B.O.C.C.
Match Report
Barnes Occasionals vs. Crossbats
13 September 1998 at 1:30 P.M at Cole Park, St Margrets
Capitain R.Lilliman (was asked to field).
Barnes Won by 9 Wickets
The early start confused both sides; the Crossbats skipper Won the toss and decided his 7 would bat first against Bob Lillimian's 8. 'The openers were about as exciting as Keith Seed in drop-anchor mode but were constrained by the accuracy of the opening bowlers, Dunlop and Hogg O (after he realised that the stumps were on the plastic strip not the adjacent grass) .It was many, many overs before a run off the bat was made. We were shortly joined in the field by the Hon. Treasurer and the youth policy (Steve and Roger).
Flower claimed the first wicket via a notable running catch by Hogg A, and followed it up with the rare achievement on this pitch of sending the off-stump cartwheeling several feet. Hogg O claimed a wicket when the batter slogged a wide to a Flower diving catch. Pete Tagg replaced Hogg O and immediately found line and length; his reactions were tested when the batsman slammed a drive back at him but fortunately lie avoided the ball.
Steve Flower then replaced Stuart. Apparently for the first over lie had left his cricketing brain in Guildford in his broken-down motor. Before long lie emulated Stuart by uprooting a stump hut failed to achieve the same distance. Wickets fell steadily until a Viv Richards impersonator came in and started spanking the ball all over the place. At this poi lit Oliver's usual omniprescience deserted him when lie announced to the scorer Dunlop's return, when the captain had decided to bring on the niopper-up of children and girls, Mundy. Just as the score seemied to be running away the captain decided to change tack, and amid much muttering and knowledgeable head shaking invited Hogg A to bowl; his very first ball enticed the batter to chase a widish ball and rocket it into the right miitt of the stumper. So shocked was the batsman that he seemed reluctant to depart. Jim then mopped up the tail.
After a fine tea, requiring 101 to win Roger and Adam set off at express pace scoring a lot off the first few overs. 'Ihe running between the wickets was particularly admirable. 0n 98 Roger decided to end it all with a glorious 4. He was bowled. Mike narrowly avoided being timed out to join the fray. Shortly afterwards Adam smote the ball past the athletic sub fielder (Tagg) to win the game.
Did not bat; Stuart. Mark, Jim, Ian, Steve, Oliver, Pete, Bob not necessarily in this order.
Pedants' corner: can you win by 9 wickets against 9 players?
We adjourned to the Turk's head.