London Erratics Cricket Club

Founded 1974 for recreation and refreshment

Sunday 27 July 2003
London Erratics v Withered Lilies
at Magdalen College, Oxford

A good toss to win
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Skipper Bill Bush had recuited a strong twelve — including Felix Meller (quite rightly ignoring the opposition’s impertinent request that he not be picked after last year’s controversial match). The home team produced only ten, so James Rivington became a Lily.
The previous day’s rain meant that this was an important toss to win, and Bill successfully did his duty. The conditions provided the bowlers with movement and bounce, and Matthew Eltringham claimed a crucial first scalp, luring the dangerous No. 2 into an injudicious pull shot (Þ) . Brian Berrigan, in his first game of the season, instantly put the ball right on the spot, giving nothing away (Þ) . There was much sledging of traitor James — but he gave as good as he got, and hung around annoyingly (Þ) in a useful third wicket stand (Þ) .
David Brook produced extravagant swing, but it was the introduction of Matthew Neal that did the damage. He removed that bugger Rivington and took a wicket in each of his next three overs (some fine work in the slip cordon); and with David chipping in with a diving return catch, 55 for 2 had become 61 for 7 and the Lilies were wilting.
The later bowlers proved a bit easier to play, and the score began to climb. Anxious not to face too large a target on an iffy pitch, Bill turned to Felix. James thought he had agreed with Bill that it would be tactful for Felix to keep wicket — which he had done until the drinks break. When one of the batsmen whinged about the use of Felix as a bowler, Bill trotted off to debate the matter with Lilies skipper, Tristan Ward; Bill diplomatically backed down, and brought back David.
It was John Truscott who induced a top edge to open up one end, and David and Brian wrapped things up in the next two overs.
WITHERED LILIES — batting
1 JR b Neal 24
2   lbw b Eltringham 2
3   c Meller b Eltringham 4
4   c Truscott b Neal 19
5   c & b b Brook 0
6   c Meller b Neal 0
7   st Khawaja b Berrigan 44
8 TW c Khawaja b Neal 0
9   c Khawaja b Truscott 16
10   c Truscott b Brook 0
11   not out 1
130 all out
Fall of wickets: 1–8; 2–13; 3–55; 4–56; 5–56; 6–58; 7–61; 8–127; 9–127

LONDON ERRATICS — bowling
Eltringham 6 0 14 2
Berrigan 8 1 27 1
Brook 12 4 26 2
Neal 9 2 16 4
Walker 4 0 21 0
Truscott 4 0 22 1
Although conditions had been getting easier during the day, the first Lilies bowler proved there was still plenty to occupy the minds of the batsmen. His colleague at the other end, however, seemed off colour and fed the Erratics some useful runs — Peter Andrews took full advantage of what was on offer.
The last ball of the 10th over and the first of the 11th saw both openers back in the pavilion. But this proved to be no more than a blip. In his first innings of the season, Brian was understandably watchful. Nasir Khawaja seemed uptight at first as he tried to find his timing. Then he started picking off the loose balls, especially from the change bowlers, and the Erratics innings progressed unstoppably towards victory.
Lilies skipper Tristan twirled away prettily (5-0-21-0), but he gave James the honour of bowling the mandatory match-winning full toss down the leg side (1.4-0-8-0). In this fifteen-year-old fixture, that’s eleven years on the trot that the Erratics have gone unbeaten; this is the first time James has ever ended up on the losing side.
LONDON ERRATICS — batting 4s  6s 
Truscott bowled 11 1   
Andrews bowled 21 1   
Berrigan NOT OUT  30 2   
† Khawaja NOT OUT  55 5   
† Meller    
Dunabin    
Walker    
Eltringham    
Brook    
Neal    
* Bush    
134 for 2
Fall of wickets:  1–37, 2–37
Erratics won by 8 wickets
2003 Season
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