Scorecard

St Edward's Martyrs v Cryptics Cricket Club on Sun 16 Jul 2023 at 1130
Match was Drawn

Match report At the start of the day the Cryptics had 12 and the Martyrs had 9 (on paper). A renegotiation saw the twenty folk who did turn up divide into two teams of 10 with Sam Jones and the Cryptics Match Manager crossing the floor to the other changing room. The toss was more of a demand than a negotiation, let alone a physical spinning of the coin - the Martyrs would bat said Ruairi. William Wilkins cordially accepted. After the last two years when the players have wilted in the high temperatures, things were milder in Oxford on this occasion and the game would be interrupted by about four or five rain showers which saw the groundsman pushing the covers on and off to ensure that the pitch remained playable throughout. As in the past, the Martyrs innings was something of a runfest. After a steady start where Bertie Bennett Jones was rewarded with his one scalp, Hyman, an outstanding catch by Junaid Aziz over his right shoulder at slip, things started to accelerate. Two crucial missed catches cost the Cryptics dearly and it was a long time before the wickets window on the scoreboard would change. Not a great day to be a bowler, especially with only ten on the field to plug the gaps. Adam Morris got the only wicket when Turner edged to Liam Harrington behind the stumps for 94 with the score on 183. A few overs later, as players fled to the shelter of the pavilion under another steady shower, Ruairi Willis decided to declare with the score on 210-2 after only 29.3 overs. The Cryptics would get just over 40 overs subject to further rain showers so a very generous declaration.
The innings was opened by signings from Oxenford CC. Ayyaz Mallick and Junaid Aziz made a lively start against the lively pace of Hyman before the former edged on to his stumps. Tarun Eapen was dropped at gully but the very next ball could only watch as the ball ballooned off the shoulder of his bat and into the hands of Marsh who had only just dropped him the ball before. 24-2 and the run rate was dropping in the face of tight bowling lines. Niall Keown joined Junaid and they corrected the decline with a seventy run partnership which took us into the last twenty overs. Niall had been dropped several times in somewhat comedic fashion but luck ran out as he holed out off Trowbridge for a handsome 37. The shower that followed reduced the overs left but some forceful negotation with the umpires ensured that the loss of only three overs, rather than the ten they wanted, would keep the game alive for the last hour. Bertie Bennett-Jones joined Junaid whose patient 30 at this point was anchoring the innings. Bertie was less patient and the two plundered 80 runs in the next eleven overs to keep the prospect of matching the Martyrs total alive. Bertie was the first to fall to Archie Blanchard who had only bowled one over last year and saved the day for the Martyrs in the final over. Liam Harrington's sojourn was too brief, ended when he spooned the ball to Willis off Blanchard. Twenty six runs were still needed in five overs and getting Junaid on or off strike depending on your colours was key to the closing stages. He made it to his chanceless century in the penultimate over but just could not clear the ropes in the few balls remaining him. It has to be said that Sam Jones and Chris Ward, playing for the Martyrs had a part to play as the ball seemed to follow them around the field and no quarter was given as they stopped everything they could. Similar to the Ashes game in Southampton, a six was required off the final ball, bowled again by Blanchard and Junaid launched the ball most of the way to deep mid wicket but not far enough. The deficit of three runs meant an honourable draw but a finish to the match the excitement at Southampton and Wimbledon.
There was a strong sense pervading this game that everyone wanted to play a good and indeed entertaining game of cricket and this was done in a great spirit. The Martyrs could have tied us down and dragged out a slow and lingering death perhaps but Ruairi kept the game alive with some imaginative captaincy which was appreciated by all and it was good to see that the Cryptics accepted the gesture and kept chasing.

St Edward's Martyrs Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 3w 2b 2lb 
for 2 wickets
8
210 (29.3 overs)		     
E.Hyman ct  Aziz b. Bennett-Jones 13 17 19 1 1 68.42
A. Turner ct  Harrington b.Morris 94 115 80 13 117.50
J.Marsh Not Out  89 109 69 13 1 128.99
H.Trowbridge Not Out  6 12 10 60.0
R.Willis  
A.Blanchard  
C.Everett  
R.Hicks  
S.Jones  
C.Ward  
   

Cryptics Cricket Club Cryptics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Bertie Bennett-Jones9.0134134.003.78
William Wilkins3.002400.008.00
Marcus Ward7.005800.008.29
Adam Morris8.0051151.006.38
Lucas Pugh4.303900.008.67

Cryptics Cricket Club Cryptics Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 3w 5b 2lb 
for 5 wickets
11
208		        
Ayyaz Mallick b  Hyman 12 22 19 63.16
Junaid Aziz Not Out  104 167 127 12 81.89
Tarun Eapen ct  Marsh b. Hyman 0 8 8 0
Niall Keown ct  Hyman b.Trowbridge 37 47 37 4 100
Bertie Bennett-Jones ct  Hicks b.Blanchard 38 40 38 4 100
Liam Harrington ct  Willis b.Blanchard 1 7 4 25.00
Marcus Ward Not Out  5 17 12 41.67
William Wilkins  
Adam Morris  
Lucas Pugh  
A.N. Other  

St Edward's Martyrs Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Hyman8.021226.001.50
Hicks6.021700.002.83
Trowbridge10.0336136.003.60
Jones3.002900.009.67
Willis8.006000.007.50
Marsh5.002000.004.00
Blanchard4.0027213.506.75
UA-68987171-1