There was a frightening hush around the ground as we lost our first wicket (1-0) on the 3rd ball of the match, our second wicket (2-1) on the last ball of the 5th over, our third wicket (3-2) on the last ball of the 6th over and our fourth (4-14) on the first ball of the 9th over. Will Pembroke watched all these goings on from the other end, and he himself was the 6th wicket, however by then he had managed to add a very useful 44 to the total, taking us to 84-6. Guest star Max Dunne made a skilful and measured 72 which advanced us to a reasonable total, and he was helped by Ben Higton (13) and skipper Joe Dorgan (51). The declaration score was a tad less than hoped for at 206 for 9 but by then 55.1 overs had elapsed.
The College, led by their talented skipper Joe Farndale, zoomed off to 91 runs before we could take a wicket, the first of three Sam Martin-Jenkins’ catches. Then they stuttered a little at 144 when two wicket fell and Query hopes were raised. Another two fell at 161 and 183 with 6 overs of the last 20 remaining – and there was just a glimmer of hope but Yusuf Khan had other ideas and started to hit the ball to all corners. The College strode home in 41.2 overs with 5 wickets in hand. We should praise our skipper Joe Dorgan for his leadership, bowling and batting, our super guest Max Dunne, George Leakey for his three wickets, George Elliott for his inspired wicket keeping and Dan Cutforth for flying in from Los Angeles to play.
Accolades to the College were directed at their skipper Joe F who batted and kept wicket so well; at their three bowlers Max Del Mar, Max Wyman and Charlie Brook who took 7 wickets between them but above all to Joe Farndale for being awarded the Cutforth Cup and the Player of the Match Award. Mrs Pat Cutforth was there to present the Cup, with her son Dan and grandson Charlie both playing, and we than her for the generous gift of the Cup.
Also huge thanks are due to Mike Bush and the College for their superb hospitality and generosity and for a very enjoyable day’s cricket.
