Wednesday, 25th to Monday, 30th July 2001
The Tour, the twelfth since 1990, was as ever impeccably organized by Brian Davenport. Staying at the splendidly appointed Oporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club, a harmonious party enjoyed sunshine, food, fine wines and a memorable tour of Taylor's vineyard, with a superb lunch at which the port was rather good, and after which the shop did a roaring trade!
PRIVATE LUNCH AT TAYLOR'S PORT HOUSE
(l-r) Jane Stonebridge, Tony Baker (Tour Host), Chris Terry, Jonno Terry, Brian Davenport, David Coles, Janet Coles, Steve Andow, Alan Hardy, John Hamilton, Brian Smithers, Jon Stonebridge, Lorna Francis, Paul Francis, Graham Boxall.
(Taken before the arrival of the other tourists, John and Somerset Pheasant)
Match 1: Saturday 28th July v Oporto
Match drawn.
On a mat, Graham Boxall hit his fourth ball for a huge six and the Ramblers progressed without alarms to 59/1 - better than it sounds as the outfield was long. A young, very tempting off-spinner reduced us to 61/5 as various heavy blows went straight to fielders. Brian Davenport (24) helped Paul Francis (65*) steady things in a fifty partnership. Francis played really well.
Four Asians (3 of them members of the Portugal XI) had flown up from Lisbon to stiffen the locals and we needed to remove them as soon as possible. From 65/2 Oporto slumped to 74/6 but then played solidly to claim the draw. Somerset Pheasant (2/29), Steve Andrew (3/24) and Graham Boxall (2/23 and 3 slip catches) took the wickets.
Ramblers' innings:
J.Hamilton ct Rodgerson, b M.Graham 23
G.Boxall ct Medhi, b Nadeem 22
D.Coles ct Favur, b M.Graham 13
J.Stonebridge ct Rodgerson, b M. Graham` 0
J.Pheasant ct Alby, b M.Graham 0
B.Davenport b J.Graham 24
P.Francis not out 65
S.Pheasant lbw Galle 10
B.Smithers lbw Medhi 4
A.Hardy b Galle 0
S.Andow lbw Medhi 1
Extras 15
TOTAL 177 all out
Fall of wickets: 1-32; 2-59; 3-59; 4-61; 5-61; 6-111; 7-140; 8-164; 9-176
Oporto's innings:
Akhbar ct Boxall, b Andow 21
Gouveia ct Boxall, b Pheasant 0
Sacur ct Hardy, b Andow 12
Nadeem ct Coles, b Boxall 30
Medhi c and b Pheasant ` 22
J.Graham ct Boxall, b Andow 0
Galle ct Hardy, b Boxall 0
Rodgerson not out 20
Baker not out 8
Extras 10
TOTAL 123 for 7
Fall of wickets: 1-7; 2-33; 3-65; 4-69; 5-73; 6-74; 7-91
Bowling: Pheasant S. 2/29; Andow 3/24; Boxall 2/23
Match 2: Sunday, 29th July v Oporto
Ramblers won by 78 runs.
Again the Ramblers elected to bat in gloriously hot sunshine. Two early wickets fell, but then Jon Stonebridge and Graham Boxall added 173 in fine style. This stand broke the Club record for the 3rd wicket previously held by Malcolm Wiseman (122*) and Andrew Barker (74*) against Eton Ramblers at Brook in 1976. Boxall raced to his third overseas century for the Ramblers in just 68 minutes, hitting 7 sixes and 10 fours in a superb 118. Stonebridge scored a stylish 53 and Jon Hamilton chipped in with an unbeaten 37 to declare before half-time.
For a long time Oporto showed little interest in chasing the win, but eventually Perkins and Graham took advantage of the attacking fields to take the score to 126/3 with 24 overs left. Graham Boxall and Brian Davenport picked up a brace of wickets each, but the star was leg-spinner John Pheasant, who took 5/48 off 16 overs.
The comical moment of the tour was provided by Paul Francis who bowled his opening over swathed in 6 sweaters, discarding one to the unlucky umpire after each ball. A wicket fell after 4 balls, and the umpire - blessed with a sense of humour, greeted no.3 with "Right arm over; lots of pullovers; 2 to come!"
Ramblers' innings:
J.Pheasant ct Graham, b Perkins 0
J.Stonebridge ct Neville, b M.Graham 53
D.Coles ct Baker, b Elliott 4
G.Boxall c and b Selbourne 118
J.Hamilton not out 37
B.Smithers c Perkins, b Elliott 10
S.Pheasant not out 12
P.Francis, A.Hardy, B.Davenport, S.Andow did not bat
Extras 11
TOTAL 245 for 5 declared
Fall of wickets: 0-1; 2-10; 3-183; 4-185; 5-217; 6-245
Oporto's innings:
Roberts c Andow, b Francis 0
Caixeir b Davenport 14
Perkins c Coles, b J.Pheasant 76 (121 minutes; 104 balls)
Neville b Davenport 0
J.Graham lbw J.Pheasant 33
Elliott ct Andow, b J.Pheasant 1
S.Rogerson c J.Pheasant, b Boxall 24
A.Baker c Francis, b J.Pheasant 1
M.Graham c Hardy, b J.Pheasant 9
Selbourne not out 3
T.Rogerson b Boxall 1
Extras 5
TOTAL 167 all out.
Fall of wickets: 0-1; 2-36; 3-38; 4-126; 5-129; 6-132; 7-135; 8-159; 9-163.
Bowling: J.Pheasant 16-0-48-5; Boxall 2-30; Davenport 2-47; Francis 1-16
THE TOURING PARTY
Back row:- Jon Stonebridge, Somerset Pheasant, Steve Andow, Chris Terry, Graham Boxall, David Coles, John Pheasant.
Front row:- Brian Davenport, Brian Smithers, John Hamilton, Paul Francis, Alan Hardy.
Jonathon (Jonno) Terry