St. Mary’s Select XI v Chatton CC

Thursday 18th June 

St. Mary’s select: Mr Campbell Scott, James C, Arthur SP, Will L, Geordie MC, Mary H, Magnus C, Tilly L, Mr Hugo Lee, Mr Russell Foster, Mr Ian Purvis 

St. Mary’s won by 3 wickets 

What a fabulous evening we had on Thursday at Chatton CC. Arriving in time to put the St. Mary’s Select XI through our paces and have a picnic tea, we started at 6pm. 

A few last-minute availability issues at Chatton CC saw our own James (gappy), Murray C & Philip C win selection and accompanied by Fred Leslie (FP, 2024) and Charlie Edwardson (FP, 2014), the Chatton XI were strong. I managed to win the toss (?) and after instruction from Mog & Will, decided to ask our hosts to bat. 

Perhaps slightly against his wishes, James was asked to open, alongside Fred. With a keeper, five slips, a gully, a silly mid-on and silly mid-off and short leg, we piled the pressure on James for the opening over. Will was given the ball. The first two balls James played and missed, much to the delight of the surrounding fielders. Ball three he chipped straight to Russell at mid-off and went sent off back to the pavilion to much cheer and adulation. The very next ball, Will bowled another corker and the ball was chipped straight back to him, so 2 in 2 with the score on 0. He didn’t get the hattrick but finished the first over with a double wicket maiden.  

We shared the bowling around over the next 19 overs with everyone bowling two. Chatton put on a decent third wicket partnership which got their score ticking along. However, our fielding and bowling were pretty exceptional and wickets fell at fairly regular intervals. Tilly got two wickets in two balls so was on a hattrick, Mr Lee’s over was tight and he too claimed a victim, as well as taking a super catch; a ball that seemed to hang in the air for an eternity and came down with snow on it! Magnus bowled a tight spell and finished with figures of 1 for 6. Mary, Geordie and Russell each took a wicket a piece and Mary also took a super catch, something that we’ve got used to seeing this season. Again, the ball came high and although she fumbled her initial attempt, she snapped up the rebound with one hand! The catch of the afternoon however would probably have to go to Mr Scott fielding at deep mid-on. James came back in at the end of the innings and played some good looking shots. However, in the last over, again off the bowling of Will, he connected beautifully with a full-length delivery and the ball sailed out towards the boundary to a waiting Mr Scott. It was never in doubt and James trudged back having been dismissed twice by Will and both times being caught by fellow staff members! It was perfect! 

For Chatton, Mr Campbell and Mr Church both showed their touch of class, despite both downplaying their cricketing prowess. Cover drives, on & off drives, pull shots, you name it, they both had them in their lockers. However, Mr Church was eventually run out and Mr Campbell was out to a top edge, caught by Russell. After their initial wobble, Chatton put on a respectable 97. 

Mr Scott and James C opened the innings for team St. Mary’s and scoring 9 off the first over, they really set the foundations for our reply. Mr Scott knocked a quick 19 before retiring, bringing Arthur to the crease. He and James both batted really nicely. James was bowled by a perfect in-swinging yorker buy Charlie E, but Arthur managed to hang about. In doing so he played what I would say was his best innings of the season before being run out. Geordie, Will, Mary & Mog all continued their good form, all scoring vitals runs and edging us ever closer to the target. Geordie and Mary eventually retired, Will clipped a ball off his legs but it went straight to Mr Church at backward square leg (having hit the most perfect cut shot for four the ball before) and Mog, who was batting well, took on a quick single and came up short. The two Lees, Tilly & Mr Lee, gave the bowlers something to think about. Tilly hit a couple of nice shots but was caught and Mr Lee pounded the ball to the boundary on a few occasions before seeing his middle stump dislodged. Russell looked handy with the bat but having been encouraged to hit a catch to Mr Campbell, proceeded to do exactly that. Mr Campbell didn’t have to move an inch at backward square leg. 

So, with 8 needed and 6 overs in hand, I came to crease at number 11 and was joined by Geordie to see out the innings. Unfortunately Geordie was caught, but Mary relaced him, having retired beforehand and proceeded to smash the winning pull shot to the boundary.  

So, a 3 wicket win was perhaps closer than it might have been after the first over, but it ended up being a brilliant and competitive game. Such a lovely atmosphere and although I’m probably biased, Chatton is such a fabulous setting and the Club members epitomise the fun, social yet quietly competitive side to the game. We dissected the game afterwards in the Percy Arms where, strangely enough, the catches seemed to get better and better! 

A huge thank you to Chatton CC for being fabulous hosts and also to the St. Mary’s Barmy Army. You have been such loyal and invested support this season which has made such a difference to both the team and me.  

One game to go and that’s the Form 8 against their parents in the last week of term. It’s bound to be a highlight!  

Mr P.  MH