17 May 2008 - OCCC @ Old Ignatians - won by 7 wickets

We were playing a maiden fixture this week against a fellow old boys side called Old Ignatians in Enfield. Having not received any words of encouragement from lenny, no one knew what to expect - apart from the fact we were in for a drenching with constant drizzle and grey clouds covering the whole South East.

So, after following some poor directions from Allan, we eventually made it to the ground and at 2.15 i was in the middle having a toss. My 100% record is now no longer intact after i called tails and the queen stared back at me, but they fancied a bat when i would have bowled so it all worked out well.

James - returning from a stint of exams and skippering another team - and I took the new ball and things started happening immediately. With a wet pitch and more rain falling, it was always going to help the fielding side, and we took advantage. james was uncharacteristically a little wayward to begin with as a couple down the leg side gave them a few easy runs to fine leg, but it was me who struck in my 1st over (2nd of the game) getting a lot of sideways movement off the pitch (i dont know how) and a big edge to first slip was snapped up by Rich Hillman - who had let Jo keep this week - at about thigh height. So, they were 4 for 1. James' line was returning and he had some lbw appeals turned down, but it was me who got our second. The No 3 did not look like a batsman and was riding his luck swinging at everything and finding the gaps, but he eventually hit one straight at Suhail at Mid-Off who clung on well to a very wet and slippery ball. The score was now around 25-2, and after telling James to have "1 more Jimmy", he retaliated with a wicket getting the other opener trapped plumb in front of all 3. He was most annoyed at being given out by his team mate and seemed to let him have both barrels as he walked past too! So, with a wicket that over, i had to let James have "one more" so he did the decent thing and got another one in his next over clean bowling the new bat. At the other end, i was toiling away with real pace and zip off the wet surface and was unlucky not to have a couple more as playing and missing seemed to be the theme of the day. having given myself "one more" it was my turn to do a James and I got another scalp. the ball before was really wide (it almost went to fine leg) and bizarrely wasn't called so by the umpire who apparently "didn't feel like it" when i asked why, and knowing the next ball was my last of the spell i tried to make sure the batsman had to play. he did, and edged it behind where Jo clung on to a one handed catch low to his right to give me my third wicket. Both James and I finished our spells bringin the return of Mr Millett on at James' end and Junky on from mine. With his first ball Rich struck gold. A slow and looping ball well down legside saw the bat back away to give himself some room only to miss it, which then hit his pads and then onto the stumps. Junky then realised that Rich was in fact on a very weird hat-trick. having taken a double wicket maiden in the last game of last season - the last ball of which bowled the batsman, and then first of this spell, meant that it was "technically" two in two. However, over the winter, those of us that dont have much to do at work read the BBC's resident cricket statto "Bearder's" column in which he revealed that a hat-trick must be completed during the same game. All of this is a moot point tho as he didn't actually complete it anyway! Junky at the other end was causing his usual trouble and Jo was doing exceptionally well behind the sticks as it was zipping everywhere. Then perhaps the moment of the day - Rich was bowling at the left handed skipper who launched one back over his head. Me and Suhail were at long on and off respectively, and both started going for it. Suhail confidently called it so i left it for him and was only a few yards away to witness a 1 handed catch about 15 yards in from the line. Not really believing it, it took a moment to sink in, and the look on the batsmans face said it all really! It wasn't until then that i found out that the reason for the one handed effort was becasue Suhail had broken a finger on his left hand - had i known this at the time, i would have more forcefully called for the catch myself! So, they were 7 down and we could now sense the end and began to think about a hot cup of tea. But a couple of their young lads had other ideas and were belligerent in defence. Junky was getting all sorts of bounce out of the pitch and kept hitting a young batsman in the groin area. Half joking, half concerned about his safety (ok, it was 99%/1% really) i told him i hoped he was wearing a box - to which he replied, quick as a flash and straight faced "no, i've just got a really hard cock!" understandably, we were most amused and he took advantage by scoring a few runs from the ensuing balls. As per usual tho, it was Junky who wanted the tea the most and he trapped the same bat lbw. Suhail came on to bowl his leggies after Rich had finished, and as soon as he pitched it looked dangerous. Rich Hillman couldn't quite repeat his catching heroics at slip off me as he fumbled one that went quickly to him, and then Rich Millett gave him another life after he spilled a skier at mid off, but the score was not moving too quickly and only cost 8 runs in the end. Suhail bowled him shortly after, and then in the same over, the no. 11 (a lot like Junky in appearance) defesively prodded at one only to see it loop to Tony at shortish mid wicket who did well to hold on as it dipped at the last minute and he clutched on while falling to his knees seeing the Old Ignatians innings end at 77 all out by 4pm.

A fine fielding display meant we earnt our tea, and we were most pleased to see hot food on the menu after standing around in the rain and wind for nearly 2 hours (Bruce was pretty much blue), and you'd have thought it was the last supper the way Junky went for it - if only he could replicate that speed and desire in the field.....

Anyway, after a 40 minute tea (as it was an early end to the innings we thought why not!) the rain had stopped but the clouds still looked threatening. Having been in a similar position twice last year chasing down a small total only for the rain to bring a premature end to proceedings, i was praying we'd not mince about and knock them off quickly - preferably for none! So, Allan and Bruce got our innings underway against a run of the mill medium pacer and a young kid bowling leggies in the style of the South African Paul Adams - in that he was looking at his shoes almost entirely throughout his delivery stride. Still, the score moved along slowly and obviously frustrated, Allan tried to get things moving a bit but found himself out quite soon after gettin an inside edge back onto his stumps. Rich Millett, who needed to leave early to go to a friends engagement party came in at 3, and started to look good straight away with a couple of clips off his legs. Bruce was still going along nicely and some good running ensued. Rich then managed to top edge a sweep straight into his face - reminiscent of Tony last year who caused some serious tooth and nasal injuries to two separate batsman doing just the same thing. Luckily, Rich was fine but will have a nice shiner under the right eye this week!! But, visibly shaken, a few balls later he was on his way back to the pavillion. Going for a big heave back over the bowler, he managed to sky it and it was well held at mid off. Enter Bill Barnes. Looking to finish things early with ony 17 required, Bill tried to smack a few about but the long grass on the outfield and the rain was not condusive to this type of shot. Realising this, and with only 6 needed for victory, he tried to go aerial, and really middled one through extra cover - and i began to think thats it, but no - a final twist. The young fielder (he of no box fame) jumped up and held on to a really good catch to see Bill depart with the finish in sight. Rich Hillman then came out and a few balls later we were home and dry with a 7 wicket victory.

So, an excellent bowling performance taking advantage of the conditions, backed up with some excellent fielding followed by an assured batting display saw us win again - thats now 3 and 2 this year. Some excellent performances this week, not least from bruce, Rich Millett, myself and Suhail (only for the 1 handed catch mind!), making the Man Of the Match award far from straight forward. But, Allan even suggested i give it to myself (editors note- this allegation is completely unfounded, I am currently speaking to my lawyers about suing Alex for defamation J)- and with weeks where i get support like that few and far between, i am hereby taking advantage and claiming the coveted MOM!! With 3 for 22 from 9 overs and taking apart their top order, i feel its well deserved.

Well done to all who played - we are at another "home" ground next week in Winchmore Hill against an old foe - Bourne End. Lets hope the sun is shining!!

Old Ignatians 77 all out, 31 overs (Bennett 3-26 (9 overs), Gleadow 2-27 (8 overs), Millett 2-5 (4 overs), Shaikh 2-12 (4 overs), Shannon 1-5 (6 overs))

OCCC 79-3, 29.4 overs (Todd 30*, Millett 22)

Result: OCCC won by 7 wickets

Man of the Match: Alex Bennett

Alex Bennett