Scorecard

Tipton St John v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sat 28 Jun 2008 at Unknown
Erratics Cricket Club Lost by 109 runs

Match report Our return fixture at Tipton fell on a warm and bright afternoon, a slight cross-wind ensuring perfect weather for both the players and our gangs of supporters. Before the match there was brave talk of avenging our recent ten-wicket defeat, confidence that was well-founded on a strong team that welcomed back all-rounder Alex Watkins for his first game of the season. Our disappointment at a second meek performance of the year, this time to lose by 109 runs, was consequently all the sharper.

Reporting on such losses is a cruel task, but a suitable forfeit perhaps for your correspondent who extended his unblemished record of incorrect calling at the toss to five games. Thus we found ourselves in the field and proceeded to bowl in a manner befitting our club's name. The most telling description was proffered by Robin Pickering, Tipton's captain and opening batsman: "You bowled well when you weren't bowling wides." The final wides count was 31 (thirty-one), a total that relieved any pressure built up by the equally frequent play-and-misses. After an initial range-finding salvo from Watkins and James Burrows, Chris Ferro and Andrew McRae bowled economically and the latter collected our first two wickets with his accurate outswingers. David Pearson again threatened on a low and dusting pitch, but now the lugubrious Tolley was into his stride. Bowlers beware: quiet accumulation can turn quickly to brutal violence with this man! One astonishing straight six came to Earth on an island in the middle of the River Otter that skirts, and threatens to erode the boundaries of, this pleasant ground. (Twelfth man John Pearson risked life and dignity by wading across to retrieve the ball.) A final miscalculation by yours truly exposed the bowling of Duncan Chave and Jonathan Davies to Tolley in full flow, with grisly consequences that saw Tipton to a total of 215.

Somewhat chastened by this late onslaught, our players sought solace amongst their families during the interval and enjoyed a good tea, cheerily prepared by Tipton's ladies. Even Peter Thomson was seen to take a morsel following his exertions as an outfielder.

The restorative effect of the break was short-lived, however, as we began our reply. Sid Thomson and then McRae - whose calling continues to endanger the long-term health of his team-mates - fell cheaply before Ferro and Chave made a promising stand; a princely back-cut by Chave was the highlight. Ferro's careless chip to midwicket, though, hastened an alarming collapse from 68 for 2 with no other Erratics reaching double figures. Some entertainment was afforded by Pearson and Chris Squire, who preferred to debate rather than embark on several long singles, and by Matt Turner who stroked two late boundaries, but the vital partnerships never developed. We should be capable of giving Tipton a good game and must strengthen our resolve to ensure that the contests are two-sided next year.

Thanks to Peter for discharging his selectorial duties this month, and a personal thank you for the opportunity to captain the eleven. The captain has a tricky but rewarding role, rather like managing a game of pass-the-parcel in which you try to ensure that every child wins a prize however much they attempt to disrupt proceedings.

Tipton St John Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 31w 3b 1lb 
for 4 wickets
36
215 (40.0 overs)		     
Jones lbw  McRae 20
Pickering b  Watkins 42
Pace ct  McRae 0
Tolley ct  Davies 86
Rodgers Not Out  29
Dawson  
Channon  
Tubbs  
Shonk  
Higgins  
Wright  

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Burrows8.013300.004.13
Alex Watkins8.0137137.004.62
Chris Ferro8.012000.002.50
Andrew McRae5.011929.503.80
David Pearson7.005100.007.29
Duncan Chave2.002200.0011.00
Jonathan Davies2.0029129.0014.50

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
8w 2lb 
for 10 wickets
10
106		        
Andrew McRae b  Tubbs 6
Sid Thomson b  Tubbs 0
Chris Ferro ct  Channon 29 3
Duncan Chave b  Wright 38 4
Alex Watkins b  Channon 4 1
Chris Squire b  Channon 5
David Pearson ct  Wright 0
James Burrows ct  Wright 3
Jonathan Davies lbw  Shonk 2
Matt Turner Not Out  8 2
Peter Thomson b  Shonk 1

Tipton St John Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
O'Higgins8.003100.003.87
Tubbs5.001929.503.80
Rodgers4.002000.005.00
Channon4.001334.333.25
Wright5.001334.332.60
Shonk2.40824.003.00