Happy Histon Friendly

 Jaguars (Parrish 45*, Ant 26*, Cam!!!!! 17, Adrian 3-2, Jos 25-2) 145-7 beat Histon Invitational XI (Murray Christie 25*, Ant 7-2, Will 20-2) 120-8 by 25 runs

I'm sorry gents, but writing this match report, the scorebook such as I have it seems to have been largely written in pencil by a child with limited digit control.

This is a new fixture for us, and so so nice it was. The recent history of the Jags has been largely intertwined with the history of Histon. Many of our players are also Histon regulars, we've played on their pitch, and it is such a middle class slice of English happiness that I bought a house here. The weather was wondrous, kids playing at the rec, gentle setting evening sun, actual spectators, all one needed was a picnic and some Pimms.

We were delighted to welcome Rosie Parrish and her parents to the assembled throng. Rosie is the real brains and talent behind Bots Up - https://botsupgame.com/ - a joint venture between Matt and Rosie. Matt did some of the grunt work, Rosie did the hard work, putting a lovely little card game out there for all the family. I digress.

Jags won the toss and chose to bat. Parrish and and Jones got us off to a cracking start, facing occasional, talented, Jag Tyler and a chap who has gone into the book as Gatsby... what, Gatsby...?! Tyler was bowling, as he does, very well, good lengths, good pace, angry and intimidating run up. Parrish got off a few early 4's and scoring was quick to start, as it often is with the Jags. Sadly a miscommunication saw Jones run out early to a solid piece of fielding. Phillips then joined Mr Parrish and hit a lovely 4 before being pinned LBW by Tyler, a decision no one even thought of questioning it was so plumb. Tyler had a fantastic evening bowling, all snarl and aggression, good pace, great lengths and real energy.

Ant joined Matt for a bit and Matt did his classic swish of the blade and showed how it was to be done, retiring on 25 in no time at all. Matt's father in law was on pitch to snap some pictures. Hold the pose, Parrish.

Ant and Fardell continued the accumulation at a clipped pace. Ant seems to have been recently been possessed by the spirit of Alastair Cook when batting, hitting actual cricket shots and looking measured and composed at the crease. I was greeted on entrance to the field by the umpire saying, "he can't drive, pack the leg side field, back foot only". Which is all true, but I thought the umpire was supposed to be neutral?! Sure enough, I hit a few back foot shots before guiding one to backward square.

Will joined Ant for a bit. Ant did a genuine, intentional, nudge off the hips for 4... Will hit a few nice shots before hitting an aerial one that was magically snaffled one handed at mid on. Then came one of the highlights of this, or any, evening. Cam out to bat. Before he strolled out he asked if he should wear his sunglasses batting or not. A few of us said, no, it might make the bowlers angry, so he gingerly put them on the table and walked out - asking if he looked ok on his way.

Ant said something to Cam in the middle, and whatever it was, Cam proceeded to hit 2 consecutive 4's, which I think Ant can take some credit for. He was swinging and walloping and hitting all sorts of things, it was a delight to watch.

Eyes on the ball, Cam. Ant retired, and that bought everyone's favourite janitor to the crease, Cob. He sweeps like Groundskeeper Willie. It doesn't matter where you bowl, or what sport you are playing, Cob is sweeping. Cam and Cob kept a... measured.. scoring pace for a while. Inching towards something resembling a partnership. They faced a lot of balls together from Mellish and Adrian, who I gather might be related. One of them bowled a maiden... when does that happen?! Cam eventually was bowled, bringing out Tyler. Tyler swung, missed and was bowled - it was that stage of the game. Saptak then joined the fun for a bit, hitting a lovely 4, before being bowled.

The score was a touch behind par at this stage, but cometh the hour cometh the man - Parrish, strolling back in from retirement. Cob was still there. Still sweeping. Parrish went, swish, run, swish, run, and in no time at all he was at 45 not out with the Jags on a competitive total of 145-7.

Here is a picture of Cob, not sweeping. Put it on your wall. It is more valuable than a Banksy.

The Jags got started in good style, opening with Ant and Will. Ant had clearly supersized his lunch, as he was vicious. Everything was full, fast and skiddy. I was impressed the batsmen kept him at bay for so long, to be honest. Will was his normal self - tall, quiet assassin that he is. Scoring was slow for Histon. Will then got one of the openers caught, I think. Ant secured an LBW and then bowled the returning Jones with an absolute Jaffa Cake of a ball. Tyler and Sap had good spells, securing a couple more wickets, caught and bowled. 

The Jags were a touch light on bowling, so some variety was on show. One of my three highlights of the evening was Murray Christie coming out to bat for Histon. He is short, by my goodness is great to watch. Foot movement, technique, an ability to pierce the field. An absolute cut above anything else on display this evening. Sap bowled a twirly spell and had the best hair on the pitch.

Parrish and Phillips took bowling duties for a period and traded insults between overs. Cob was generally pretty solid behind the stumps, with some decent chat as well. Ant criticised him at pretty much every ball, mind. Each of Parrish and Phillips got a wicket. One of the wickets was an absolute worldy of a catch from Cob - right mitt thrusted into the air at just the right moment; the pleasant thud as it hit the glove and the sudden realisation that it has stuck bringing elation.

There was some dodgy fielding, including by yours truly, but Histon were not chasing the total down, despite Murray Christie's best efforts. So Parrish turned to Cam for a bowl, and it was pretty bad, but nowhere near as bad as my over, the death over, where pins were pulled and hand grenades were tossed, sort of in the general direction of the batsmen. 

A thoroughly pleasant evening was rounded off by some light refreshment at the Red Lion.