Match Reports 2014

RTCC v Mighty Wanderers at North London

Chris lost the toss. Again. We fielded. They got off to a flyer, though I really should've run the opener out in the first over. Simon showed how it should be done in about the 7th over. 1 down for about 35 became 2 in the 40s when AndyJ won a plumb lbw. Alex then helped himself to 3 wickets. The dangerous looking Knight was bowled, the other opener holed out to me then debutant 1 Andy Copeland held a catch. Then AndyJ held a catch off me and suddenly it was 118-6. No sign of a tail though as Swedish left / right combo Lars and Steffan counter-attacked in their native tongue and added about 60 before debutant 2 Stuart Milligan yorked Lars. Tony returned to rattle the stumps before AndyC also bagged a debut wicket in his solitary over.

Simon and Barrie opened and raised 39 in 10 overs before the latter was lbw. AndyC soon followed suit for 2. Guy was caught for 6 then Alex followed and we were about 60-4. I added 42 with Simon before being bowled off my pads. AndyJ hit a few lusty blows before failing to respond to Simon's call in time to be run out. Hugh and Si added another 40 at the required rate of 8 an over before Hugh was also run out. Suddenly it was 29 off 3. Then 21 off 2. Despite a well spread field 11 came off the 39th leaving 10 to win.

Their lady spinner Paige was tasked with the last over. She looked calm, but she was bowling to the coolest Taverner there ever was. Tony Alveranga deposited the first ball for 6 into the cow corner fence before drilling the next ball through extra cover. The watching Martin Pirongs led an excited 1 man pitch invasion whilst the rest of us cheered to the rafters. Simon was left 4 short of a maiden century but was consoled by the award of the captain's tankard. Though the record must state that he bought a lager jug...

Dave T