Jags 131-6 (Brolia 28*, Hopper 28*, Parrish 27*, Clarke 2-22) beat Deloitte 123-7 (Baker 17*, Walker 15*, Doyle 15, Tyler 2-13, Philips 2-22) by 8 runs
Spoiler alert, we didn't draw this one.
The Jags have been playing Deloitte since our first season in 2011. Jagex - our alma mater, used to use Deloitte as one of our accounting firms, so they treated us to a lovely game of cricket once a year, some M and S sandwiches and snacks and the occasional adult beverage. It has always been a fun fixture, and this one was played at Queens.
I love Queens - it's just such a wonderful place to play cricket, just walking to the side of the pitch feels like we're digging for victory during the Blitz and seeing off Jerry at the same time.
You had me at M and S club sandwich
Jags won the toss (well fucking done, skip) and decided to bat first. Parrish and and Barker started things going. It was another week of contrasting opening bowlers, with one medium and accurate and the other left arm over loopy and slow. More on this anon. Both were quickly into their strides, with Parrish hitting a couple of lovely on side drive/pull shots. Barker managed to take one opener on early, hitting him straight back over his head to both sides for some nice scoring shots. Jags started, as we do, quickly and with purpose.
Barker looked well set, but was deceived by a slower ball and chipped it high into the air, where it was well snaffled. Fardell strolled to the crease, watched a wide past his leg stump then was pinned LBW to the slowest most depressing and un-threatening ball I think I've ever got out to (left arm loopy and slow). The less said the better. Hopper had been elevated to the lofty heights of 4 and quickly joined Matt in keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Deloitte had plenty of bowling, various in types, but pretty consistently good it must be said.
Parrish almost fell to backward square hoicking high, but the fielder quite clearly did not fancy it at all and let it fall to ground. Hopper, fresh from his run out last week, decided that vocal communication with his batting partner was the order of the day. Parrish retired - did you ever doubt I would be saying that - and Hopper was extremely briefly partnered by Coslett. Coslett sadly hit his own stumps and had to stroll off. The less said of this the better.
Brolia and Hopper then set about it. I recall some good running from Hopper, some good shot making from Ant to the leg side, and a nice partnership feel to proceedings. It was a crucial phase as, after a good start, the Jags had lost a couple of wickets in short order and slowed a bit, so pushing on was really important to set a good total. Ant hit one checked drive that I quite liked, and Hopper finished with 2,6,4 - absolutely spanking the leather from one to make absolutely sure he retired.
Cob joined proceedings briefly. He looked as hungover as a man could look. His first shot, a sweep.... missed the ball and he was bowled. The less said about this the better. Phillips hustled for a bit, Ant retired from a well crafted innings, and then Will walked in - absolutely spanked one to deep square leg, and was caught. 4 lovely ducks in this innings, Jags. A few batsmen have some questions to answer. Also, Will always seems to get out hitting a glorious massive shot that is somehow magnetically attracted to a fielder deep on the boundary.
Sap kept Phillips company for a bit - but Phillips then did the wrong thing, he hit an on drive really well to long on. The fielder caught it nicely and was then heard to exclaim to his assembled team mates, "that's my first ever catch in cricket". Phillips, you managed to pop someone's cherry... you dirty dog.
Sap was joined by Tyler for the last few overs, and they both did really well. Strong bowling was on display, but good running, nice shot placement, and a gorgeous drive from Tyler helped us get to a a modest but defendable 131.
Jags had three options for keeper tonight. Cob was too hungover to do it. Phillips is just so so so annoying behind the stumps. So Parrish took the gloves, prepping for his game at the weekend for the 2's. Yeah, whatever skip.
The Jags bowling started well, Will was his normal high and mighty self from one end, but Tyler was really on it tonight. His first over only went for two, and his constant energy and pressure paid off well. The second over was really quite a doozy, venom and aggression on full display and it got the wicket it deserved, a batsman trying to release the shackles hoicked it high into the air. Sap settled and held on really well. Nice early breakthrough.
Will somehow went wicket-less through this period, but his bowling was mostly very good, with the occasional piece of rank filth thrown in for good measure. Fielding quality was also very high tonight. Tyler carried on with direct aggression and was further rewarded with one of the two best wickets tonight, bowled with an absolutely gorgeous full length yorker, full of intent, absolutely destroying off stump.
Then we had a moment to savour for the ages. Will bowled, the batsman hit it to mid on, and Barker mis-fielded. Ant ran... no fuck that... he sprinted, to cover for his team mate. Like quickly and stuff. It was like, what... who the fuck are you dude?!
Deloitte were really struggling to score here: the bowling was good, the fielding was good (including Ant), and some of the banter was ok. It was a rare evening for the Jags.
Will and Tyler had to step out of the attack as they had bowled the allotted amount. Ant stepped in and his bowling was, erm... the first over was crap. Only some generous umpiring meant he went for 6 in the book. Sap bowled nicely for an opening spell, seeing one caught taking him on. At the other end Ant tightened his lines second over and a full dipping fast yorker saw off one batsman. It was really quite a ball; I have no idea how you play a ball like that.
Jags were well ahead here, so we had the fun times. Phillips in to bowl. He is normally a keeper; something of a loudmouth. His bowling was actually pretty solid. He bowled 5 decent balls in his first over, but he got a wicket with the 6th, and oh my god it was absolute filth. Half track, if that, no bounce, batsmen tried to score and Will took it nicely. We all still think he's a plonker though, and it was a wicket not to celebrate.
Sap had bowled well, and got another wicket with an edged behind, well taken by the skipper, and I must say generously conceded by the batsman. The other things to note at this point were some fine fielding, some good banter (one batsman had squeaky pads and WD40 suddenly became funny chat), and some brilliant boundary riding by Tyler, who has an arm on him, mark my words. Most of the banter was directed at Phillips though, including some by himself to himself.
Barker came in to take over from Sap, and bowled some nice lines. Tommy Hopper didn't field everything perfectly, but mostly otherwise, this was nice and solid. I managed to Matrix swerve some balls hit at me in the interests of saving my good looks, but it didn't matter at this point as Deloitte were well short coming to the final over.
A nice game, pleasant evening, too many ducks, but some cracking bowling and fielding from Tyler, some excellent batting from Matt, Tommy and Ant and a, dare I say, disciplined performance, saw us home.
Pub attendance was Jags only, although we were luckily joined by the irrepressible Steve Mann.
Ant is busy...
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