Match Reports 2014

RTCC v Cross Keys at North Middlesex

On Sunday, 31st August, North Middlesex Cricket Ground looked a picture. Beautiful late summer sunshine shone onto the lush green carpet of an outfield, with Alexandra Palace looming gloriously in the background. The scene was set for a first ever match-up between Railway Taverners CC and Cross Keys CC. The tranquillity was only disturbed by the fact that the sprightly young folk of Cross Keys CC were already indulging in rigorous fielding exercises when the first Taverners arrived...

Whites were put on, legs stretched, cigarettes smoked and tosses lost - we were batting first. Simon opened with Andy Pacey, but runs were hard to come by. Both had to negotiate the opening pair's swing and pace. Andy found the boundary with a lovely clip off his hips and Simon cut a loose ball determinedly, albeit straight to the fielder - this was to be a sign of things to come.

Simon was eventually well caught in the slips after fending at a wider delivery, and Andy was adjudged Lbw without another run being added: 16-2 in the sixth. Enter the new pair at the crease, Hugh and Matthias, but with the opening bowlers still only half-way through their spells, the story was much the same. The first change eventually brought some joy with 9 runs coming off the ninth, but again two quick wickets fell to tidy catching (all that practice seemed to have paid off), reducing us to 34-4. Alan and John came in and looked good, but picked out the fielders time and time again. Singles were turned into dots, two’s into one’s, and the pressure finally told, two wickets being taken by their off-spinner, who had by then found his rhythm, in the over before drinks. Things were looking ominous and the pain was compounded when Alan top-edged in the 18th, leaving the innings at 55-7.

There was however a twist in the story and a sting in the tail, with Greg getting into his stride. Runs were finally starting to flow. Joe went for 5 having added a quick-fire 20 in partnership with Greg, bringing Mark to the crease. Greg now had his eye in and Mark joined in the fun. Confident strokeplay was paired with excellent running between the wickets, and Greg’s deserved half century and the 50 partnership were raised in quick succession.

The returning opening bowler from the pavilion then brought the fateful breakthrough, as he bowled the half-centurion. So, it was the Beaney Brother Show to finish things off, and as nine runs came in 1.4 overs, it was a promising start. Eager to push the score, Adam then showed true Tavs spirit, with that old favourite shout of "No! Yes! Wait! Oh, go on then" that was to be his undoing. 136 all out and with 1.1 overs unused, we went to refuel at tea.

Run-rate was never going to be an issue, so the mantra was to bowl them out. Adam held up the pavilion end well in his spell of 7-0-35-0, in which the bat was beaten numerous times and a sharp shout for Lbw turned down. Greg, opening from the other end, had more luck and bowled their opener in the first over. Although 40 runs were accrued in no time, the game seemed in the balance when Greg picked up the other opener - well held by Andy at slip - and their no. 4 (caught Mark) in the seventh. 44-3 and a slight sense of 'Game on' crept in.

As so often though, the joy of new batsmen at the crease diminished as it became apparent that they could play a bit too, and our bowling proved to be more testing for Hugh behind the stumps then for the men at the crease, as he flung himself left, right, and hardly centre, in a bid to stop at least some of the deliveries speared down the leg side.

A run-out in the 15th nicely effected by Chris brought brief respite, but with Hugh’s swearing descending from the odd "For fuck’s sake" into a constant "Fffffffffffff", their number 5 and 6 had no trouble compiling the winning runs, eventually getting there in the 21st over. Youngest recruit Felix, who was brought along to watch his first Tavs match, was seen slowly shaking his head and tutting from the boundary.

A sobering defeat after a run of five wins it was then and we were consigned to ponder what might’ve been in the afternoon sun, still shining brightly on our weary heads. Greg was awarded the tankard for his 53 with the bat and 3-24, a valiant effort indeed. As we drowned our sorrows, evening swept in and the shadows lengthened over North Middlesex. ‘Til the next dawn then, Taverners - it will surely come.

Matthias Winter