Oxford Emeriti CC (10/07/2016)
Oxford Emeriti CC 181 for 4 (34 overs)
Dave 107 not out, Adam 6 retÕd
hurt
Orwell 5-1-23-0, Dibley
4-0-16-0, Lyons 4-0-24-1, F. Van Der Borgh 4-0-30-0, Chagule 6-1-24-1, Mohsin
4-1-16-0, S.Van Der Borgh 4-1-17-1,
D. Marshall 3-1-10-0
Catches: 3 - canÕt remember who
Run out: 1 - canÕt remember who
(think it was an unholy mix-up)
WCC 182 for 5 (27.5 overs)
Chagule 22, D.Marshall 23, Laurie 61, Rashdi
4, T.Lyons 49, F. Van Der Borgh
5 n.o., Mohsin
8 n.o.
DNB J. Lyons, dÕInverno, P. Marshall
Subash 2-50, Mundhu 1-22, Deepak 1-13
Debuts: F. Van Der Borgh
ItÕs fitting that Oxford Emeriti CC, a team comprised
of peripatetic Trinity College dons, is one of the WeekenderÕs oldest fixtures.
In a city where you can hardly move for American tourists exclaiming
ÒEverything is SO OLDÓ or ÒItÕs JUST like HogwartsÓ, you half-expect to bump
into Harry Potter on the short trip from the Turf Tavern to Jowett Walk,
secreted as it is between ancient colleges. I suspect,
Bill and Jeannie from Tallahassee would have been disappointed by the lack of
magic on display at the Emeriti fixture, but also the surprising dearth of
aging-splendour. This ÔEnders team boasted five
thrusting young colts aged between 18 and 25. Among them - Danny,
son of Pat Marshall is a slick wicketkeeper and a destructive batsman; Toby,
son of Julian Lyons, is a classy batsman, and Felix, Son of Simon Van Der Borgh is multi-talented sportsman, plus pacy,
aggressive fast-bowler to boot.
After a short discussion in the changing room about
Darwin's total bunkum regarding inheritable traits, the ÔEnders took to the
field. The Balliol pitch has grown increasingly benign over the years with
consistent, meagre bounce and little lateral movement
making this no hunting ground for seamers. Skipper
dÕInverno wisely switched to the wily spin of Lyons Senior after just nine tidy
but unthreatening overs of seam . Despite the Scalpel
of Meniscal hanging over him, he winkled out an obdurate opener and in tandem
with Sid ChaguleÕs off spin - limited the scoring on
this easy-paced track. Only one Emeriti batsmen
prospered, riding his luck to an unbeaten century. Having promised his wife he
would not bowl, veteran Weekender firebrand Simon VDB
came back for one last job, to rattle, then snare a
Don with his hostile left-arm shards.
Having contained the scoring to just 181 from 34
overs, the ÔEnders batters went about their business. Danny Marshall and Sid Chagule started in a breezy fashion, flying to an opening
partnership of 46, until a runout and a mishit ended
their respective innings. Dom Laurie entered the fray and wrenched control of
the game with a series of clouts that had spectators murmuring Òright-handed Matty HaydenÓ. Laurie hit nine boundaries in his 61 as none of the Emeriti bowlers seemed able to contain him
on this docile pitch. It was left to Lyons and Van Der Borgh
(not those ones) to assail the target, with Toby Lyons again in imperious form.
Emeriti were hampered by a series of injuries towards the end of match, as some
creaking joints buckled under the onslaught (we hope they recover well and
soon). Big-up to our man Faraz
Rashdi who volunteered to sub-field for the depleted oppo.