Fixture Secretary’s XI

Match Report

For at least ten days leading up to the Inter-Straggs game at Belmont, recruitment proved something of a challenge, as every time a player signed up to play, another fell by the wayside.  Thanks to some exceptional recruiting by Archie Brown, who introduced three Stragglers for the future, supported by Will Evans and Harry Pat, six debutants made an appearance on a glorious summer day (not an over-used phrase in 2024) for what proved to be a remarkably one-sided game, with the Stragglers going down to a substantial defeat.  The handicapper (now signed up for remedial training) was unable to use the excuse of lack of familiarity with so many players as it was those who have already made a mark, all under twenty, who made the difference as the next-gen came to the fore.

Having so nearly taken the Stragglers to a remarkable victory against the Junior BB the week before, the Evans brothers had been rewarded with captaincy today; Freddie duly won the toss and elected to bat.  The innings did not get off to the best of starts, as Jasper Williams (2 for 12), with his best Straggler spell to date, removed Ben Simpson and Harry P without either troubling the scorer.  It was very much left to the next-gen, Archie Brealy and debutant, Will Franklin, to rebuild.  Archie relished the opportunity and batted with great patience and good foot movement.  He saw off Jasper, James Felton and Harry Heming, the highlight being his casual despatch of a head-high bouncer from Harry.  At the other end Will was guarding his wicket and keeping the score ticking over as the innings passed 100.  Will Evans (3 for 25) then brought himself on, bowling spin in tandem with Charles Bodle (on debut) (2 for 46), and Will F (26) launched a rocket in the direction of the long-on boundary only to find the safe hands of Harry patrolling the deep. Meanwhile, Archie had become becalmed, with little of the strike and he managed to smack his next ball straight to Will E, gone for a very valuable 80, the score at 118 for 4.  The middle order all got in, contributed something and got out, Angus B (19), Freddie E (12) and Will Attwood (22). Will fell to a remarkable catch by Archie Brown running backwards off the bowling of another debutant, Freddie Loudon, another with a long family Straggler pedigree.  However, the total was not yet sufficient to put the Fixture Secretary’s X under any sort of pressure. The final pair eked out some more time and a few more runs, Idris Kaplan (16* on debut) finding an occasional gap in the field, and finally Freddie brought the innings to a close, declaring on 192 for 8 from 45 overs.

Time was the only pressing matter facing the FS X openers, with around 35 overs in which to chase down the target.  Harry Heming and James Felton, both in recent good form, began with confidence, dealing with the pace of Angus and Freddie comfortably enough, the scoreboard ticking along.  Pace off might bring a breakthrough, and Sam Gilliland came so close.  Extracting extravagant turn and bounce, he beat the bat for fun, and fuelled the banter around the bat, but a wicket just would not come.  The drinks break, so often a partnership breaker came and went. Archie Brealy bowled a maiden, which had James waving at each ball as it slid past the edge, so nearly brining Harry P, making his Straggler keeping debut, into play.  Will Franklin came on to bowl with some real fizz, and Will Attwood secured a rare mis-hit, the edge flying towards mid-off, only for it to fall safe as the Chairman was still looking for the ball heading to cow corner where the shot had been directed.  As the target approached, there was some frantic counting on the scorer’s bench, with both batsmen in with a chance of century.  James staked his claim with three consecutive sixes, the first of which was put down over the boundary by Charlie, who has got into an unfortunate habit of spending long periods padded up watching James make big scores. The next six removed the scorer’s bottle of beer, cart-wheeling across towards the score board.  The total was now 191, Harry on strike, two required for victory; would either batsman get to a century?  Half-hearted applause broke out in the crowd, as the mathematical conclave announced that James’ third six had taken him to 100.  Harry duly hit the next ball for 4 (from a returning Angus, who was now bowling down the hill with ferocious pace).  On careful recount, however, it turned out that James had scored 95* and Harry 97*, victory by 9 wickets (playing 10-a-side) in the 29th over.  We were sorry not to see debutants Ed Middleton and Hector Hulme at the crease, Hector having kept wicket very tidily in the first innings.  And thank you to Ange and all those who gave us a splendid tea.