Played at Brook CC

FRIDAY 22ND AUGUST 2003

The early evening sun setting over the newly refurbished and opened Dog & Pheasant, one ball to go and all results possible; a classic all day game at Brook for the last Ramblers match of the season. But back to the beginning; Emeriti skipper Finbar O'Connor won the toss, decided to bat, and his openers made a steady start until Lo was trapped in front by Somerset Pheasant. Emeriti batters then all contributed so that at lunch they were 145-4, with Steve Harpley for the Ramblers chipping in with a couple of wickets; honours even at this point. In the afternoon progress continued by both sides, Johnny Hunter bowling with pace took three, one of them a catch by John Prynne at short third man - the ball looping in a gentle parabola as the catcher weaved into position to secure the goods. Emeriti declared just before 4 o'clock at 268 with 9 down, having faced 61 overs; at the time some Ramblers thought this was a bit long - but in the end absolutely not the case.

The fifty minutes before tea was negotiated safely to 46-0 by Brian Davenport and Toby Pheasant, so a base was there for what was still a very challenging target. Three wickets fell on 73 and this made matters look even more difficult, but cameos from captain Simon Swainson and Steve Harpley kept things going, and what turned the match was what followed; a stand of 105 by Ed Jones and Somerset Pheasant in quick time and at a high scoring rate kept the required total very accessible - with only some help from non front line opposition bowlers. Before the climax Somerset left after an excellent 55, leaving Ed and the remaining batters. Johnny Hunter went quickly, and now with 9 down, John Prynne strode to the wicket, and with deft nudges and pushes helped his partner (by now also with a half century) to 5 runs needed from the 53rd and last over. A bye and a single from the first 5 balls; 266-9 and three to win off the last - but another single, and so the draw. A great game of cricket, contributed fully to and much enjoyed by both sides.

EMERITI

N.Lo lbw Pheasant                                                      21
S Phillips c Jones R b Harpley                                   35

N Coltman c Hunter b Harpley                                   11

D Spencer c Jones R b Pheasant                                47
I Ripley b Harpley                                                       48
M Matthieu c Prynne b Hunter                                  30

W Wynne b Hunter                                                      0
A Wensley c Pheasant T b Hunter                                0

F O'Connor not out                                                    33
P Ross c Jones E b Harpley                                          2
T de Freitas not out                                                    20
extras (b 5,lb 4,w 2)                                                    11

TOTAL:                                                                    268-9 dec

Fall of wickets: 1-64,2-62,3-83,4-145,5-181,6-181,7-185

Bowling:

Pheasant S. 14-1-78-2

Hunter 12-3-44-3

Harpley 14-2-52-4

Prynne 4-1-22-0

Jones E. 9-1-31-0

Davenport 5-1-12-0

Jones R. 3-0-12-0

SYDENHURST RAMBLERS

B Davenport lbw Spencer                                            26
T Pheasant c Matthieu b Wens1ey                              16

R Jones st Coltman b Wensley                                     8              
W Walker st Co1tman b Wensley                                  0
S Swainson(w)c Coltman b Wensley                           32

S Harpley c ? b Wensley                                             15
H Gauntlett c ? b Wensley                                           1
S Pheasant b Ridley                                                   55
E Jones not out                                                          63
J Hunter b Spencer                                                     0
J Prynne not out                                                        11
extras (b 23, lb 2, w 7, nb 8)                                      40 

TOTAL:                                                                    267-9

Fall of wickets: 1-57,2-73,3-73,4-73,5-117,6-125,7-134,8-239,9-240

Bowling:

Ridley 9-0-34-1

de Freitas 4-0-27-0

Phillips 3-1-2-0

Wensley 16-1-80-6

Spencer 14-5-45-1

Lo 5-0-29-0
Wynne 2-0-23-0

MATCH DRAWN.

Archivist's note:

Somerset Pheasant and Ed Jones broke the Club's 8th wicket record (97) which had been set in 1968 by Adrian Stephenson and Don Barnes against Haslemere.