Scorecard

Dartington v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sun 25 Jul 2021 at 2.00pm
Erratics Cricket Club Lost by 2 wickets

Match report The Power of Kali

25th July, Dartington and Totnes CC vs Erratics CC, Foxhole on the Dartington Estate

There seems to be a dying art of cricketers talking about the ‘game’ over a drink after play finishes. It is here you meet the characters that form the players in this wonderful game. Writing a report, you need inspiration, and it is usually here that I have found it. Fortunately, the Erratics are always a team of characters and in indulging in opposition speak there is even more to glean over a drink. Standing on the boundary at ‘Foxhole’ on the grounds of the Dartington Estate. In my case playing for both teams and consequently both protagonist and antagonist? So, the scene is set – this friendly declaration (proper cricket) game went to the final over, all three possibilities alive. Knowing I was having to write this report I wanted an Erratics success, sadly no, but it was not a case of drowning one’s sorrows, rather enjoying the play that has just unfolded.

There were several memorable performances, an opening partnership of 60 between Richard ‘Shiva’ (probably the tallest god) Lindsay and Martin ‘Dhanvantari’ (Hindu god of healing/recovery) Wright. Shiva Lindsay was out for 18 having been timing everything, then played over the top of a slower full delivery from the young Perkins. Dhanvantari Wright went onto to make 66, in his inimitable way, I was fortunate to watch up close whilst umpiring and he deserved more until the ball effectively tripped him up on its way to the keeper, stopping him getting his bat back in time. Dhanvantari Wright subsequently bought the teams a jug of conversation. Why these allusions to Hindu gods and goddesses? It’s the basis for this report, we are discussing how things have gone standing on the boundary in a socially distanced circle (!), Matt ‘Kali’ Crawford is wearing a tee shirt with Cali emblazoned it and it a twinkling of an eye, Matt is now Kali with her tongue protruding from her mouth, her garland of skulls, and her skirt of bones and symbolizing the death of the ego. The stories of Hindu gods tell the tales of good versus evil, light versus dark, power, balance, and virtue, or in other words a game of Cricket.

Jayakrupkar ‘Saraswati’ (the free-flowing one) Nallala blazed to 30 runs before top edging Harry Baxendale to mid-off. Jon ‘Durga’ (eight arms holding a myriad of weapons) Kirby placed the ball behind square for most of his runs, but it was the way the ball peppered him when we were fielding where those eight arms would have come in useful. On steps captain Chris ‘Krishna’ (not only viewed as a leader, but also as a teacher and a friend) Cook. Krishna Cook’s first partnership was with Andrew ‘Sarasvati’ (goddess of learning and the arts, especially music) Forrester. Sarasvati Forrester’s stay with Krishna Cook was brief, but he displayed his keeping skills with two stumpings, including one of Krishna Cook’s 5 wickets. Sarasvati Forrester now must decide to play or not play cricket or perform or not to perform with his band The Prevaricators(?). Onto the Erractics last partnership of 73. Krishna Cook plays his way to a controlled 56 no, to go with his 5 wickets, two jugs of conversation? Matt ‘Kali’ Crawford, the inspiration for this report finished with 21 no, which with his first delivery to drag the dangerous Liam Bligh (44) down the wicket for Sarasvati Forrester’s first stumping, might well have meant Erratics man of the match status, if not for Dhanvantari Wright and Krishna Cook.

Krishna Cook declared for an early tea with the Erratics 235 – 5. Meaning 3 of us didn’t need to bat. Newish player Jack ‘Shakti’ (goddess of energy) Middleboe, I hadn’t met Jack before and when asked what his cricket skills were he said, ‘Not much’, an Erratic then, but he did enjoy running around, which he ably demonstrated saving numerous runs on a thankfully hot and dry day. Ben ‘Hanuman’ (the monkey-god seen as a symbol of strength and perseverance) Youngman. Hanuman Youngman for once didn’t take any wickets, but he went for a paltry 22 runs on a day when 473 runs were scored showing his accuracy and his dogged perseverance. Oscar ‘Savitr’ (is the aspect of the sun before sunrise. He is golden, well at least his Stuart Broad bandana headband look) Cammack. Savitr Cammack’s bowling improves each time I see him, removing Harry Baxendale early, an important wicket for the Erratics, and yours truly. I am taking on the personality of Phil ‘Ganesha’ (elephant-head, remover of obstacles) Power. One of my few successes was to stretch up my elephant trunk to catch one of Krishna Cook’s wickets. Krishna Cook was kind enough to suggest I’d been bowling at the wrong end, after a poor performance.

So, with 10 runs or 2 wickets needed in the last over, it was Dartington and Totnes’s Josh Orrell running down the wicket to hit Saraswati Nallala, back over his head for 6 and then another boundary to win the game for Dartington and Totnes, 238-8. J’Orrell was 119 no, a superb knock with half of the team’s total.

I’m not sure how many times The Erratics have played against Dartington and Totnes, but there is a return fixture on the 8th August. I for one will be there for the game and the jugs of conversation.

Phil Power


Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
4nb 22w 6b 3lb 
for 5 wickets
35
235		        
Richard Lindsay b Perkin A 18 2
Martin Wright st Orrell J 66 12
Jayakrupakar Nallala ct Baxendale H 30 6 1
Jonathan Kirby b Colegate Gavin 9 2
Chris Cook Not Out  56 11 1
Andrew Forrester ct Colegate Gavin 0 2
Matt Crawford Not Out  21 4
Jack Middelboe  
Phil Power   1
Ben Youngman  
Oscar Cammack  

Dartington Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Youngman B5.002200.004.40
Cammack O8.0048148.006.00
Power P3.003500.0011.67
Crawford M7.0051151.007.29
Cook C10.004258.404.20
Nallala K3.402200.006.00

Dartington Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 5w 6b 1lb 
for 8 wickets
15
238 (37.0 overs)		     
Bligh L st Crawford M 44 8
Baxendale H ct Cammack O 9
Orrell J Not Out  119 13 3
Bligh A st Cook C 6 1
Colegate Gavin lbw Cook C 19 3 1
Hodgkins K ct Cook C 0
Colegate Glenn ct Cook C 11 1
Perkins A b Cook C 3
Perkins J Run out  8 1
Colegate N Not Out  3
Johnson H  

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ben Youngman5.002200.004.40
Oscar Cammack8.0048148.006.00
Phil Power3.003500.0011.67
Matt Crawford7.0051151.007.29
Chris Cook10.004258.404.20
Jayakrupakar Nallala3.403400.009.27