3rd XI vs North Middlesex

Saturday, 30th August 2003 - League

AT LEAST THE 3’s WON!

NLCC 274-8 (60 overs)

North Middlesex 169 all out

That was the only sentiment that could be squeezed out from a day of disappointment with everyone connected to the club.

Sandwiched between the valiant efforts of the 2’s on the top square and the 1’s hot and cold cricket over at North Midd the only bit of North London pride left was contended for in one of lesser important games of the season. I suppose a bit of pride and needle was put in place, but apart from that it was a good contest, played in some pleasant late summer sunshine.

Inserted onto a track which had withheld some dampness from the overnight rain, Bob Pedersen and Beefy had a bit of a difficult time for the first few overs as they adjusted to the sticky notion of the pitch and the jumpy motions of the ball. Bob acclimatised quicker than captain Blount (which according to the Schott’s book of miscellany should be pronounced ‘Blunt’) and played some neat drives before he ran out Beefy when calling him for a quick single. Though Beef was valiant in his efforts I don’t think he’s ever run a quick single and was left floundering in his efforts and bemused as to why Bob had asked him ever so aggressively to run this single when both were in a quite, commanding position.

Not to worry though, we had the likes of Ian Dobson and Hal Godfrey Wood to enter the scenario – though both failed cheaply and after Bob’s handy innings of 40 odd was brought to halt North London found themselves in a slightly precarious situation with 4 down for 80.

But dominance was soon restored, as James Turner with his often improvised, unorthodox and agricultural sentiments put the ball to interesting and necessary parts of the ground and accumulated a very steady knock of 43 before being supposedly triggered by the Chairman. The ball did pitch just outside off stump, though, thinking about it now may have even pitched on off stump and as James offered a half hearted shot I compensated with the bowler (for once) and got him out as they say.

In hindsight this was handy as our best partnership came about through Matt Buckley and Guy Nicholson. With Guy, it was a case of  “if you put it there, I will put it over there”. He played some of the most authoritative back foot drives Ferme Park has ever witnessed – driving with such exquisite and penetration there was no way the big Hull man was going to let a fifty out of his grasp and so was the case, getting out on 50 exactly. His innings gave us the building block for Matt Buckley (who got his maiden fifty) to go on and get 74 not out. And with some help of the lower order batsman reach the healthy total of 274-8 off 60 overs.

In reply, we were always on top, the only thing that would have prevented victory is Blounty bowling longer than he did – obviously 40 overs to bowl a team out isn’t that many, especially if you’re short on bowling as we were, but all the bowlers responded well and chipped in. It was a really good effort and good to see everyone given it some to the North Midd, even though the game was relatively a dead duck in terms of where we finish.

Tom Brimble got the ball rolling, though the North Midd opener would have to ask himself why he left such a big gap and in invitation for him to be bowled. Jermaine Bunting, put up into the 3’s because of Chairman’s last minute decision was put to good use as he chipped in with some neat bowling and earning himself 2 wickets.

Then, a special end of season moment. Putting into context that these two players have been with the club for quite a bit of time considering their raw age, but nowadays their skills are overlooked – and just as well, I would hate to think the damage we would do, Captain Beef-art and the Chairman came on and took 2 wickets apiece to wrap up the points and salvage some end of season pride. Chairman bowled with flight and turn. The ball and bowler epitomised the elegance of the bird known as the Arctic Turn, which flies from pole to pole until its death. Along with that special long hop which helped him get out the only North Midd batsman who played with assertion and understanding. On the flipside, Blounty bowled with just the long hop. Either way though, it was a pair to be reckoned with and in the end we came out deserved winners.

Hopefully, next season NLCC 3’s sees itself restored with a full time captain who will exert some authority and communication on and off the pitch, to members and the other captains alike. Lack of effort and communication were the two main reasons why we struggled so much this season and that is observing only two games. But all is well if Beef and Chairman can deliver as well as this every week.

Roll on 2004 (not just yet though).

Report by: Chairman (The)