Match Report

A confident group of young Stragglers arrived at Torry Hill to face the Junior BB on yet another hot day, with the outfield burnt to a cinder. What proved to be a match of very fine margins, it was the little things that mattered – in this case, an under-reported skill – throwing from the boundary. In a game lost by ten runs, the Stragglers conceded 9 overthrows to one from the Junior BB!

Losing the toss and invited to field in the heat of the afternoon, skipper James Felton opened with Henry Elliot, the latter hurtling in from the pavilion end. James (3 for 24) from the other had immediate success, an opener adjudged plumb. He followed this up with a proper fast bowler’s wicket, perfect length, batsman having to play and finding an edge, taken (and this is the unusual part) exceptionally well by Angus Hay at first slip (the first of three for Angus, putting his foot on the champagne moment).  The fall of early wickets kept the run rate under control, and James then removed his opposite number, Archie Brealy, with a looping full toss clattering into middle stump – 45 for 3.  All going to plan. Bruno Wainman, on debut, was introduced and with his third ball clipped leg stump for a maiden wicket. With judicious bowling changes and some pace off in the middle overs, the rate was squeezed further, Thomas Bishop going for under 3 an over, and then Freddie Loudon (2 for 25) weaving magic.  A score under 200 looked entirely possible, when the 8th wicket fell at 185.  However, Archie Hills (who has already played both for and against the Stragglers in 2026) rather took to the final Straggler bowlers and the innings ended in some chaos as the Straggs managed to put down three catches in the final over and turn an inoffensive single into a six, with two overthrows from one ball.  The Junior BB ended on 233 for 8 from their 35 overs.

Angus Hay has a simple approach to batting – see ball, hit ball, mostly very hard and preferably every ball. He set off with this in mind and the score raced along at nearly 9 an over, until he was undone by a ball, which kept very low, out for 32.  Harry Heming came and went rather too swiftly, and Freddie Loudon, batting with considerable style and composure, was joined by James.  The chase was under control, nothing rash required.  Then, out of nowhere, Freddie (33) lobbed a gentle return catch to Archie Hills.  Arthur joined James, and they put on another comfortable 40, before James, driving uppishly, found a fielder who was not really in his line of sight, but who took a remarkable one-handed diving catch – the first of three catches for Tunnicliffe.  Will Hay (no relation), who had kept very tidily, joined Arthur, and, together, kept the chase nicely on track.  In the 29^th over, Archie Brealy, with one last throw of the dice, introduced 14-year-old Milo Curra.  The first two balls were smacked by Henry to the boundary, one a no ball to rub salt into the wound.  Henry, clearly believing that it was now a troll in the park, then skied one and was gone for 47, the score 197 for 5. Surely, the Straggs could still get over the line from here. Will Fleming was bowled by Milo. No problem, because here was Freddie Evans, architect, with brother Will, of the epic partnership against the Junior BB in 2024. Freddie began well, but offered a catch, gratefully accepted. Now it was down to Will Hay, carefully accumulating, to manage the tail.  However, the Junior BB kept him off strike and 14 from the final over was going to be a big ask. Rex Long scored a couple and fell to another Tunnicliffe catch off Milo.  Thomas Bishop was run out going for a second to keep Will on strike. Will, facing the final ball, with victory now reliant on an unlikely no ball or wide, stepped across his stumps and missed the ball – adjudged LBW. Milo ended the Straggler innings on 223, having taken a remarkable 5 for 23 in 4 overs, and defeat for the Stragglers by 10 runs. Perhaps the most remarkable few moments of the day arrived with the rain break during the Straggler innings.