Match Reports
Match Reports
25th May 2024
The V&A season moved on to the last fixture for May and probably the first fixture where everything came together suitably – pitch, temperature, sunshine and a full complement of players. Rob Taylor was this week’s incumbent as captain, tackling all of the accompanying duties with energy and diligence. His first challenge was to find 11 players on a Bank Holiday weekend. In this, he was more than successful; 12 turned up on the morning. Christy’s friend Irwin Sharif, one of the first to arrive, stepped aside with equanimity for young Charlie Knight, although the swap had little impact on the average age of the V&A team. The tactful note in the scorebook records the toss as “uncontested”. Invalids batted first. James Anderson was recently given a firm nudge to retire at 41. Brendon McCullum considered him too old to open the bowling for more than a match or two. […]
11th May 2024
It used to be said that village cricket matches, and it doesn’t get much more village than the sort of cricket we play, were won and lost on the telephone: those feverish calls made in the days leading up to a game to gather a team. Then came email and now it simply a matter of posting a request on the newly minted V&A WhatsApp group and watch the numbers come rolling in. But this works both ways. By Tuesday both sides had ten men with every prospect of a full game. By Friday afternoon, an unsettled weather forecast and some lilly-livered sentiment had meant it was down to eight and nine and the viability of the fixture was being called into question. When it comes to matters meteorological, I am usually first port of call. How being local to Stonor should give me a special insight into something as unpredictable as the British […]
4th May 2024
For those not gallant enough to brave cricket in April this was the opening game of the season. I heard reports from enduring caterer/administrator Steph Bird of cold weather/unfinished beer and match lost. The day looked safe from at least 2 of these as the V and A took on the Howitzers on a day mostly drenched in some very welcome sun. Tom Bird was skipper for the day and popped in David Pitlarge and Christy to open up, then checked the beer and wine stocks. Our openers played watchfully before Christy was out caught mistiming a shot off what was a slightly sludgy pitch. Tetlow strolled in and fairly promptly got caught in some running confusion with David who was run out. This was by no means the first or worst of these of the day. But we’ll get to that. I went to console Joe and have a […]