London Erratics Cricket Club

Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment

Sunday 8 June 2003
London Erratics v FC London
at Barnes

Welcome win in fated fixture
Originally we were going to play Tony Poulter’s The Third Way on this date. Then we tried to fit in a rearranged game against the Mortlake Casuals. When that fell through, we made a late switch to play Fremantle Media at their Chessington ground — only to have to find a new venue at the last minute (Barn Elms Playing Fields). Chris Dunabin, who had struggled to raise a team, then had to drop out himself. The match was played with a set of junior-size stumps at one end.
A 30-overs game. The Erratics won the toss and elected to field. With Richard Heller only fit for emergency batting duties, and with a loan player not arriving until after tea, the Erratics fielded with up to four subs. The opening bowlers found some interesting life in the pitch, and Michael Stephenson’s first over was a wicket maiden. A suicidal run to a fielder of James Rivington’s calibre brought a bonus wicket. Shortly afterwards, the teams realised that they had actually begun the game on a junior-size wicket, and they relocated to the adult square a few yards away.
On the better surface, the dogged No. 2 and the opposition skipper put together some runs, and the balance of the game began to shift. The ball had been finding its way too easily through the slip cordon, but a fine low catch by John Truscott at gulley restored the Erratics’ spirits; and four overs later, Matthew Eltringham followed up this success by trapping the opener.
The No. 5 was still there and looking dangerous; he will be kicking himself for hitting a full toss straight back at James. That was the signal for the innings to implode. John’s accuracy and guile proved too much for the later order, and he picked up three wickets in two overs. Martin Parsley claimed a scalp, and Michael came back to wrap things up. The last six wickets had fallen in six and a bit overs, and the Erratics would have enjoyed their tea — had there been any. (Credit to all the subs, who on the whole improved the quality of the Erratics fielding.)
FC LONDON — batting
1   b Stephenson 0
2   lbw b Eltringham 18
3   run out 0
4   c Truscott b Eltringham 20
5   c & b b Rivington 26
6   b Truscott 9
7   b Truscott 1
8   b Parsley 6
9   c sub b Truscott 0
10   not out 1
11   b Stephenson 1
94 all out in 24.4 overs
Fall of wickets: 1–1, 2–6, 3–40, 4–61, 5–77, 6–78, 7–86, 8–86, 9–91

LONDON ERRATICS — bowling
Eltringham 9 1 37 2
Stephenson 6.4 2 18 2
Truscott 5 0 18 3
Rivington 3 0 12 1
Parsley 1 0 2 1
With Tristan Ward playing solidly (one lovely drive through mid-off), and with John playing some exquisite late cuts, the Erratics looked set to knock off the runs with some comfort.
When Tristan was out, loan batsman Barton was sent out to face the taunts of his mates; a few quick blows suggested this was a useful addition to the line-up — then John called for an impossible run off an overthrow. And John’s own departure made it three wickets lost in three overs, and the game was slipping away.
Matthew and Michael pushed the score along encouragingly, while the skipper gave David Unger some last minute coaching. That’ll have to do, David, you’re needed in the middle. Plenty of time (eleven overs), but 23 runs to be found from somewhere, with only one and a half batsmen to come — and with the opposition gathering hungrily around the bat. Matthew tries to farm the strike, but this seems to inhibit his natural stroke play, and David is often left exposed. But as David displays the novice’s gift of keeping out the straight one, Matthew’s confidence grows and he hits some morale-boosting shots. With ten runs needed to draw level, Matthew cuts loose and crushes the crumbling hopes of the fielding side — a straight hit over the bowler’s head the final insult. The two batsmen are applauded from the field as heroes.
After the game we found out that the opposition had in fact now lost any Fremantle connection and had changed their name. Weird fixture.
LONDON ERRATICS — batting 4s  6s 
* Rivington bowled 1    
† Ward caught 12 1   
Truscott bowled 32 5   
Barton run out 7 1   
Eltringham NOT OUT  24 5   
Stephenson bowled 4    
Unger NOT OUT  2    
Parsley    
Heller    
97 for 5 in 25.5 overs
Fall of wickets:  1–5, 2–40, 3–51, 4–57, 5–72
Erratics won by 3 wickets
2003 Season
Erratics HomePage