Scorecard

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics v Cheriton Fitzpaine on Sun 29 Aug 2010 at 14.30
Erratics Cricket Club Won by 77 runs

Match report Erratics: 209-6
M.Cook 109*, J.Kirby 24, S.Orpen 21
Cheriton Fitzpaine: 132-8
Burrows 8-3-13-3; Orpen 8-1-17-1; M.Ellis 4-0-15-1;
D.Bibby 3-0-11-1; P.Ellis 3-0-12-1; J.Kirby 3-0-23-1 [This Kirby wicket appears to have been a run out so not entered into analysis by me: Jeff]

Match Report: Gabrielle Kirby

Devon cricket matches often unfold in locations so remote that the whole ritual need never be witnessed by any other humans - no passing motorists, shepherds, hikers - only cricketers with a good sense of direction. Cheriton Fitzpaine's ground is one such. A scant pitch has been tamed from some pasture in a sleepy hollow. The only locals are the rather vocal sheep who used to graze the pitch and now wander along the boundary, perhaps remembering how sweet that grass was, or tempting the batsmen to send the ball their way.


The Erratics were not, initially, tempted. Reluctance was the mood in the first hour: heavy grey clouds hung over the sloping wicket and McRae did not want to hit out, or indeed, leave his crease, for the first few overs. This was partly explained when he dropped his bat and headed back to the pavilion to fetch his box. He inserted this at a trot but then momentarily forgot where he'd left his bat (still in its crease). Phil Ellis scored 11 before being bowled by the young Cutler, and Kirby (J) began his innings. A certain whimsy showed in the bowling too, when Mr Foan bowled slowly enough not to drop the cigarette from his mouth.

The wind was getting up, the Erratics were also more energetic and in spite of the squally drizzle, Kirby struck out over his leg-side for 4. Rita Thompson declared this a "pretty shot". The writer asked what kind of a shot that should be called? "A hoik" was Linda's suggestion, but Cook (M) said it was a "paddle" and unique to Kirby. Alas, he couldn't resist taking a swipe at a faster ball from Hartley and was out for 24. Cook (Captain) strode out. Hartley and Cutler were to be seen passing a magical blue J-cloth between them to shine the ball. But Cook was happy at the high or low end of the wicket, and together he and McRae continued to pile on the runs. The sheep wandered back within range and were quite excited when Cook sent a six into their midst. Young Gordon sprawled on the wet grass to stop a single, but Cook went instead for their blue Mazda and clipped its exhaust pipe for another 4. When the sun came out he celebrated by hitting a six over mid wicket to land the ball over the pavilion into the lane (where it stood no chance of hitting passing car).

By the 24th over, the rain was coming in almost horizontally, the sheep had retreated under the oaks. Apart from Mrs Mossman brewing up inside, Linda was the lone observer at the Pavilion, the sound of her needles drowned out by the thrumming rain, no more talk of knitted accessories for midwifery classes (ask Rita). Soon after, McRae sacrificed his wicket, being run out but allowing Cook to continue (after brief appearances from Squire and Bibby) in a longer partnership with Orpen.


The sun broke through and we were 174 for 5. Cook skied the ball on his 87th run, but was dropped by Gordon (distracted by the rainbow) and young Cutler took over the J-cloth again in an attempt to oust him. Alas Orpen was run out after putting 21 onto the total, and Cook was dropped again (Gordon again, another rainbow?) at 98, going on to 109 not out.





Mrs Mossman had cleared every trace of tea. We were all well fed and Cheriton Fitzpaine had to chase 209. From their point of view, it might have seemed possible: the weather was no worse - the Erratics could also be distracted by rainbows. The sheep (who by now appeared partisan) had gathered to perform their dastardly distractions along the boundary. But then, neither the sheep nor the cricketers had reckoned on Mr Burrows. He bowled his allotted 8 overs for a miserly 13 runs, taking 3 wickets on the way, one thanks to a great catch by Ellis (M) at square leg. Orpen's bowling was not only stylish ("bowling downhill isn't as easy as I'm making it look"), it too was miserly, with only 17 runs off his 8 overs. The sheep were not happy - one bold observer even broke through onto the pitch. But Bibby, McRae, Squire and Ellis father and son all kept the runs in check. Seven wickets had fallen and the somewhat curtailed match (35 overs) ended with Kirby's attempted homage to "Orpen-style" bowling. Their overs ran out at a total of 132.

The rainbow faded, the drizzle returned. Briefly the pavilion rattled to sound of spikes beaten out. 23 of us withdrew in a single slow file of cars, encountering no traffic and eventually emerging from the narrow lanes into Cheriton Fitzpaine and contact with other humans at the Ring O' Bells. The sheep remained, cropping the long grass, occasionally looking over at the inexplicable mown sward where nothing was happening once again.


Sunday 29th August
v Cheriton Fitzpaine
@ Cheriton
2:30pm
David Bibby
James Burrows
Matt Cook (capt)
Max Ellis
Phil Ellis
Gabrielle Kirby
Jonathan Kirby
Andrew McRae
Simon Orpen
Chris Squire
Peter Thomson (wkt)

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
7nb 10w 2b 2lb 
for 6 wickets
21
209
        
Andrew McRae Run out  15
Phil Ellis Bowled  11
Jonathan Kirby Bowled  24
Matt Cook Not Out  109
Chris Squire Bowled  0
A.N. Other1 Bowled  4
Simon Orpen Run out  21
Max Ellis Not Out  4
Gabrielle Kirby  
James Burrows  
Peter Thomson  

Cheriton Fitzpaine Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Cheriton Fitzpaine Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
6b 4lb 
for 8 wickets
10
132 (35.0 overs)
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Burrows8.031334.331.62
Simon Orpen8.0117117.002.13
A.N. Other13.0011111.003.67
Andrew McRae3.001500.005.00
Max Ellis4.0015115.003.75
Phil Ellis3.0012112.004.00
Chris Squire3.001800.006.00
Jonathan Kirby3.002300.007.67
 
Photos and video of Erratics Cricket Club Erratics v Cheriton Fitzpaine on Sun 29 Aug 2010 at 14.30

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"A scant pitch has been tamed from some pasture in a sleepy hollow." Cheriton Fitzpaine in 2010

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Erratics at Cheriton Fitzpaine in 2010

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'The sheep [...] were quite excited when Matt Cook sent a six into their midst' at Cheriton Fitzpaine in 2010

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Erratics at Cheriton Fitzpaine in 2010