Match Report

Photo by Simon Godfrey.

The longest day proved to be a trying one for Middleton Stoney’s XI. The sun shone brilliantly on South Lawn at Blenheim Palace. The manicured outfield and the fabulous facade of the building greeted the team with the promise of many runs. Amazingly everyone was on time and keen to bat at this incredible venue.

Max Nalborcyzk and Michael Robinson were first to take on the Blenheim attack. Kidd was lively, but Max was keen to take him on, driving on the up at every opportunity. Kerr from the other end was all bustle. Mike looked to deposit a delivery on the croquet lawn. Walking back, stumps splayed he rued his aggression. Jamie Lyons fresh from his victorious debut on Sunday, played an almost impeccable check drive to his second ball. The ball barely left the surface. Lurking at short cover was Edgar Easterbrook. Somehow he moved forward and scooped his fingers under the ball to pull off an extraordinary catch. 

The name Easterbrook will be familiar to those who study match reports in detail. He was the same Easterbrook who had changed the game v Bampton CC in 2021! Playing his first game of the season, newly back from University, Max Langdale offered his namesake Max brief support before he was bowled in the first of two wickets in two balls for Kerr. 

Stevyn Jackson was nearly ready to face the hat trick ball, as umpires were suddenly changed. Gloves,  pads and bats were readied, 16 – 4 was not the ideal start. Max and Stevyn doubled the score. Max scoring boundaries, Stevyn ticking over with ones and twos. The Blenheim ground fielding was exceptional with Easterbrook and Captain Jake Spearman leading by example. 

Max was beaten by a ball keeping low to be out for 22. Stevyn attempted to blast the ball back past the bowler, instead he found Spearman at mid-on. Half way through the inning and half the wickets had been lost with only 41 on the total. Matt Carpenter promised not to give up his wicket easily. He may consider that he did not fulfill that promise, being bowled by one of the slowest deliveries of the season.

Tim Riley batting at 8 was left to marshall the tail and try to get the score to respectability. He could not time the ball and was only able to pick up singles. Sam Norley guided two full tosses to the boundary, and reached double figures before being bowled.Robin Cummings outscored his younger brother when he picked up a quick legside single, before being caught behind, from thigh onto bat and then to keeper’s gloves. 

Asif, last man in joined his captain, there were three and a half over left, and only 66 had been scored. He did his first job leaving Tim to face. Still striving for timing, Tim played out a maiden. Asif snatched a single, there were four byes. Asif smashed a half volley toward the boundary. Photographer Simon Godfrey caught the action. The one off side fielder prevented any run. Asif was disappointed. 

Tim finally decided to find the middle of his bat. A four through extra cover was followed by a six over mid-off and a reverse pull for four. 

87 was not a daunting total. To defend it Middleton would need a tight start. Just as Zak Crawley stated intent by smashing a four first ball, Spearman smacked his first ball to the steps of the main house. Robin Cummings bowled a better length and only went for six runs in his two overs. Third ball of his second over was thumped in the air to Max Langdale at mid wicket. Max attempted to cling on. He got a strong finger to the ball, which prevented a boundary, but also sent Max in search for ice. 

BPCC kindly lent a fielder. Skipper Spearman was in aggressive mood, quick to pick up length and was taking the game away from MSCC in short order. He had scored 31 by the seventh over when there was a misunderstanding with his opening partner, guest fielder Harvey, swooped and Spearman sacrificed himself. 

 Easterbrook was the new batter. His second ball was dispatched to the undergrowth for 6. No momentum was lost as he took the long handle to all of the Middleton bowlers. 12 and half overs was all it took for the total to be passed. Easterbrook was 39 not out. The better team in all departments won comfortably.

Thanks to Ann Cummings for scoring and to the supporters who had come in hope of a better performance. The teams retired to the Back Lane Pub for cider and chips to calm their battered brows.

Tim Riley