Scorecard

Stokeinteignhead v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sat 15 Sep 2012 at 1.30 pm
Match was Drawn

Match report Match Report by Jonathan Kirby:

With David Wright arriving in a private-hire limousine, Gareth Oughton (electronic cigarette hanging off his bottom lip) declaring that he was suffering from "irritable bowling syndrome" and Sean Webb seconded to the opposition partly because they only had 10 players while we had 12, partly because it's just too confusing to have him on the same side as Simon Orpen, and all of this happening before a ball was bowled, I decided that it might be more interesting to write about events off the field than to attempt a narrative more directly based on the above scores.

"Where's Chris Cook? I'll bloody kill him" said President Selector Peter Thomson who'd come with wife and daughter to watch grandson Fraser take on the might of Stoke-in-Teignhead, assisted by an assortment of Erratics along with Ian Hooper, Peter Weatherhead and Ewan Davey drafted in from Broadclyst. Chris had apparently struggled with the labyrinthine nature of the roads "through" Newton Abbot, but he was only half an hour late and since we were batting first, Peter spared him the promised death sentence.

While changing in the pavilion, the following was overhead: "Caught" declared Ian Hooper, who had not tarried long at the crease. "Did you hit it in the air?" asked Chris Cook, who clearly has a broader view of the possibilities of a catch than most of us.

"Dad!" cried Annie. "Dad..." Rita was somewhat moved by this, declaring that it took her back to the days of Annie's childhood. The years seemed to fall away from her - probably more years than Annie would care to mention. It was a delight to see Rita wreathed in smiles - not that she isn't normally cheerful, of course!

"Dad... Scoobie has peed in the other dog's drinking bowl."

The owner of the other dog was not impressed. "Five and a half acres to pee in, and he chooses that one spot of less than a square foot."

In the meantime, some excellent bowling (and fielding) from Stoke-in-Teignhead meant that our batsmen were not hovering around for long, unlike the greatly-admired kestrel over an adjacent field, and the two buzzards that were swooping at a great height. I thank David Wright for that observation.

"If we collapse really badly, we can always have a beer match" suggested Fraser, though surely too young for such a thing.

"But lo" (to quote Chris Fear, 2011), from the pages of history came a Chris Cook cameo 50 to raise our collective score to one of respectability. In this, he was ably assisted by Pete Weatherhead before Ewan Davey donned the mantle of run-getter-in-chief. 158-9 seemed like a reasonable total, in the end.

It was Simon Orpen who commented that this was a situation (Erratics in trouble) and an innings (another Chris Cook 50)from the past. This brought him onto the old chestnut of the two Erratics books which Steven Fisher had tried to sell him for £10 each when he first joined the Erratics. "We had the books on sale for 50p in the bargain bin in the shop" he expostulated (this subject always gets him going), "so there was no way I was going to buy them." They are collectors' items now. I'm not sure they can be had even for ready money. I'm not sure that Simon bought them at all, not even for 50p. My only personal regret about buying them is that I was ignorant of the ongoing bargain price offer at Blackwells.

Tea was magnificent. John Pearson was my next-door neighbour, and for ten years we drove to the annual Stoke-in-Teignhead match together. I can therefore assert with some authority that this was one of his favourite games of the season. It's true that the setting is beautiful (though it can be cold when the wind blows, or as in the year when we were engulfed in a sea fret), it's also true that the Stoke games are always played in an excellent, friendly spirit, but I strongly suspect that it was the fabulous food that clinched it for John. And now that the "virgins of the parish" of Tipton St John (as a Tipton player referred to them one year) will no longer be wearing the aprons famously declaring "Best Tea on the Tour", perhaps that title can now be owned without challenge by the providers at Stoke-in-Teignhead.

A tea like that is also part of a cunning plan, one designed to disable the fielding side. Suffice it to say that we took to the field in a somewhat leisurely style, though happily our bowlers were as full of intent as of good food.

Gareth Oughton and Ewan Davy quickly had us on track, while Simon Orpen appeared once again to channel the spirit of Stephen Fisher with his teasingly floated spin. David Wright was also evoking memories of Stephen Fisher for some older Erratics, in the way that he picked up the ball and threw it to either bowler or keeper. I can't comment on that one.

Several Erratics commented, however, on the conduct of the younger Stoke-in-Teignhead players who were called in turn to the crease to mount a rearguard action, one that would eventually save them the match. Correct, straight bats, even when under pressure from a highly attacking and yet inviting field set by captain Chris Ferro. Not just straight bats, but excellent conduct. It was generally agreed that the older Stoke players clearly do a great job of coaching and encouraging their younger club members.

We needed just one wicket to win, but we were denied. What a great finish to an excellent game.

And so to the Wild Goose. Why couldn't it have been like this when it was supposed to have been summer?

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 10w 2b 3lb 
for 9 wickets
17
158		        
Andrew Forrester Caught  4
Ian Hooper Caught  2
Fraser Chave Bowled  0
Chris Ferro Bowled  12
Jonathan Kirby Bowled  6
Chris Cook Caught  50
Pete Weatherhead Bowled  18
Ewan Davey Stumped  38
Gareth Oughton Bowled  3
Simon Orpen Not Out  8
David Wright Not Out  0

Stokeinteignhead Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Stokeinteignhead Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 3w 4b 3lb 
for 9 wickets
13
103 (41.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ewan Davey6.0211111.001.83
Gareth Oughton8.011829.002.25
David Wright8.0217117.002.13
Pete Weatherhead4.00717.001.75
Simon Orpen8.013400.004.25
Fraser Chave4.001200.003.00
Chris Cook3.01212.000.67