V&A XI: Tom Bird (captain), Felix Ward, David Pitlarge, Ben Horan, Joe Tetlow, Matt Wright, Jasper Arnold, Christy Kulasingam, Ilija Krunic, Adam Jacot, Lachlan Nieboer
For the third fixture in the V&A season we welcomed our friends from Edmonton, Sky CC. We went into the match unbeaten, having fielded competitive sides for the first three fixtures. A notable achievement set against recent years, and much of it down to the energy, enthusiasm and tenacity of CMT: to paraphrase Margaret Thatcher on Willies, everyone needs a CMT.
The V&A batted first with heavy cloud cover, prompting some trepidation – and the early season performance of the pitch didn’t help. The strip had been particularly capricious; if someone was lucky enough to time the ball, the reward might be just a hurried single given the lush meadow of the outfield.
Mixed bulletins had also been received about whether Lachlan Nieboer would play his first match of the season. His skills would be needed.
I opened with Felix Ward. His previous two outings at Stonor three years before had both yielded centuries. He looked classy from the outset – head over the ball, with good movement and – the mark of real distinction – a club crest on his helmet.
We saw off the first five overs. I was then bowled by one which deviated by at least 35° and lifted no more than two or three inches. It might have got Bradman, but Bradman didn’t have to contend with pyramids of rabbit poo and clusters of Catsear resting on a good length.
At about 12.20 Lachlan Nieboer returned to Stonor. The Indigo SLK tracked the boundary rope with the occasional pause for a wave and a flash of that familiar and winning smile.
Back on the pitch, the struggle continued. Ben Horan did not last long at number three, also having stamps rattled after adding just a single. Our two prolific middle order batsman, Joe Tetlow and Jasper Arnold, both looked promising but each went for the big heave prematurely, fearing to be soon undone by an unplayable ball.
Felix’s watchful and elegant innings ended, again bowled. Matt Wright got off to a good start with some clean hitting including a characteristic lofted strike over mid-off for four. However he went like his colleagues, departing shortly before Jasper, leaving the V&A at 69 for 5 with, with all five victims, tellingly, being clean bowled.
Sabba entered the attack for Sky having announced he was going to bowl “fast medium” in response to my umpire’s question as to whether he was going to bowl left or right arm, over or around? He deserves a special mention – and a Spirit of Cricket award – for not appealing when his effective induckers hit the pads, and discouraging his chirpy colleagues from making speculative appeals. All of this with a smile to rival Lachlan’s.
The pitch then met its match: the hand/eye coordination of Tom Bird and his eschewal of the precepts of the MCC coaching manual. Most welcome it was too – he raced to 23 including four crisply struck boundaries.
Lunch was taken in the pavilion which, although clearly in need of some refurbishment, provides refuge on a cloudy day. Steph, as always, excelled with chicken and olives and couscous. The attractions of shelter and fine food were too much for the Sky contingent to resist – they remained at the table with no apparent wish to depart en masse.
Nicky was tactful and brief(ish) in his lunchtime address, perhaps mindful of Annette Jacot’s aside last year. Before Nicky rose to orate, Sky left the table to pray. ‘They knew you were going to speak,’ said Annette. There was time, however, for Tom to toast Nicky on his 50th wedding anniversary, and then for Nicky, in turn, to propose a similar toast to Tom and Steph for their 10th anniversary which was celebrated earlier that week (in some style on Thursday night, according to Steph). Our congratulations on their respective anniversaries, and thanks for making Saturday at Stonor a joy.
Felix also collected, belatedly, his batting award for the 2023 season!
The V&A innings then ran its course, importantly occupying the allotted 35 overs: at 97 for 7, with wickets still falling, it seemed we might struggle to pass 100, but with the benefit of two experienced all-rounders appearing in the lower middle order, Christy and Ilia, we made it to 123 for 8.
After our earlier two matches that looked like a defendable score.
The optimism was fortified after seeing Lachlan’s impressive first over – hostile and accurate. It was too much for the Sky opener who could only splice the ball to a wide second slip… Unfortunately, it was also too much for yours truly at second slip, just managing to parry it into my cheek resulting in the trace of a bruise which had to be explained later in the week.
Lachlan still managed to strike early and with his pace – and Ilia’s metronomic accuracy – Sky were struggling, particularly after Ilia’s first wicket in the fifth over. Lachlan and Ilia were replaced by Christy and Felix. Christy has started the season strongly with his probing wicket to wicket falls, but was unable to work his special magic.
Felix then provided useful variation, sometime lacking in the V& A attack, with some mean off spin, completing his seven overs and taking 4-18, and helping to tilt the balance towards V&A. Let’s hope we see Felix return before 2029.
As Sky crept towards our total, we had to look at other bowling options. Every now and again a familiar car model goes through a change of shape or design. So it is with Jasper Arnold… The 2026 JA has been radically remodelled with a new svelte body shape. Speed and acceleration have been significantly enhanced. The designers have also introduced a “medium pace bowling” option. Given that Sky were 56 for 6, and given the conditions, this was worth road testing.
There was much to like: side on, high arm action – fresh if not fast, and some carry. But the battery life was limited. Sky hit important boundaries in Jasper’s last eight balls.
Sky reached 100 with seven wickets down and Arjun going well. We turned to Ilia, V&A Bowler of the Year last season. He struck with two key wickets, appearing to put us on course for our third victory.
But despite Lachlan and Christy maintaining both line and length, Sky’s last wicket pair, Mobin and Amjit, resisted. It was very dark with persistent drizzle, like rugby matches in the mid-70s, particularly when Mobin mishit Jacot’s second ball to a clump of grass at midwicket for the winning run – the equivalent of a poorly struck penalty crawling over the crossbar in the 78th minute to win a match 6-3.
Sky had edged home.
In the gloaming, the charming Mr Sabba called upon Steph to snap a picture of the two teams together. The photo suggests a good-natured and well-contested game in dark and challenging conditions. The camera is not lying.
V&A : 123 /8 ( 35 overs)
Sky: 124/ 9 ( 32.2 overs).
