Archway Ladder

12th Jun 2018 - Alexandra Palace
Won by 4 runs - NRR = 0.2

With captain Andy Spurr indisposed this week due to a combination of work pressure and a hole in the knee (see last week's report), CIPA were forced to take on Archway Ladder in difficult circumstances.

As we emerged victorious, I shall provide Andy with some useful captaincy advice:

The Art of Captaincy
(may not be as popular as the Brearley original)

1. Ensure that most of your team arrive late (or very late Tom Fraser), thereby allowing a reasonable request to bat first.


2. Ensure that you only have 9 men (thanks England for arranging a game on the same day) so that you can freely select the Opposition's 12th Man.


3. Send out batsmen in random order but with considered look on face. Sit back and watch as they rattle up vast score. Attempt to sneak in at the end in hope of getting cheap runs and cement place for future games. Return disappointed.


4. Accept plaudits for "helping" the team to 155.


5. Allow bowlers to do their thing whilst fielding at deep midwicket (you have to trust them). Pat self on back when fielding is good and bowling is tight. Curse bowlers for bad deliveries and wides (can't set a field to those etc.).


6. Sit back and enjoy putting trust in bowlers as they guide you to 4 run victory.


7. Accept plaudits for "excellent" captaincy.


8. Retire to bar to explain how you did it all.

The Detailed Report

Strong start from Nick King and Bruce Torrence, rattling up the runs, in the face of an aggressive opening spell from the Ladder's tall pace bowler. After a quickfire 22 from Nick (caught pulling at wide mid-on) and 30 from Bruce (retired), Jon Bailey and Wahab, recruited from the Oppo, carried on the assault with a series of strong drives and hoicks to leg, each bring up their respective 30-odds. James Duffy and John Hull managed to finish the innings off against some tight bowling and deep set field with a lot of running of twos. CIPA finished their 20 overs on a very creditable 155-1 (3 retired).

Bruce and Ben Hunter started tidily against the openers, restricting them to few runs from the bat and a couple of extras. Replaced after 4 overs by debutant Theo Carter and Mark Dean, the runs off the bat were still kept down, but the number of wides increased. Generally tidy stuff from both with some good variation. Nick and Wahab replaced them after another 4 overs and also suffered at the hands of the wide police. After 10 overs, Ladder were 78-0 and bang on target to win. CIPA were not yet panicking. Nick finally made the breakthrough, bowling one opener. The number 3 also came and went quickly, caught well by Ben at mid on off Nick. With the other opener finally retiring in the 14th over, CIPA were starting to exert some control. Tom was providing excellent energy behind the stumps, preventing any additional extras from the wides (not always an easy task). With Duffy loose and ready to bowl, Nick and Wahab refused to flag and got through their full allotment of overs (keep it for another day, Duffy). With 55 required from the last 4 overs, CIPA were now on top. The returning Ben decided to make the game interesting and provided a raft of wides to help Ladder back into the game. Bruce followed suit with a delivery for 6 wides of his own. A better second over from Ben meant 17 were required from the last over. Bruce was confident. Even more so after the first ball was turned to midwicket for 1. And then perhaps less so as the next delivery was launched over square leg for 6. The following delivery was flashed through backward point for 4. 6 needed off 3. Skipper John Hull was now panicking! However, Bruce remained calm, bowling two dot balls, leaving 6 needed off the final ball. The batsman set himself, took an almighty heave at the ball and dragged it out to midwicket for a single.

A great finish to a very enjoyable game. The post-match beers were made sweeter by the appearance of crocked skipper Spurr to hear all about it.

© Copyright - Andy Spurr 2011-2023