught  1
John Curtis Lbw  0
Daniel Thistlethwaite Not Out  0
Varun Kothamachu Run out  1

Philanthropists Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Philanthropists Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 22w 4b  
for 10 wickets
28
88 (23.2 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Varun Kothamachu6.011100.001.83
Mark Hailwood3.001400.004.67
John Curtis4.202955.806.69
Peter Cox8.04951.801.13
Sam Cox3.002000.006.67