Match Report

A hot day in ideal conditions, your correspondent was relieved to win the toss and invite the opposition to bat; given the ubiquitous TV for coverage of the cup final , he reasoned that the students minds would be elsewhere and thus lapses in concentration would result. A more prosaic reason might have been a concern to ensure that the match lasted beyond 6.00 p.m. Playing time being 6.30 p.m. and 20 and mindful of last year's ten wicket thrashing, this was important.

Prospects did not look good with a swift opening stand of 54 but Justin Abel found the perfect line to give Mike a regulation keeper's chance and our first wicket in two years was in the bag Stuart chipped in the following over to have the opposition in slight difficulty at 56 for 2. With Raj never looking quite his fluent self, we always felt we were in with a chance and at 117 for 3 following Pablo's yorker to dismiss Raj for only 31, things were looking promising. In the event John's reached 231 for 6, with 3 for Stuart and 2 for Justin. I am pleased to report no dropped catches and no fielding errors in spite of the heat.

The Hetairoi reply began somewhat unpromisingly with Clive now eligible for the Primary Club. However a spirited second wicket partnership between Pablo and David Freedman realised 75 before Pablo drove uppishly to cover for 45. David then perished for an admirable 24 and Andy Bradley received a good one from their opening bowler to make it 78 for 4. There was then something of repair partnership between Tim G and John Rolfe before John chipped to Midwicket for about 16. Greenwood senior then swept his first ball for a boundary and was somehat unfortunate to be caught for 12 at fine leg. Greenwood Junior perished in similar fashion to Pablo for 40 but the last wickets raised the total to196 all out.

In the circumstances, this was a triumph; Hetairoi have not managed to get to anywhere near this figure for several years. John's were enthusiastic about the fixture, particularly in comparison with a side called the Stoics, whose behaviour seems to be restricted to chasing young female members of college, boasting about the size of their income/ego/..and enticing them to late night curries free of payment. In comparison, Hetairoi's purchase of jugs of beer in the bar and an early exit without harrassing other members of college should mean that this fixture is safe for the foreseeable future. Now we just need to beat them!!

Finally the club will be pleased to learn that after two years the 1996 scorecard has surfaced...of particular importance to Stuart whose figures of 4 for 52 are now confirmed!!

Champagne moment: David Freedman lofting the opening bowler for 4...