Match Report

MSCC welcomed back Great Missenden on a warm summer’s day. They are one of a very few teams that we host on alternative years. They are also one of the very few teams that have a long history (since 2016) of being defeated by MSCC. In the corresponding 2020 fixture, MSCC achieved a hat-trick AND dismissing six of their players for ducks. What are the chances of that happening?

In this climate-altered, hosepipe banned year, the Middleton Stoney track had an unusual look to it, albeit a less unusual look than it had had the previous evening when any pelican would have felt at home due to the extended watering it seemed to have received.

Paul and Simmo and the heavy roller had then work tirelessly to ensure we had a pitch to play on. Although they would not have been able to help with pitch side heaters, MSCC are sponsored by Nolan Oils and Nolan Gas.

Great Missenden, took a look at the track, won the toss, balanced up the pros and cons over their bowling/batting strengths, and put MSCC into bat.

Howard and Sathya strode out purposefully and started steadily, with the Great Missenden Pelicans bowling tightly and keeping it to 23-0 off the first nine overs. The track definitely kept them honest, with both patiently waiting for the shorter deliveries to demonstrate their elegant off-side stroke play. A speedy outfield rewarded them, with one exception. Sensationally, they managed a “three”, but agreed that as they had proved it possible, there was no need to repeat the act.

When Sathya fell in the eighteenth over, the pair had put on a strong foundation of 82.

Ben Merritt joined Howard in the middle, and the two upped the pace, again proving that a sticky wicket does not need to hamper good stroke-play. Ben sped along to 39 when he was then bowled the loopiness of the skipper (deliveries, not character). Howard, who had progressed to 60, yet probably still not recovered from the earlier “three”, seemed happy enough not to get back to his crease after chasing a loopy one, and was stumped by a margin, or 180º which is a great margin. 

After Tim H had thought about upping the run-rate, (although their talented leg-spinner. A. Tahlon kept it to just a thought), Shaan and Olly soon took over, and rattled the score up to 180, which seemed a touch light, but under the circumstances was in fact a pretty decent total.

39 overs were bowled and Mr. Fairweather, the Pelicans skipper gave seven of their team a bowl.

Once a year, or more if we are lucky, Athis Vadivale brings a sense of gastronomic poise and sensory delight to our teas, and this year was no different. Some of us, especially Matt Dipple, had not wished to have to field or bowl second, due to Athis being the tea provider. We hoped he’d shrug off that well-fed inertia though.

When the Pelicans sent out their openers, MSCC quickly put two and two together ; George Lasseter had earlier bowled what he described as a nightmare over in our innings, so must be a gun batsman; he was. In their first nine overs, the Pelicans raced to 54 without loss, and the game was on.  

Robin was unfortunate not to have one of them caught off a top edge during his best over of the year. But luck was not with him, and Tim R turned to Matt Dipple to stop the rot.

(With gratitude to William Blake), but…

Matt D when being told we’re batting first:

“I was angry with my friend;

I told my wrath, my wrath did end”.

Matt D when being no-balled due to a fielder standing outside the field of play:

“I was angry with my foe;

I told my wrath, my wrath did grow”.

Matt had a forgettable first over, conceding half the runs he “gave away” all afternoon.

Then the no ball. And his wrath grew. Second over, one wicket, bowled. Third over, one wicket, bowled. Third over and he was on a hattrick, not quite achieved, but the next ball, another wicket. Three in the over! Fifth over, another wicket.

In the meantime, poor George Lasseter was still watching, and still scoring freely, but from the other end, and must have been feeling like a sinking pontoon bridge; needing support. He decided to take it out on what he believed might have been the part-timers. Ho-Ho, no. Curiously George decided to reverse sweep Olly Ross’s dart, and before the bowler had finished the appeal, our the umpire’s finger was up.

Olly went on to clean up most of the rest of the Pelicans, (Tim R chipped in with a bruised finger-spin wicket) and on a normal day, those bowling returns might have sounded exceptional, but that I guess belonged to Matt D.

And by the way, six of their batsmen got ducks, and a hattrick ball. What are the chances of that happening? (Chat GPT P=(P6​(n))2×h2. thinks it is at least 1 in 641,000 games.)

MSCC are getting used to facing strong opening batting partnerships, being on the verge of losing, and then sweeping all aside to win the day. Impressive.

Many thanks to Rona at the helm of the BBQ (others can kindly volunteer when playing of course), Andrew and Howard in the bar, and to Ann for scoring.