Halverstown v. Arthur's Knights

Social Fixture, Sunday 3rd June
Arthur's Knights won by 18 runs.

ARTHUR'S KNIGHTS 148-2 (30 overs)
S. Hayes 31*
P. Murray 30*
---
K. McCall 1-15
T.P. Plewman 1-15


HALVERSTOWN 130 (30 overs)
H. Beaumont 30*
D. Drumm 27


Report by Des Drumm



There was serious doubt about the game but, knowing that Noella had already baked the cakes,we boldly threw down the gauntlet to Mike Beetlestone and Arthur’s Knights and they chivalrously accepted despite the wind, rain and biting cold. Several of our players had to be coaxed, but we finally played on a most unpromising day that held up for a most sporting  joust. Some of the outfits were distinctly un-cricket like though, with Kim McCall’s one- man Tom Crean show being the most notable.

Knights elected to bat and openers Stuart Hayes and, especially, Pat Murray wielded bats as if they were Excalibur – magically deflecting our bowling, which lacked a keen enough edge, to score their 30s before retiring. Knights were 148 in 30 overs with the loss of just 2 men in the battle. Perhaps their greater familiarity with Taverners rules helped, as  we choked back several LBW claims .I tried to give Eric Rankin his deposit for our Hursley trip back  after he was caught by Graham Barnes for a duck off TP. My bit of consolation came from catching Arthur Deeney off Kim McCall, but overall we did not shine in the field- with one honourable exception. Sophie Bagnall  was outstanding and her prevention of one particular boundary brought applause all round. Then more applause for Noella’s banquet fit for Knights- and her nice few words about Arthur as we remembered him playing his final game of cricket at Harristown last year.

Our riposte built steadily with Hubert’s 30 n.o. and my even more steady (OK, slow) 27. However, only Graham got to double figures after that as the now legendary Halverstown middle order collapse saw us fall short- with only Sophies 6 N.O off the last 4 balls showing us that perhaps with a few more damsels like her and we might have been in less distress.  A win conjured up by Mike “Merlin” Beetlestone, in charge since Morte d’Arthur, at  fortress Harristown  but be warned- that’s Shallott!

It has been pointed out that a number of maidens were bowled over during the game. Strangely enough these were all occasioned by our more experienced gentlemen,TP getting one and Robert Pocock an admirable two.