Match Reports 2014

Wytham v RTCC at Wytham

Reinforced by the arrival of Raj we went to Jacob's Inn at Wolvercote for lunch accompanied by a cloud burst. Happily some of the tour party had been shopping in the morning and had not only secured a new lei, but also a rather fine duck shower cap, which AndyC sported atop his sun hat. We arrived at the ground with the sun out but with rain still spitting. Then it poured again.

Half the Wytham team went to the pub. We formed a thinktank to tackle the Times jumbo cryptic crossword. Chris had a kip on a bench. It felt like every time an inspection took place it chucked it down but after an early tea (great, MORE food) the sun came out and stayed out. The outfield dried amazingly quickly, the carpet wicket given a quick brooming and a 10-a-side 20 over game was agreed.

Skipper for the day Hugh lost the toss and we fielded. The duck cap must've spurred AndyC on as he quickly bagged two wickets, bowling Hollis and inducing the dangerous Pirate Blakeman to sky one to me at point. With the brakes firmly applied we then got Aunins out, but I can't remember how (lager 1 memory 0). Think AndyP got him. The number 5 gave it some welly before Chris stumped him. I then trapped Newman lbw with Pirate administering a rather elegant finger (though I'm slightly disappointed he doesn't umpire wearing a hook). The innings closed with a suicidal run out off the last ball. The total was bolstered by 32 extras featuring 23 in wides as the narrow carpet strip played its usual havoc with our bowling lines.

Out strode Simon and AndyP to open. And there they stayed for the next 17 or so overs. Simon took the role of silent assassin, administering death by a thousand cuts (we agreed that the first one was the deepest) whilst AndyP unleashed his own brand of blitzkrieg, tanking it to all parts.

After a slow start extras also got going, with four lots of 4 byes coming in very handy in the latter stages. With 5 to win Andy drilled a full toss to cover to depart for 45. Enter Raj, with duck cap potential suddenly on offer. After a few dot balls Raj drove through the covers for 2 and victory was sealed shortly afterwards.

Many thanks to our old friends Wytham for persevering in the face of atrocious early afternoon weather. We repaired to The White Hart in Wytham, which brought back memories of gastropub bingo from years gone by featuring such joys as Steve Parr's bunless burger, Andy Goddard's 50p sized goat's cheese and no end of offerings that had been seared and drizzled with a reduction of jus. Or somesuch. The evening was then spent drinking too much beer and feasting at the mystery meat van, featuring randomly bumping into Eiran Reilly in one of the pubs.

DT