It was a textbook day of cricket. The weather was fine throughout, the Stonor valley looked a resplendent study in emerald in the late spring, the very essence of the English countryside; both lunch and tea, prepared by the saintly Megan Ashcroft in spite (or possibly because) of a ten month old daughter, were delicious and the cricket was, for the most part, a tight and good natured contest. Unlike the V&A most of the NTs have a connection to that august institution; however on this occasion late illness to a couple of regulars saw substitutes drafted in from Brighton.  The wicket might, as usual, have benefitted from a bit more rolling and mowing. The crease at one end was marked at such a rakish angle as to cast doubt on the sobriety of its executor.

The NT, who won the toss and invited the V&A to bat, took full advantage of a slow and sometimes irregular pitch with tight bowling from Wright and Enzo Nicoli and it was not long before wickets began to fall. Morris, Noble, Jonkers and de Caires all came and fell to Wright without achieving much, whilst Enzo finished a seven over spell having conceded only six runs. At 45-4 at lunch things were looking less than rosy. Spirits were given a boost by Megan and her delicious pasta and aubergine bake.  Radio Bird appears to have been temporarily replaced by Radio Pritchard-Gordon, who banged on at length about Roy Richards and his connection to Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd (the latter two are not people, but bands, Nick Emley obligingly pointed out).  Fortunately, Nick went back for seconds and his seat was taken by Estelle de Caires and the conversation was allowed to return to less esoteric matters.

After lunch matters went front bad to worse for the V&A with the swift departure of Tom Bird and Roger Smith, the innings reaching its nadir at 62-6 from 24 overs.  This brought Nick Emley to the crease and with it the imminent possibility of a run out.  But he and Ross Ashcroft steadied the ship and smoothly rested the initiative back from the fielding side.  Initially 120 seemed the extent of our aspirations, then 150 and eventually the innings weighed in at 182-6 with Ross reaching an unbeaten 108, his first hundred, and Nick on 36, the pair sharing a stand of 121. If Nick has been slated in the past for slow scoring his graft is indispensible at times. And Ross is just indispensible. So is Megan.

The NT were scarcely any more auspicious in their start than the V&A, with de Caires nipping one through the defences of Pete Singh in the first over and Jonkers removing numbers two and three. Julka and Jacot (Louis that is, his turncoat Uncle Adam, the Benedict Arnold of the V&A, was waiting to bat for the NT) were bowlers of contrast.  Jacot bowled tightly, generating surprising pace from a short run; whereas Julka was loose and bowled remarkably slowly for such a long run. This was a boon for the fourth wicket pair, also a partnership of contrasts.  However, if the approach of Massirian was more bucolic than the elegant Sackville, it was none the less effective and he clubbed and hoiked his way to 74 and his side to within 50 runs of victory with eight overs remaining and still seven wickets in hand.

Then Jonkers bowled Massirian, and Jacot (A) and de Caires likewise castled Sackville – and the NT innings folded like a house of cards. They lost their last seven wickets for just three runs in five overs, which left the V&A victors by 43 runs.  De Caires finished with 3 for 9 from eight overs and Jonkers with 7 for 23, although some credit must go to yeoman seamer Roger Smith for a very tidy spell in the middle of the innings when things look as if they might go awry. Credit should also go to Nick P-G, whose ailments sadly eliminate him as a player, but whose scoring is almost Frindallian. He will be sorely missed next week when he is busy attending a tool sharpening course. Yes, sad but true.

Christiaan

NICKY BIRD adds: Christiaan Jonkers is too modest in his Match Report, and does not do himself full justice. If the game would have been lost without Ross and his century (ably partnered by Nick Emley), the destruction of the NT was achieved by the bowling of CJ, 6 of his victims were bowled and one was caught and bowled. So no flukey wickets, all deserved and the result of varied pace, some swing and a tempting length. Only Martin Bowden and Dennis de Caires have achieved similar feats in recent years, though Sunil has come close. Christiaan is a model professional. Although he does not seem much like an athlete in the showers, looks are deceptive. He keeps his frame in peak condition with rigorous exercise and a diet of fine Burgundy with the odd claret thrown in.