Halverstown v. Richview Ramblers

Social Fixture, Sunday 2nd September
Halverstown won by 35 runs.

HALVERSTOWN 136-6
J. Grey 25*
S. Hayes 25*
G. Barnes 24

RICHVIEW RAMBLERS 101-7
H. Ridgeway 16
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D. Drumm 3-6
D. Pitt 2-11
S. Hayes 1-3


There are friendlies and there are very friendlies. This was the latter, encapsulated by Eric Rankin's  selection of the "Champagne Moment"(rewarded with a bottle of wine, I am pleased to say) as my taking of Jageth's wicket with a catch by Sundhar in the slips, he having come on to field for us that very ball- after having batted no. 5 for Richview. Complicated ? Yes, but so was getting teams out.Eric rang midweek to say he was having difficulty, and would I mind if he had two ladies playing. Not only did we not mind, I offered to get at least one lady for ourselves . In the event, getting two ladies (Jen Grey and my daughter Sarah) was the easy bit.The men were the problem. Not everyone would agree with Ry Cooder singing "The taxes on the farmer feed us all", but in Halverstown we need farmers not just for food but for filiing cricket teams. They are only available if it rains at this time of year, which is not great news when the sun is shining.A new record was set: 55 people contacted to get a team out. I have never been short before, but by Saturday I was resigned to 10 players. Then a stroke of luck .Someone down from Monaghan would play. Sunday, an hour before the start, he withdrew injured.10 again. More luck: Jageth came along for Richview with his cousin Kohli in tow, so they now had 12. Kohli would play for us: 11 a side. Word came that Richview's Sundhar was, also unexpectedly, on his way and would be there an hour late. In the event he arrived at tea time, having been unable to find the ground.It was agreed that  he would bat for Richview and field for us. 11.5 a side!

There was so much overlap between the players of Halverstown, Richview, Merrion and Arthur's Knights- all represented in this game- that it was hard to distinguish friend from foe-but that was part of the great atmosphere too. We won the toss and after a slowish start we posted a healthy 136 total, thanks to several impressive innings: Jen Grey scored a classy 25 not out, Stuart Hayes a less classy but highly energetic one also and Graham Barnes was unlucky not to do the same- being caught for a thoughtful 24. A first ever game for Sam McAllister saw him score with 1 not out-I would have been pleased with that! Brian Kelly and Jageth were the pick of their bowlers, the latter with a very fine opening spell of 2 for 6 off 5 overs.

The Grey family opened our bowling impressively, both Jen and Steven conceding just 14 runs off 4 overs apiece, with Jen bowling out the dangerous looking Tim Millman. Kohli went better again conceding just 12 runs off his 5.However, the bulk of the wicket taking was Dave Pitt's 2 for 11 off 3 (he was as amazed as us) and my own 3 for 6 off 5 overs (plus a run-out!). Stuart came from behind the stumps (that improved the byes!) to take a wicket and Sundar bowled the final over to finish a confusing but thoroughly enjoyable day, which- to my complete astonishment- we won with a degree of comfort!