Sunday 25th September

Sunday Match vs British Embassy by Brett Meredith Capatin of the game

After the night before at the Long Hop washing down a few ales and whisky cokes and sharing tactics with a buxom blond Swissess (shame nothing else was shared), we found ourselves on the ground on Sunday afternoon at Meudon, the ground in pristine condition and lovely sunshine ready to finish the season off in style.  Winning the toss, we opened with Phil and Shanka, one of our ring-ins who proceeded in pounding boundaries all over the park terrorising the kids on the boundary. Shanka finished off with a century, then out went our “out-of-former” James Grant in perfect conditions at 1 down for over 100, but to no avail as the out-of-sorts batsman was fired lbw for 1. Julian, Greig and Jon then continued the run-feast despite the improved bowling with Jules and the subdued Jon enjoying a very solid partnership. The old guard (Les and Robin) had been sitting down padded up for an eternity waiting to go out to bat, but had obviously worn themselves out checking out the crumpet and proceeded to take their pads off with 2 balls left in the innings. Of course the inevitable happened, Jules getting stumped and nobody padded up, so yours truly went out in keeping pads to face the last ball. A solid innings of 288, perhaps the highest this year, with Jon and Phil scoring in the forties and Jules 64.

After an afternoon tea of epic proportions put up by the Browns family consisting of  home-made quiches and the famous carambar cake, everyone was keen to clean ‘em up and fill up those empty jugs at the bar. First ball of the innings saw El Presidente bowl a screamer swinging late and cutting away. Too good for the batsman, too good for the keeper up at the stumps, the ball crashed straight into Julian’s glass (who was suffering from heat stroke) and the batsman crossing for 1. Our own “Mr Cricket” of course pulled out the rule 29b page 56 obstruction rule and the opposition was granted 5 extra runs, thereby being 0 for 6 off the first ball. They were obviously led into a false sense of security, being ahead of the run-rate with Les ending up getting one of those edges and Jon mitting it at 2^nd slip. Change of bowler at the tennis courts end brought on Jada, the second ring-in, bowling with great variety of  medium pacers and off-cutters. All of a sudden the game changed direction with a stunning catch by James at point diving to his right and forward to take a one-handed catch inches off the ground. Must have been the catch of the year and I think that even the locals at the Horse and Cart Inn in Huddersfield would have agreed on that one. Next bowling change brought James from the forest end after Greig had toiled very well (too good for the Brits). James bowled with great variety ranging from good balls to absolute rubbish down leg-side giving the keeper a good work-out. This obviously bamboozled the Brits and he picked up 2 quick wickets then got belted all around the ground with some beautiful strokes from the left-handed Evry ring-in. After coping some good solid sledging from fellow players with comments such as good spell “Granty”, captain stubborn decided to persevere with him. First ball next over, the batsman just plopped the ball up to Phil in a close in catching position, making everything look so easy. But James hadn’t finished yet, as he bowled, lbwed and ran out the rest of the BE boys by himself earning the right to fill the jugs up at the bar and showing everyone that he can do more than just clean the fridge. His personal tally, 4 wickets, 2 catches and a run-out.

Game over, BE all out for around 90 in around 14 overs allowing everyone to hit the “terrace” early to sample that amber liquid that everyone had been dreaming about. After some tame discussions and much jug emptying, the atmosphere changed turning into a joke telling competition between our seasoned campaigner and professional Les and the young Leila. Leila specialising in the dirty ones after her “stage” of dirty joke telling down-under, much to the pleasure of our invited BE players, ring-ins and SAC players and wives/girlfriends. Some great story-telling like the “Bruce & Sheila bath tiles” one and the “Lone Ranger” kept the crowds ecstatic, with lots of promises of “catching up” in the winter.

cheers,

Mr Brett MEREDITH