V&A Match Report Stonor, May 12 th, 2012

Team Selection Large numbers of younger Hermits were either knee deep in exams or playing League Cricket. Euan was on grand paternal duties. JC’s new knee was making a slower than expected recovery. Tim was celebrating his 30 th wedding anniversary in the Alps. The Wisden India reps were packing their bags for India. Accordingly the management found themselves with only 7 players on Friday morning. Mark Palmer managed to rustle up 3 ringers whilst Terry, Colly and Tony ‘contributed’ towards Creative Youth at a Charity Golf Day Auction and so found 2 willing volunteers (from the Jockey Club) to make their Hermits’ debuts. So an untried and untested team turned up for the early season shoot out at high noon against the old enemy on a sunny morning at a resplendent Stonor.

First Innings V&A won the toss and batted on a very soft and slow pitch on which batting was never easy. Promising opening bowling spells from Andrew ‘the Yeoman’ Jacob, Bradley Henderson (former West Indian League player) and Mark ‘Groucho’ Palmer resulted in one wicket – a caught and bowled by Bradley - and several near misses. The skipper then released the brake by bringing himself on for two horribly expensive overs into the wind. James Trew followed his Captain’s example with a generous spell and the hand brake had to be applied by young Luke Jacob. Lunch, taken mid-innings, was superb (rare roast beef salad) and inspired the Hermits to stem the heavy run flow that at lunch looked like yielding V&A well over 200 runs. However Guyanese Dennis still scored a stylish 80 odd and V&A ended on off their 35 overs. Bowling analyses: A. Jacob 1-38 off 7; Henderson 2-17 (7); Palmer 0-24 (7); Blake 0-40 (4) – ouch! Trew 0-33 (3); L.Jacob 2-38 (7).

Between Innings Fitness Report Hermits fitness concerns grew alarmingly in the field: 2 hamstrings, cramp, one groin strain and most gallantly, a boundary saving broken rib/muscle strain by Mark Palmer who played through pain to complete his spell. Luke Jacob was accordingly asked to pad up for the entire innings as a potential runner.

Second Innings Facing 6 runs an over was always going to be a tough challenge and despite a stolid start by openers Adrian Barr-Smith and Tony Walters, runs were extremely hard to come by against a typically strong V&A attack bowling line and full length. After a top order collapse, tea was taken at 25-4 off 17 overs. A required run rate of 8 per over soon rose to 10 and the opposing Captain never unleashed his promised lob bowler in the cause of a few cheap runs…. the Hermits wilting to 62 all out in 27 overs against a relentless pace attack with extras vying with Adrian for top score. However, there was a fine moment as Justin Stott (St Louis) nearly hit a home run in his brief innings, promptly dropping the bat before completing 2 runs. Shades of Joe Levy at Broadchalke in Batting card (shield your eyes): Walters 3; Barr-Smith 17; Trew 3; White 0; Giblen 0; Blake 13; A.Jacob 4; Collenette 0; Henderson 1; L.Jacob 0; Stott 2; Palmer 4*

Summary and next steps Another difficult day in Chilternian paradise An under par first performance….. but a bonded team. …..and high hopes for Cuddington (see below)! STOP PRESS Cuddington match is now next Sunday May 20 th, not May 19th as scheduled. 1pm start. Meet at the Crown pub in Cuddington from noon. Following match is a midweek T20 match at Dulwich on June 7 th, 6pm start. Hermits website re-launch now imminent!