Arthur's Knights v. Halverstown

Social Fixture
Tuesday, 26th July 2016

Halverstown: 138 for 0

             J.Threadgold 20*;  K.Threadgold 20*;  D.Bursey 20* (*Not Out)

             A.Knight's Bowling: M.Beetlestone 2-0-6-0; E.Rankin 2-0-7-0

Arthur's Knights: 103 for 4

            H.McNab 20*;  F.O'Beirne 20*;  E.Rankin 20*

            H'Town Bowling: M.Bursey 2-0-11-2; Nikhil 3-0-12-1; B.Early 3-0-15-1

John Threadgold, ruminating on the game, thought he had never before played in a game where no wickets were taken in an innings. It happened here. Halverstown batted first and between batsmen reaching their allotted 20 and having to retire and my cutting short innings in order to give everyone a bat, not one wicket was lost. It was hardly because the Knights were poor bowlers- after all our league batsmen- the 2 Threadgolds – opened and managed to use up half of our overs studiously (naturally) making their 20s. Nikhil, revelling in his second ever game of cricket, hit a most promising 15 while Dave Bursey did his usual turn of hammering an ultra fast 21. Everyone else retired early (except,confusingly, Early-and Cecil- who was not out).

The Air Corps pair, Fry and Barr, attempted to get Knights off to a “a flying start”, as someone commented, but succumbed to the crafty leg breaks of Bill Early and Michaela Bursey's fast bowling. Mike Beetlestone was caught by me off Michaela, to much mirth as I got revenge for previous humiliations at Mike's hands. Good maximum innings' by Eric, Henry and Frank were not enough to catch us, neither was what seemed an endless number of batsmen batting again, agreed initially to make up for a shortage of players.

Player of the Match went to Michaela for her bowling, her fielding for Knights and her 9*, with honourable mention for Nikhil who took his first ever wicket bowling, thereby setting a record for the oldest Indian ever to take his first wicket! Conal Hooper got their Man of the Match (denied to Eric for giving a wide against me in my penultimate ball when it was clearly on the mat and well capable of being reached if Mike had stretched!) for sportingly volunteering as a runner for Gerry Walsh, when Gerry- though injured- could have run faster himself. A thoroughly enjoyable and sporting game, played despite the doom- laden forecasts from Met Eireann.

Des Drumm