MATCH REPORT V&A v. The CATCHITEERS Stonor, Saturday June 11, 2005 A TRICKY WEEK on the telephone raising a side but we were a respectable 10 on the day, and would have been 11 if a tosser called Gareth from Tooting Bec had got out of bed.

A sunny morning saw us batting in a 35-over game. Skipper Tom Bird sent in Uncle Nicky and Cobbo’s son Jamie as openers. Although they put on 50 or so for the first wicket (Jamie out controversially LBW to father Patrick, who was playing for the opposition), slow scoring put pressure on later batsmen. The trouble was two-fold. They had a very quick and accurate swing bowler who was bowling on off stump or just outside, and was devilishly difficult to get away (he picked up 6 wickets in his second spell). At the other end Patrick pinned down his son who was understandably fearful of the awful irritation of getting out against Dad’s tweakers (which regrettably he did). Patrick should have been clobbered but got away with 7 overs for about 4 an over.

Tidy bowling by others restricted us to 145. Adam and Martin both scored briskly, Will King looked stylish, Tom, and Olly Betts had their moments but Dave Pearce’s was brief. Pete Linthwaite propped up the innings but it stuttered throughout and the slow start was to blame, Adam and Tom in particular being out forcing the pace. Jonny Stokes did not bat but as always ran around like a madman. He was equally energetic when we were fielding.

Sarah Jenkins was (unforgivably) in Cornwall at a party, neglecting her duties as tea-lady and caterer. Lunch, however, was noticeably similar and everyone pitched in with the clearing away. Donna spent her afternoon away from her prep school washing up. What a woman and she puts up with Rob’s little quirks too, truly a saint.

The Catchiteers started at 7 an over. The game looked lost when stupid batting – and superb bowling – suddenly made the situation interesting. The innings was marked by a succession of batsmen clean bowled – the ball was swinging – by Martin, Adam, Olly and Jamie. Olly softened his victim up with some shite before delivering the coup de grace. Pete bowled tightly and picked up a wicket but more importantly caught two (yes, two) fine catches at mid-on. Suddenly they were 87 for 8 with only their lugubrious skipper Rob Noble to come, not known for his free-scoring, and Cobbo and David Malpas in.

The two batsmen squabbled away happily but also scored at the required rate of only 3 an over. David might have been caught at cow corner by Will but a misjudgement saw him take two steps forward and the ball sailed just over his head. That turned out to be that. Malpas steered their innings to the total with stolid support from Patrick.

But a good day and what might have been a procession by The Catchiteers turned into an exciting finale. Tom’s inspired bowling changes had seen to that. Rob was gracious in victory and offered me a Marmite crisp in the pub.