Jaguars 151-4 (Parrish 25*, Fardell 25*, Wilde 20*, Anderson-Watt 20, Langley 19), beat Sharks 149-3 (Jeeva 30*, Rammers 28*, Marc 21*Sumit 20*) by 2 runs
I want to say it was a balmy summer evening, but it was actually an absolutely murderously hot one at Fen Ditton. This was one of those evening that suggested to me this global warming might definitely be a 'thing' and we should listen to the sciency dudes in the white coats.
We were rocked before the game by a series of selection headaches. Ant had forgotten he was at a major footgolf event (look it up, it's a thing)- . Dan had to prioritise work over cricket (sensible, but also "BOOOOOO!"), and Liam, after a long and punishing season of lengthy spells with the ball, had succumbed to the dreaded hurty-knee-itus that plagues bowlers regularly breaking the 90MPH barrier with their full, fast, yorkers of doom.
Two Histon warriors, Harry Wiles and Zak Anderson-Watt kindly offered to join proceedings, thereby giving us a full XI
Also, this is Ant's new car....
Jags started off with Parrish and Langley, and both got off to an absolute flyer. Despite Sharks opening with two of their strongest bowlers, Jeeva and their own Zak we raced to 39-0 from 4. Parrish looked in fine touch and Langley re-commenced his glorious biffing action from the previous week. Some sharp running, a couple of beautiful boundaries on the leg side and a lovely offside 4 set the Jags well on their way to a good start.
Sharks decided to change things up with the 5th over, sending on an "academy" find, Will. He had quite possibly the longest run up that has ever been seen in cricket, almost starting his run sitting on the seats near the boundary. He was tidy though, and after going for a 4, he extracted revenge from the free hitting Tobias, putting one nicely on a length to move away slightly to hit the top of middle and leg.
Fardell strolled out, and with this start, you would him to help the free scoring pace continue. You would be wrong. I managed to go a whole 9 balls without scoring, and looked more at sea than Captain Pugwash. Still Matt was playing well, and he absolutely leathered a glorious 6 on this way to a rapid fire 25*. Coslett strolled out to try and not do what Fardell was doing. Briefly leg byes, byes and a couple off the bat were scored, but then Coslett backed away to a full one that turned, didn't offer a shot, and was bowled top of off. Parrish on the sidelines was describing Fardell as the Jags Dom Sibley. Cheers, Matt.
Did I mention it was hot, God it was so hot one of my contact lenses shrivelled up in my eye and I played most of the rest of the game with blurred vision.
Coslett's departure to the dangerous Sumit bought the debutant Zak to the crease. He gave due respect to the dangerous spin bowler first up, and after getting his eye in, absolutely creamed a straight drive back past the bowler to the long off boundary. It was a shot that demanded field changes, and Sharks duly obliged. Footwork was present in abundance, and actual cricket shots were played, a lovely late cut, and some excellent running in the murderous heat, contributed to a very respectable 78-2-10 half way score.
I eventually retired, and I think maybe I should retire - after edging a slow ball cross batted past the missing slip, hitting one ball twice, missing a spin ball that missed everything, and getting dropped scoring the single that got me to 25* precisely. I believe I ran 10 2's, and only one of them came from my bat.
Cob joined Zak for a bit, but was run out in highly unfortunate circumstances. Chasing a difficult second, his bat bounced as he tried to ground it, sending him tumbling, but unfortunately in an airborne fashion. This bough the other debutant Harry to the crease. He played some sublime shots and showed some absolutely excellent running acumen, to push the score along. One legside 4 off the pads was played with such timing it seemed effortless, yet sped to the boundary for 4, bi-secting fielders and appearing to pick up pace as it went.
Zak went well bowled to a very good ball from Pat towards the death for a well made 23. Will and Harry astutely ran and pushed the field, to get the Jags to a very competitive 151-4.
Jags opened the bowling with Sir William of Longstanton once more, and Zak at the other end. Combining rangy pace with wily spin to help keep things thought provoking for the batsmen. Once more the Jags were trying a defensive in-out field, feeling confident in the total and trusting their bowlers to keep their lines. The energy in the field was, once more, absolutely excellent, with lots of hustle and chatter helping keep the scoring rate low to start. The only aberration was an early moon ball that Rammers duly dispatched for 6.
Fielding pressure brings suicidial tendencies, and despite a promising opening partnership, Ralph the other opener (in the book as Captain Darling, an absolutely brilliant nickname) tried a hasty single to a nudged ball off Will. Will swooped on the ball, picked it up in one motion, and threw down the stumps with an underarm direct hit leaving Darling disappointed.
This bought Jeeva to the crease and a period of more freely hit balls ensued, with Rammers retiring on 28* after a typically brutal innings. Harry and Mann were the bowling changes. The fielding continued with aplomb, Parrish was lively, Cob was diligent and focussed behind the stumps, and Langley, Zak, Coslett, Cam and even Mr Tom Parker gave some excellent efforts in the field to keep the pressure on.
Harry bowled with control, with something North of military medium, but more importantly accuracy and some lateral movement. Mann bowled with his joyous action, all guile and style, - suggesting a gentleman who could have played at the highest level, were it not for his lifestyle predelictions of fine wine, food and women, and travel to Spain for sun worship. He managed to extract one batsman with a decent ball hoiked to Zak at short square leg. Harry's control managed to extract a golden duck from the next batsman, and Harry was then hauled off to be saved for the death overs, having manifestly earnt it with an economic and accurate spell.
Jags looked good at the turn, with Sharks 69-3-10 with Harry having two in the hopper.
This brought Mr Tom Parker into the attack. He bowled with, generally, very good control across a 4 over spell, which apart from one full toss dispatched for 6, helped tie down the scoring. Mann continued, irrepresible as ever and with more fine fielding, we found ourselves looking at 107-3-15, and a rate of over 8 required seeming comfortable with the fielding that had been seen so far. Harry returned to help us through the final 3 overs, alongside Tom P.
Then with things under control, and a fine fielding performance under our belts, we thought, fuck it, let's make this interesting. Sumit and Marc put on a good partnership for the Sharks (although Marc tried a truly bizarre reverse sweep at one point for no reason) and Tom and Harry bowled well, but an ill advised attempt at a direct hit run out, some dubious backing up, and a few mix ups in the field left the Sharks in with a chance, needing 19 off the last over.
Here comes trouble.
A dot was followed by two fours, one leg side and the other I can't recall, leaving 11 needed for the win from 3 balls. 4 byes then somehow crept through everything. 7 needed from 2. 2 runs scored. 5 needed from one. The field spread, glory beckoned. Then, drama. A wide was given when we thought it was a dot. 4 needed from one ball. The batsmen could only earn single leaving them 2 runs short. Prince Harry had seen us through.
Again a great fielding performance, lovely debuts from Zak and Harry and a brief attempt to spike our own guns, it was a satisfying win which could have gone either way.
It also weren't half hot Mum.
We tried to go to some local pubs, but the heat had clearly tempted everyone out, so people had to decamp to the Waggon and Horses in Milton instead.
Also, here is a picture of Cam's finger, showing the level of fielding commitment that has been demonstrated in our short season to date.
This proves that, A) Cam is well hard; and B) Jags are committed in the field. Respect.
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