Great Canfield CC.

Report vs Great Canfield CC

Match Report
Date 03/05/26 
Oppo Great Canfield (a)
Type 35 Overs
Report by Jack Sparrow

The Os arrived at Great Canfield still searching for their first win of the season. 

A change of skipper as Ian Richardson prepared for his 70th birthday it was the unelected Jack Baker-Merry who lead the O’s on a pleasant afternoon 
in Essex. 

JBM took his role seriously walking out to toss up with club blazer and cap having inspected the pitch - which didn’t help as he informed his troops 
he’d lost the toss and they would be having a bowl in this 35 over game. 

Alan Syrett opened and delivered a very good spell picking up 1-17 off his 7 overs during which John Hayes (1-43) made the breakthrough with a smart 
run out as both openers were caught at the same end. 

The ever reliable Danny Whittam picked up a smart stumping off Syrett and catch off Hayes with Great Canfield struggling at drinks having slowly crept 
up to 58-3. 

Ansar Hussain (0-40) came on as first change after much deliberation deciding which end he’d prefer. Sadly he made the wrong decision with Hariram 
getting stuck in punishing the Os with a few quick boundaries.  

At the other end Matt Hiscock came on with a handy spell of 1-30 off his 7 as Great Canfield continued to get the scoreboard moving. 

Captain Jack started calculating all sorts of algorithms in his head only to declare “I’ve screwed this up” acknowledging he’d messed up the overs and 
would require someone to lob a few up. 

Arise Stefan Minkey…..The Minkster not lacking confidence said “Leave it to me Skip”. Minks set every fielders precise  position with many told they 
needed to shift an inch to the left or right. With everyone set, Minkeybaby ran in and bowled 3 overs for 26 which wasn’t as bad as the scorebook 
suggests doing a job for the team. 

Captain Jack brought himself on at the other end and delivered his best figures yet for LOSCC with 4-16 which included his 100th wicket for the club 
(According to Jack - Check it Danno) 

Great Canfield finished the innings 167-9 with a decent effort for the Os. 

Following a nice tea which included Pork Pie and a delicious chocolate cake, the Os opted for the trusted partnership of Sandeep Barot and Stefan 
Minkey to open the innings and they got the Os off to a good start before Barot was bowled for 32 after the Os had reached (59-1).

In came Alex Baker-Merry for his first appearance of the season who played some nice shots before being bowled by Priest for 10 and Minkey was adjudged 
LBW three balls later just as the bowler was running in.  Big Al with a trigger finger, in no doubt whatsoever the ball was likely to hit the pitch, 
Stef’s pad and onto the wicket. Easy decision and the Os now 77-3. In the pavilion Edgy was heard saying "I  wish he could run as fast as that".

Paul Elby once again delivered a fine knock cracking a few splendid shots to ease the tension as Mark Johnson played a smart role paddling a few runs 
behind square to keep the scoreboard ticking over with an important 46 run partnership. 

Meanwhile on the boundary, the O’s players were provided with a delightful mug of Chai Tea from Ansar. John Hayes sip by sip enjoying the delights of 
the sweet flavours of Ansar’s secret blend. 

Hariram came on after drinks and picked up two smart wickets of Johnson (15) and Elby (41) which left the task to Hiscock (27*) to see the Os over the 
line. A few boundaries and a hooked six from Matt (off 11yr old L Hariram) got the Os within touching distance and following a nervous edge for 4 from 
Captain Jacks first ball it was left to Hiscock to hit the winning runs as the O’s cruised to victory by 5 wickets with 3 overs to spare. 

The O’s returned to the changing room with excitement having finally chalked up their first victory of the season and Captain Jack delivered a speech on 
par with Winston Churchill, Martin Luther-King and John F Kennedy all rolled into one. 

“There is no weakness in this team now” he shouted. “We’ve rooted out the bad eggs” 

The O’s celebrated the victory in style with the hosts trying to lure the once again impressive Elby into their cricket week team. 

Back in Essex next weekend for a trip to The Ollie Buck Stadium - Galleywood. 

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© Dave Revell