Fixtures and Results | Match Reports
Date | Against | H/A | Link | Result | Captain/Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun | 20 / 9 / 2009 | Prince of Moles | Home | Report | Won | by 10 wickets. Old Mo 121 for 4 vs 117 for 14 |
Tony Caesar at Centenary Ground
A total of 310 runs in 85 overs (after adding in the 10/10 beer match afterwards) doesn't sound much like Champagne cricket on a batting track that has regularly seen well over 400 runs in a similar period. If you add to that about 25 wickets and it sounds like the ECB pitch inspectors would be booking their 1st class returns form Sinjens Woood.
However it was a mighty fine day of cricket to round off a good season. Our thanks to the Prince of Wales and the Moles from Hereford who combined to take over the fixture after Barford pulled out on Monday.
After a desperate ring round early in the week, the call to arms was met by about 30 willing volunteers that made up the two sides (and almost a third one).
Come 1.30pm the MCG was swathed in warm autumnal sun as the opposing XVs took to the pitch.
As it was the last game of the season (and we had 30 players) 'Operation Stack' was triggered and four cases of 'England's Finest Ales' (joined the obligatory quantity of EuroFizz) marched themselves down Reddings Road to cheers of "For Fitmen, For England and for ***** sake catch the thing Sharrif".
The radio was blearing out the astonishing news that Andrew Strauss had yet again won the toss, the local toss was won by someone and The Prince Of Moles batted first.
Well, I say batted, but after three overs and a score of 1 run for 2 wickets there wasn't much in the way of willow on leather. The Prince of Darkness from the top end was cranking up the ante and, ably supported by Jonny H jnr, the opening tyros gave warning that the tea urn could be called upon very early.
Things improved (comparative) for the batting side and assisted by some deft (daft?) fielding the Prince limped to 117 for 14 in about 36 overs. The run rate was acceptable (for day one of a 5 day test) and the capacity crowd had already moved on to the Mexican wave hours before.
Tea included the usual delights from the sub-continent as well as the staples from the Co-op 'almost reached best before' shelf. The muffins were popular but there seemed a little hesitation as to where the single cream should be applied, but otherwise the interval passed off as usual.
For the response, there was a gentle net for the FitTopOrder as Singh R, Caesar J, and Martin all stroked 20+. The only hiccup was when 'extras' tried to top score, but the PearMeister wasn't having any of it and notched his average up a run or two by clocking 30-odd.
By the time the final two fitmen had milked as much bowling as humanly possible and meandered across the finish line the sun was still blazing. Given that it was the last match of the season a 10/10 filled the void between afternoon and dusk.
A modest 36 was 'smote' by The Prince off their 10 overs, and despite the Fitmen trying to play for bad light, this was eventually overtaken (with a further 10 batsmen waiting their chance) the last slivers of the season disappeared over the horizon.
That's it folks. Nets in January, keep looking on the website for the dates. Happy Christmas.
Before that: a post-season get together at the Old Mo Beer Festival on Friday 2 October. Be there or be square, etc.