Scorecard

Wombats v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Sat 25 May 2024 at 1.30pm
Erratics Cricket Club Won by 3 Wickets

Match report Following some initial difficulties finding a ground to play the game, we were fortunate enough to be able to play at the scenic Bishops Lydeard ground of Wombat CC at the foot of the Quantock hills, north west of Taunton. The weather was largely sunny but clouding over as the afternoon went on. We played a 30 overs per side game, the toss being won by Wombats who elected to bat. Apparently the Wombats club was created by a number of teachers in the early 1980s and they were able to use the ground situated on the land of a large nearby country house. At some point they were able to purchase the longer term use of the ground from the owners of the house. The name of the club apparently originated from the club originally having only "One Bat".

The Erratics team were delighted to see Jon Perkin in the dressing room after his recent admission to hospital with chest pains. Jon was looking well and keen to take part in the game. Unfortunately, Jon felt unwell after only a few overs had been bowled and sensibly left the field to return to the R,D & E Hospital. We were all pleased to see Jon again at Marldon on 2nd June following his further cardiac assessment and discharge from hospital on medical treatment without surgical intervention. Our very best wishes to Jon for a rapid recuperation and we look forward to seeing him playing again in the fairly near future.

Anuj and Mark Hailwood opened the bowling and the Wombats opening batters, B. Jessop and Florey scored quickly reaching 40 after only 4 overs. They both looked dangerous and I suspect many of us feared that we might have to chase a total well in excess of 200 runs. However, both openers were unfortunately dropped off the bowling of Anuj. Florey hit a fine straight six shortly before he was bowled for 32 by a fine delivery from Lee Grant in his second over when the score was 72 in the 10th over of the innings. B. Jessop fell an over later when he had scored 42 to a full straight delivery from Anuj with the score on 84. Osmond was caught by Anuj off what Ben Y-B described as a "rank long hop". Redwood was also caught for 9 by Anuj off the bowling of Mark Hailwood when the score was 99 in over 16. The next wicket to fall was that of D. Jessop when he was caught for 15 off a turning delivery from Ben Y-B that was well caught by Hailwood at cover. D. Balch was also caught by Mark Hailwood for 17 off Huddersford's (their scorer's take on 'Rutherford') very first ball of his 2 overs which were both maidens.

With the score on 141 Lee returned for his second spell and quickly dispatched three of the tail enders, two being bowled and York Smith well caught by Mark Phillips at long off. Phil Power came on to take the final wicket with Anuj completing a hat trick of catches (all taken on the off side). Wombats were all out for 153 off 28.8 overs.

An excellent tea was enjoyed by all. Excellent cakes particularly. My only reservation as a strong Assam tea addict would be the homeopathic strength of the brew.

Matt Crawford and Nigel Rutherford made a careful start to the Erratics innings against some accurate bowling by Weedon and Yorke-Smith. Nigel was out caught for 5 when the score was 21 in the 7th over. Dhruba came in and showed an increasing confidence with every game that he has played, but unfortunately succumbing for 6 to the first change bowler Stone. Lee Grant made a bright 10 before being bowled by Stone when the score had reached 70. Matt had reached 43 by this time and was building a classic stalwart innings. Sheridan made a brief appearance before calling for an inappropriate run and being correctly sent back to be run out. Anuj came in and soon after Matt made his temporary retirement upon reaching 50. Ben Y-B was sadly trapped lbw by Ranger and the score was 84 for 5 in the 20th over. Anuj produced one of his classic swashbuckling innings to accelerate the scoring at a vital time. Mark Hailwood made a bright supportive 7 and Phil Power came in to hold his end up while the excitement rose. It was 112 for 6 after 24 overs. Anuj was in full flow by now and by the end of the 28th over the score had reached 142. At the end of the 29th over we had reached 146 so there were 8 runs needed for victory off the final over.

Yorke-Smith came back for a second spell to bowl at the death. The first two deliveries were wide of off stump and dot balls. Anuj hit the third ball for a 4 which brought up his wonderful score of 51 triggering his retirement. Four runs needed from 3 deliveries. Mark Phillips made his way to the crease and sensing the possibility of glory, took a mighty swipe in an attempt to score the winning boundary. Sadly, he missed and was bowled. "Cometh the hour, cometh the man" and Matt returned to the crease to continue his innings. Four runs still needed from 2 balls. Matt and Phil ran a brave 2 off the fifth ball. The final ball arrived with all three results still possible and just two runs required for an Erratics victory. Matt hits a fine blow to square leg and they ran through for two epic victorious runs. Bravo Matt ! Not forgetting the fine contributions of Anuj and Lee. A momentous win for the Erratics at a lovely ground.

Not since I had read as a young child the account of the final overs of the tied 1st test at Brisbane between Australia and the West Indies in Dec.1960 had I been quite so excited.

Hugh Sheridan

Wombats Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3w  
for 10 wickets
3
153 (28.5 overs)		     
B Jessep b  A Tiwari 42 36 5 116.67
S Florey b  L Grant 36 22 3 1 163.64
Raymond Osmond ct  A Tiwari B. B Yarde-Buller 7 14 1 50.0
Andrew Redwood ct  A Tiwari B. M Hailwood 9 12 2 75.00
David Balch ct  M Hailwood B. N Rutherford 17 19 1 1 89.47
David Jessep ct  M Hailwood B. B Yarde-Buller 15 8 2 1 187.50
T Stone Not Out  19 28 2 67.86
Nathan Welch b  L Grant 7 17 41.18
P York-Smith ct  M Phillips B. L Grant 2 5 40.0
A Weaden b  L Grant 0 1 0
A Ranger ct  A Tiwari B. P Power 0 5 0

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Anuj Tiwari6.0049149.008.17
Mark Hailwood6.0050150.008.33
Lee Grant6.012145.253.50
Ben Yarde-Buller6.0030215.005.00
Nigel Rutherford2.02010.000.00
Phil Power2.50717.002.47

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
5nb 10w 2b  
for 7 wickets
17
154		        
Matt Crawford Not Out  54 65 6 83.08
Nigel Rutherford ct  A Weaden 5 19 26.32
Dhruba Jyoti Goswami ct  S Florey B. T Stone 6 13 46.15
Lee Grant b  T Stone 10 12 1 83.33
Hugh Sheridan Run out  1 7 14.29
Anuj Tiwari Retired Not Out  51 44 3 2 115.91 3
Ben Yarde-Buller lbw  A Ranger 0 1 0
Mark Hailwood ct  S Florey B N Welch 7 13 53.85 2
Phil Power Not Out  3 9 33.33
Mark Phillips b  P York-Smith 0 1 0 1
N.O. One  

Wombats Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
A Weaden5.0119119.003.80
P York-Smith6.0126126.004.33
T Stone5.0026213.005.20
A Ranger5.0023123.004.60
S Florey3.002700.009.00
Nathan Welch4.0024124.006.00
David Jessep2.00700.003.50