Report by Daniel Mortlock:
The lead-up to this game was just the usual sequence of e-mails between the relevant organisers, James Houlder for FAS and Daniel Mortlock for Remnannts, but things took a slightly strange turn when James tried to recruit the Remnants captain to play against his own team:
James:
I hope this email finds you well?
I just want to confirm that we're good for 5th July.
Is this date still good with you guys?
Also, will you be available for FAS selection?
Daniel: If you can get eleven without too much bother than I was going to play for Remnants, but if it's a struggle then I'll happily come into the FAS side as Remnants shouldn't be troubled for numbers.
James:
Just a quick one about the remnants game - as predicted, I am struggling i
a bit for players, so if you could help out and play for us,
that would be great.
Am thinking of a D. Mortlock - H. Houlder opening batting combination!
Daniel: Hmmm, I'd assumed that you didn't need me as I hadn't heard from you ... and we're not doing brilliantly on numbers either (ten confirmed, which would go down to nine if I switched over). How many (and who) do you have at the moment?
James: I'm struggling quite badly now, since Cliff pulled out on Wednesday, and Mike and David Harrop on Saturday afternoon, so I'm now down to eight confirmed, with a ninth potential but not confirmed. Only a handful of real cricketers there - am assuming David Norman is playing for you again this year?
Daniel: No, he's not - that was some slightly strange habit Geoff had gotten into ... but if I switch over to FAS and then Dave plays for Remnants that will probably result in a fairly even match as we have also had several of our better players drop out as well. I'm yet to find out if Dave's free, but overall I think that's the best solution.
Daniel: I can play for FAS on Tuesday ... but at the cost of Dave Norman coming in for Remnants. So hopefully that means ten, which is at least basic operating numbers.
James: That's great, thanks for confirming, it's much appreciated! I'll stand by my promise of an opening batting berth, and you'll get a good bowl too.
Come match day, James was good to his word and, having won the toss, sent out the slightly unusal opening pair of Daniel and Harry Houlder. Harry did the right thing, racing to 18 off 13 balls before being hit on the pads and triggered, whereas Daniel repaid his skipper's faith in him by scoring just a single from his first 8 balls. Fortunately, after another wicket, FAS first-timer Oliver Silverton came in at number 4 to sort things out. He hit first two balls to the boundary and, well, just kept hitting boundaries. He finished up on 110* off just 54 balls, with 14 fours and 4 sixes, the fastest ever FAS innings. Thus shamed into action, Daniel eventually got going as well, although his innings of 62* off 51 balls (with 9 fours and a six) was made to look pedestrian in comparison. Still, the partnership worked to the tune of 149* off 84 balls, the fastest century partnerhsip in club history.
Even with Dave Norman in the Remnants side we felt optimistic about our ability to defend 200 in 20 overs, and rightly so. Joe White (1/13), Tom Hall (1/20), Fark Kara (1/??) and R. Sloane (1/21) all did their bit, but the star was another first-timer, Phil Robinson, who took 3/17 including the prize wicket of Mr Norman, bowled for just 3. By the time we'd reduced Remnants to 79/7 the game was over, and we rather took our foot off the pedal, allowing their 8th wicket pair to take them intro triple figures and the realm of respectability.