V&A XI: N. Constantine (c) , C. Jonkers, A. Jacot, V. Nicoli, L. Nieboer, D. Pitlarge, A. Pitlarge, J. Arnold, B. Horan, C. Kulasingam, C. Malhotra
Unless you live under a rock, and even then you’d probably have heard some shouting from somewhere, you are likely to have noticed that the world of English sport is ablaze after this past weekend. The media are calling it a generational performance. The BBC said it was: ‘An iconic match at an iconic stadium’ with the win ‘coming down to pure will’ and determination. Sky have simply called it: ‘one of the great all-time English victories’.
As I looked back at those brave V&A men who left the field, sun-wearied but unbowed, exaltant in their victory, I must admit (with no little smug satisfaction): I was inclined to agree.
The Jesmond Jaguars are a terrific adversary who have been coming to Stonor for nearly a quarter of a century. They hail originally from Jesmond, of Newcastle fame, and were originally conceived as a rugby team (and rather a good one too, if the rumours are true). The passage of time and a few withered knees has meant that they are resolutely cricketers these days, and we’re glad of it! Our fixtures are seldom dull and often closely and competitively fought. No change this year.
The V&A batted first, on agreement, in a timed game. The sun was out and the outfield looked like it might be fast for a change. False advertising: it was as slow as ever. The mind boggles. D. Pitlarge (8) and Malhotra (33) opened the batting and made a solid start before the former departed, caught, trying to force the pace of the game in the eighth over. Nieboer (24) played well, and at 80-1 off 15 overs, things looked rather good.
Then the spinners came on, and the game changed considerably. Malhotra was bowled, Constantine (5) was trapped LBW, as was Arnold for nought. Nieboer was bowled. A. Pitlarge (1) was caught. Horan (15), after dogged resistance, was bowled. Kulasingam (7), Jonkers (12) and Jacot (0) were all caught as well. Nicoli was the man not out at the end of the innings. In fact, without the 33 extras generously offered by the fielding side, we’d have been in an even greater pickle than we were. 81-1 to 93-6, and eventually 124 all out. We would give any England XI a run for their money in a game of ‘Greatest Collapse’.
In the middle of the chaos, we took lunch.
What a lunch it was. We are blessed, truly, to have an array of talented caterers who give up their time to keep us fed and watered. Chiara Pitlarge (ably assisted by David; barely assisted by Alex) laid on a feast of Sudtirolean delights. I said to David that there’s not much I won’t do for a plate of speck, or bresaola. To be served both was particularly spoiling. A delightful frittata, fatto a mana in casa by David, and an array of pasta salads and stuffed peppers saw that all were well and truly sated. Lubrication by way of a delightful Pinot Bianco and a vivacious Lagrein was greatly enjoyed. An honourable mention to Enzo Nicoli, who was kind enough to share his 2025 Primitivo ‘di Vinny’ with us. It stands to reason that, if more Italians played cricket, the wine in this country might well be the better for it. We chatted, idly, in dappled shade until some ingrate (me) suggested that we had better get on with it.
Whilst our batting was nothing to write home about, our bowling eventually was. Jonkers and A. Pitlarge opened up: the former was his usual metronomic self. The latter was quick, if erratic, and one of the Jags openers took his second over for 16. Brows furrowed. Jonkers trapped Pett (2) leg before in the fourth to reduce the opposition to 21-1. But byes and boundaries plagued our defence until Jonkers struck again, crucially dismissing the dangerous Cooke (27). 44-2 off just eight overs. Tense.
Kulasingam is always my man for a crisis. A change in the bowling was warranted after a loose start. He struck with his third ball, dismissing Chataway (6) leg before. Adam is a man in form, having scored more runs in his previous two innings than he has in the previous ten years (his words, I assure you). Did he knock the cover off it? He thought so. Luckily, his umpire didn’t. 46-3.
Jonkers, again. A boundary off the first ball… had I given the man one too many? Was he tuckered? Not on your life. A wicket with the third ball and he had a third inside five overs. Exceptional control. 58-4.
Nieboer took over from Jonkers at the Henley end. Managing an injury, he had threatened at the change of innings to bowl within himself. I dare say even 60% of his effort would cause enough problems for the batsmen. And so it proved. Two maidens to start, followed by two excellent wickets put us firmly in contention. Breaking a crucial partnership to reduce the opposition to 76-5, before taking another to make it 80-6 after 18 overs, was just what we needed. He bowled four more overs for just three runs. Remarkable.
Kulasingham struck again, with that man Nieboer taking a spectacular diving catch in the slips to break the back of the Jags chase. 93-7.
Whilst this was going on, Lorenzini (17*) offered dogged, determined batting in the face of mounting pressure. It was clear that he had the bit between his teeth, and so we took to starving him of the strike. It worked. With three wickets needed, but just 22 runs to play with, I turned to the dynamic duo of Jacot and Nicoli to see us home.
Jacot first. Two singles followed by a wide and my brow furrowed even deeper. More fool me: he cleaned up Creswell (5) with his next. He then bowled a wicket maiden to dismiss Patel (1) with his following over. He followed that with a crucial maiden.
Nicoli conceded just one run from his first death over. Exceptional guile. And crucially, he kept the dangerous Lorenzini off strike by offering him a boundary off the final ball of the 30th over. 112-9.
Faced with the last man, it took Jacot one ball. He had Pearson (1), bowled, middle stump.
A win, by the skin of our teeth.
An absolute thriller, and a fabulous game to be involved in. ‘Pure will’, ‘iconic’ performances across the board… one of the great English victories at the one-time ‘most beautiful cricket ground in England’ (Test Match Special). Move over, Azteca.
V&A CC Bowling Figures:
A. Pitlarge: 4-0-27-0
C. Jonkers: 5-1-14-3
C. Kulasingam: 8-2-27-2
L. Nieboer: 8-5-7-2
A. Jacot: 3.1-1-4-3
V. Nicoli: 2-0-7-0
