The wrong trousers

Harrow Wanderers 135 lost to Old Cranleighans 136 for 4 by six wickets
A Harrow side, young, keen but soaking wet behind the ears provided no trouble for an OC side captained by Rick Johnson in what was a significant mismatch. From the moment that it became apparent that the opposition had about six pairs of white trousers between the ten of them, it was obvious that OCs should bat if they won the toss. Johnson, who had negotiated first the later start and then a 40-over-per-side game so that he could get away for dinner, fielded.


Chaos struck with the first ball where the Harrow opener inexplicably called through his partner for a suicidal single when the ball had gone straight to Rob Merry at midwicket. 0-1 with the captain and probably best bat back in the hutch. Number 3 came out with a mongoose bat and some lofty aspirations. James Bennet dropped him first ball off Ed Henderson in the gully and buried his face in the ground as he was reminded of his eagerness to field in that position. Merry then dropped the same batsman before Johnson decided against making any attempt to go for an eminently catchable chance as the batsman hit his way to a lusty fifty and, for the sake of the game, it was lucky he did.

Henderson picked up a couple of cheap wickets before the Houston brothers got into the act. Ian, bowling with a round arm and plenty of variation, bamboozled all of the Harrow men.

Bowled out for 135, Michael Chetwode and Henry Watkinson, neither of whom bowled on account of their being permitted to opening the batting, set about achieving the target. Well, one of them did. Chetwode departed first ball trying to hit a loopy spinner into Notcutts. Watkinson and Andy Houston then took OC's home with minimal fuss.