Captain’s XI (239 and 179/4 dec.) beat Vice Captain’s XI (189 and 86) by 142 runs
Pre-Season already? It feels odd to actually play cricket so soon after nets have finished – instead of CICC’s usual 6 week wait from nets to first game when any modicum of touch and form is long gone. But anyway, let us not digress from what is a summary of a CICC first, and assured to be long-standing, pre-season trip to Leckford for a weekend of intra-club cricket, cocktails, quizzes and smoked meat. After the success of last year’s end of season tour down to the sunny Hampshire countryside, the club decided to bid adieu to the previous ritual of Goodrich and embark on a new chapter of amateurish preparation for our friendly cricket season.
With the now standard Friday evening routine of dinner at the Mayfly, flowing drinks (of all varieties thanks to a Mr J. Smith), the dark amble back to the ground and the questionable assembling of tents in the dark half-cut (thankfully with the aid of the headlights of a Fiat 500) – the scene was set for another glorious display of cricket. Play began promptly at 10.47am, with the Captain’s XI led by Matt Goodman opting to bat, and Steve Smith’s Vice Captains XI in the field.
With the sun initially illusive and conditions blustery (or as it reads in the scorebook ’windy as f***’) the Captains XI opening pair of C. Taylor and E. Gregory (37) started the innings well, demonstrating some assured shot making to take the score to 87. Enter P. Eliot from the Vineyard end, who proceeded to inform the umpire ‘I haven’t bowled in three years’. This was followed by a beautiful spell of leg spin that reduced the Captain’s XI to 131 for 5. Some lusty lower order hitting from Captain Goodman (28) and the serene progress of C. Taylor – devastatingly losing his middle stump for 97 – meant the Captain’s XI finished on 239. P. Eliot the pick of the bowlers with 11-2-54-5.
Following lunch and libations, the VC’s got off to a rocky start, falling to 23-3 thanks to some (surprisingly) sharp catching from T. Rich and (not a proper) Dr Clack. Resistance came in the form of J. Lynch (30) and J Stern (27) before the first real moment of Village cricket resulted in the first CICC run out of the season. J Smith (10) calling through J Pandya (0) for a quick single only to send him back with the now infamous call of ‘Yes, Yes, CANCEL, CANCEL’. This however brought together a stubborn final wicket partnership between T. Bage (21*) and P. Eliot (32), putting on runs and pushing the overs late into the first day. With the final over rolling around and the teams gasping for evening refreshments, it was left to (not a proper) Dr. Clack to use his golden arm for the first time in the day. As if by divine justice, the first ball went up, came down with snow on it, turned a mile and ripped into middle and off. It was truly a fitting end to a fantastic first day which left the Captain’s XI with a 50-run lead after the first innings.
With the cricket over, the serious work of drinking commenced and a steady flow of Aperol Spritz, beer and wine were consumed with haste to wash down an incredible feast whipped up by Dad (M. Goodman) in the now-arrived smoker. A fantastic quiz put together by stand-in CICCQM T. Bage and some out-of-nowhere rounds of beer pong saw the club enjoy the night away.
As the sun rose on Sunday, tired and sore heads slowly emerged to another delicious culinary exploit from M. Goodman of blueberry pancakes and bacon as it dawned on everyone that another day of running/bowling/batting/fielding and umpiring was upon all our aching bodies. With breakfast and coffee consumed, Captain’s XI set-out to build a quick, defendable lead to bring a result before close of play. (not a proper) Dr Clack (52) looked resolute opening the batting, and with support from M. Dollin (34), E. Gregory (38) and M. Goodman (24) – lunch rolled around and a declaration came in to set-up the final session of the tour with VC’s XI needing to chase 230 to win. Quick wickets started the reply as a finger sandwich and scone-inspired opening spell for E. Gregory (4-1-9-2) brought the score to 15-3. L. Crowley (16) and J. Lynch (11) again brought middle-order resistance but ultimately the up-and-down nature of the pitch brought wickets. VC’s XI did well to take a game deep and the final wicket partnership was still standing strong as the clock rolled around to 4pm. The partnership was broken however by one that kept low to J. Pandya (it’s a cruel game – see Cancel run out above) and with that brought victory to the Captain’s XI, who won by 144 runs.
The two days provided a fantastic, friendly run-out for the whole club and kicked off what is sure to be a fantastic season for the club in celebrating its 25 years of bringing friendly, nomadic cricket to all corners of London (not just Clapham). I can extend everyone’s thanks to Matt for organising another great outing to Leckford and to Maddie and Robin who worked magic behind the scenes to keep the weekend on track.
Toby Rich, CICC Social Committee / Mixologist
