Little Shelford CC 2nd XI vs. Stone CC, 19.06.18

Fixture Secretary Saddam has not only booked the team but a marvellous ground with proper bar so well done to him for that (the tea debacle will be mentioned later). We lose the toss and bat in a 30-over game Saddam and Skip open up and stroll to 52 from 10 overs or so before Skip falls to a poor shot (again). Saddam carries on and looks untroubled right up until he is bowled for 30 but we are ticking along against mixed bowling. Dino races to 19 and Matty G hits an elegant 33. Semtex, explosive in everything else, is blown up in running between the wickets and departs for 1. Vice continues good batting form and wallops 29, including Stone’s first 6 of the season, as he so easily predicted and won a fiver from Skip (gracefully paid for in coins, eventually). We close on 164/7 and are pretty happy with our total.

TEA. Bad, very bad. Some did not even eat and preferred to get stitched up at the cake sale at the local scout group just next door to us. Saddam gets the blame. Unreasonable. Unfair and unjust but we needed a culprit.

So, on to the next innings and we start with confidence and enthusiasm and some very tight bowling. Apart from the first ball that is. We set a field to showcase the skills of our bowler and player of the year. Four slips. Two gullys. A half volley is delivered and banged back for 2. Normal field resumes.  Scrappy is 0-18 from five overs and Ruggy 1-9 from his first spell of four overs. Little Shelford hang in and start to score a bit. Next wicket falls on 42 and they are comfortably behind. 52/3 and we are running away with it. LS had other ideas as a young lad (one of two junior county players) shows excellent technique and skill and takes the game to us ably supported by one of the openers. Things are looking tight when Dino is introduced. He finally delivers for Stone and pulls the game right back by taking 4-23 from five overs. I wont bother with the story of the ridiculous umpire. We’re on tour and don’t need that sort of “poor cricket” attitude to bring us down. The ending is nigh as the oppo have no real batsmen left and we win by 30-odd runs. We fielded pretty well – one chance put down – and bowled very well as a unit. Hangover took 1-18 from three overs, Vice 1-19 from five, and Matty G 0-26 from five.  

(not pictured: Semtex (drinking in the bar) and Camo (watching the FA cup final in the bar)

We camp in the outfield for an hour or two and regale stories of how great we all are (always easy after a win) and delight in the cheap beers from their marvellous bar (“Can’t we just stay here all night?” asks Semtex). Columbo, having given us a rousing and inspiring team talk (“score more runs than them, take more wickets than them and catch everything”) supports us all day and takes on an interesting change of hue to his skin. Columbo becomes Colonel Lobster. ‘Olden Arm has entertained their scorer all day with his relaxed attitude to keeping up with the scoring but somehow it all matches.

For this day, the SB is Saddam. We really could not forgive him for having nothing to do with the grotty tea they dished up. At least it was free but some felt we should charge them for us having to eat it. First tour Performance of the Day goes to Dino – getting a trophy every week, that boy.

Taxis back to the hotel for most. Naturally our Skipper, who hasn’t done much all day, gets the only lift available for free. We meet in the hotel bar (why?) and disperse by taxi to central Cambridge.