Scorecard

The Stragglers of Asia CC v Cryptics Cricket Club on Sun 07 Jun 2026 at 11.30
Match was Drawn Drawn

Match report Another fine contest against the Stragglers of Asia who in the last encounter had triumphed by just one wicket. Both sides were short of players and it became Stragglers X v Cryptics IX the latter led by Alan Nichols on the day. In the event, the Stragglers bowled five more balls than the Cryptics and ended up two runs short of our total - a good declaration in anyone's book though there was some confusion about when the last hour should start. The Cryptics innings was built around two sizeable innings. Junaid Aziz had arrived from the USA that morning - had he not been sent into bat he may just have slept. But for someone who had not slept properly for over 24 hours, we can perhaps forgive him the smallest of lapses that left him short of a remarkable century when he was caught for 92. Alan Nichols had joined Junaid when the score was 99-5 (we only had 8 to lose). Given the amount of sleep he had probably had, it is perhaps not surprising that his run rate eclipsed his partner's. Their century stand took the Cryptics to 199. Perhaps fearing the competence of the remaining partners (Ward Snr and Elstone), Nichols made haste to double his score to reach his hundred at what transpired to be the midpoint of the game. There was some chuntering about how long the Cryptics were batting but it was clearly for just the right time.
The Stragglers started more steadily against the fearsome pace of Evan Thomas and Tom Elstone. Charlie Reece was caught by Alan Nichol off Tom Elstone with the score on 45 but Shiv Bist, playing for the first time in England since his arrival from India enjoyed harvesting runs with Tony Hooper as the Stragglers climbed to 118 before Bist edged behind off Dom Scott. Not long after Hooper was safely pouched by Charlies Rawlins at cover off Marcus Ward and the Stragglers were tottering on 136-3. They did not totter for very long as Ian Salter and Paddy McDuell amassed valuable runs to take the Stragglers within sight of the target. This ominous partnership was broken by Alan Nichol who drew agreement from the umpire for his LBW appeal against McDuell. Scott toiled away for an impressive 126 over spell. His next scalp Calder was again caught behind with the score on 226. With twenty four runs needed to win and three wickets in hand, the dangerous Salter stepped out to put Scott into the trees again but the ball was pushed wider and he was stumped for 60. Dom would strike twice more with an LBW and an edge behind but could not grab the last wicket in the final over as the Stragglers chose to close out safely.
An abiding post match image must be the sight of the Cryptics combing the outfield for Ed Montague's missing wedding ring - a wonderful demonstration of abiding teamwork. Although unsuccessful on the evening, it was good to learn that they were reunited later than week.

Cryptics Cricket Club Cryptics Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2w 13b 2lb 
for 6 wickets
17
264		        
Edward Montague b A.Cale 19
Junaid Aziz ct Reece b.Salter 92
Charlie Rawlins lbw b. Cale 0
Dom Scott ct Shivarpit Bist b.McDuell 10
Evan Thomas ct Calder b. McDuell 0
Marcus Ward ct Salter b.Pollock-Hill 10
Alan Nichols Not Out  102
Chris Ward Not Out  14
Tom Elstone  
A.N. Other  
A. Guest1  

The Stragglers of Asia CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Dawson7.002300.003.29
Cale11.0242221.003.82
McDuell8.0221210.502.63
Shivarpit Bist4.019000.000.00
Pollock-Hill9.0071171.007.89
Calder4.001900.004.75
Salter5.5054154.009.26

The Stragglers of Asia CC Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
9w 5b 3lb 
for 8 wickets
17
262 (48.0 overs)		     
C.Reece ct Nichols b. Elstone 13
Shivarpit Bist ct C.Ward b Scott 62
T.Hooper ct Rawlins b. M.Ward 48
P.McDuell lbw b.Nichols 27
I.Salter st C.Ward b. Scott 60
T.Calder ct C.Ward b. Scott 8
E.Middleton lbw b.Scott 10
A.Cale Not Out  16
R.Pollock-Hill ct C.Ward b.Scott 1
D.Dawson Not Out  0
ANOther  

Cryptics Cricket Club Cryptics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Tom Elstone8.0147147.005.88
Evan Thomas8.014000.005.00
Marcus Ward8.0050150.006.25
Dom Scott16.0270514.004.38
Alan Nichols8.0047147.005.88
UA-68987171-1