Match Reports 2012

 big win for 3rd XI at devizes

On a blazing hot day a depleted MCC third XI gathered at Devizes for a must win fixture against the divisions bottom team. The day got off to a bad start when I lost the toss and had to abandon Plan A again as Devizes invited us to bat.

With Professor Guy sunning himself in the Costas, the returning Redrum strode out with Willsy to the centre to face a spin/trundle opening attack and kept the scoreboard steadily ticking over before Willsy succumbed with a reasonable opening partnership of 32 secured. Redrum and Iles Snr continued in a similar vein before Redrum spooned one up bringing Jimmy Roper to the crease.

A steady prod to his first ball faced gave no indication of the carnage to come. The next two balls despatched for 6 and 4 did. Although always keeping the fielders interested Ropers tactic of hammering the ball with venom served him well and in no time at all he scored his maiden 50 for the club. At the other end Iles Snr was starting to enjoy himself too before his ageing body decided it had had enough and he limped off with hopefully a not too serious knee injury to play no further part in the game. Johnny Heyel replaced him at the crease and looked like a return to form was on the cards but was trapped leg before just as the runs were starting to flow.

The Devizes skipper brought himself into the attack and soon had Jimmy back in the hutch caught behind after a magnificent 75 and the score at a healthy 184. Just one more run was added when Meadows clean bowled last week’s top scorer Father Jack.

This left Young Chopper Christie and the skipper at the crease who took full advantage of a hot and weary Devizes bowling attack to bludgeon a quick fire 72 run partnership in just over 7 overs, the highlight of which was Chopper middling a reverse sweep for 4. This gave us a seasons best total of 257 to defend.

Tea was a quiet affair in Devizes splendid pavilion trying to cool down whilst watching our 2nds start to chase down a low total against Devizes 2nds. Having got out cheaply in that game Iles Jnr was drafted in to field in place of his wounded father.

If anything the temperature had increased as we took to the field all chirpy and in splendid spirits, After my exertions with the bat it was decided that Young Chopper and Johnny Jazz Hands Heyel would open the bowling. Whilst Christie (who’s looking more and more like a young Leo Sayer) kept it tight at one end Bambi got amongst them at the other end. With fantastic tight and enthusiastic fielding and despite being a man short the Devizes batsmen were finding it hard to score and the pressure told as Heylo  removed the openers with a neat caught and bowled and a missed straight one.

Once Chopper had bowled his allowed 6 overs with pace and vigour for a parsimonious 5 runs Jimmy Roper replaced him and although didn’t offer as much threat improved his line and length notably from the previous week to keep the pressure on the Devizes batsmen. With your reporters introduction at the other end the pressure was maintained and the frustration was clearly growing and one more wicket was taken before Chopper was allowed to be re-introduced into the attack. This time he got his just rewards for a sustained pacy accurate attack and the wickets tumbled quickly including the opposition skipper for a golden. Choppers 5-fer secured the game for MCC which was just as well as the rest of the team was wilting on the hottest day of the year but everyone stuck at it despite Bowen helping himself to a well worked aggressive 50 for Devizes. However, his dismissal will be talked about for years to come. Redrum who normally worries the side netting more than batsmen in nets was brought on for the last over to replace the fatigued skipper with MCC still needing one more wicket. Unbelievably the boy bowls a straight one that Bowen failed to deal with and clean bowled him. Assuming Redrum doesn’t bowl again this season it will leave him with an average of 0!

So overall a fine team performance and despite Ropers 75 man of the match goes to Chopper who hit a quick 30 not out with the bat and took his first senior 5 wicket haul. Contenders for the Veuve Clicquot champagne moment are Ropers 6’s, Choppers magnificent reverse sweep and Redrums wicket, but I’m giving it to Redrum for his chase in the field in about the 40th over. The whole team had seemingly withered in the heat and with the game won he still sprinted a good 20 metres or so after the ball in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stop a 4. Such enthusiasm and dedication should be an example to all.

 A special mention should be made to Jon Burnstone for stepping into the breach at the last minute as our “10th” man and Rob Iles for spending 80 overs in the field for 2 winning teams!

Sadly it looks like Devizes will be bottom of the table come the end of the season but this win and Box’s win at Goatacre lifts us up into a group of 4 teams hoping to avoid relegation. Next week a tough game at The Withy against the league leaders Blunsdon. I for one hope it cools down beforehand!

Mark Dixon