While England were pulling off an astonishing victory at Headingly the Cryptics were close to winning at Hampstead...but actually lost! Cricket was the winner etc etc. This match was first played in 1912 and is the fixture which the Cryptics Cricket Club has played more times than any other. The fixture has always epitomised the spirit of cricket and certainly did so today. Mark Williams officiated at a ground where he scored several hundreds for the Club. Thanks to him and to the super-efficient Hampstead scorer Dierdre Skinner and to Hampstead CC for their excellent hospitality. (We especially appreciated the equanimity which their Australian groundsman showed notwithstanding the events at Headingly. Maybe he had had a quiet flutter on England which eased the pain of defeat?)

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