This season has been a bit of a struggle for Remnants so far - it's maybe not too big a deal that we've lost five of our first eight games, but the fact that four of the defeats have come by 92 runs, 121 runs, 8 wickets and 7 wickets is maybe more revealing. In need of a morale-boosting victory there could be nothing better than coming up against The Philanderers. Before the lawyers start to get excited, this is in no way a suggestion that they're a weak team - indeed, they have a winning record against us (4 wins to us but 5 to them, since you asked). They have, however, traditionally struggled in early season games, and have several times invoked this as an excuse for losing to Remnants in May games (for which their record against us is a rather unimposing zero wins from three attempts).
Sure enough, the Philanderers' seamers seemed a little rusty as they offered up plenty of long-hops and full-tosses to Remnants openers Andy Owen (25 off 23 balls) and Himanshu Agrawal (32 off 27 balls). A mid-innings burst of impressive pace from a rather imposing character (who would have sent down his first delivery still wearning his pork pie hat if he hadn't been alerted by a team-mate in his run up) induced a mini-collapse, but then George Speller (63 off 28 balls) came in and started smashed huge sixes, one of which went within a few feet of hitting one of his own high-school students (who was watching the game in her capacity as "daughter of a Philanderer", but who didn't bat an eyelid as a five ounce leather missile flew a few feet to her left). It was once again demonstrated that the easiest bowling to hit is short-pitched medium pace as George smashed 25 off an over from one of the recalled Philanderers openers, but it was a different story when an ultra-slow left-arm over bowler came on. Almost as if he was our very own Kevin Pietersen, George's confident swings became wild swipes, one of which resulted in a top-edge that was well held by the point fielder. Still, the damage had been done, and even though Rob Harvey (12* off 22 balls) and Daniel Mortlock (11* off 7 balls) couldn't match George's pace, we still ended up with a huge total of 177/4 to defend.
It rapidly became clear that our defense was going to be successful. Two of our 2011 recruits immediately delivered with the ball, Himanshu Agrawal (0/3) being almost impossibly economical and Eli Ellwood (1/32) getting a wicket in his first spell for the club. It would have been a wicket in his first over, but a spiralling top-edge went to ground, one of several out-field catches that went begging. Ironically, Eli himself took a superb catch on the short boundary later on, looking poised and decidedly un-Remnantish as he held the ball without much fuss. But perhaps such calmness was the result of Eli's superior education, having fallen under the tutelage of one P. Jordan in his formative years. It raised a smile to see Paul being referred to as "Sir"; it was even more amusing to find out his nickname amongst the students was "Spike"; it was downright hilarious to hear Eli innocently ask "He bowls leg-spin, right?"
Back on the field, we too were finding that slow bowling was the way to get wickets. To be fair, Andy Bell (0/21) did go close with his medium pace, having an LBW appeal upheld by the umpire, only for half the fielders to immedidately chorus "No, no, he hit it!" and for the appeal to be withdrawn. John Moore (1/27 from his well-flighted wrist spin) also had a number of almost-wickets which saw him yelling in triumphant joy only to find out that the stranded batsman had time to make his ground or that the big "nick" he'd heard was the batsmen whacking the pitch. By bowling a little faster Daniel Mortlock (2/7) did finally induce a stumping, but the real star was Quentin Harmer (3/13), who succeeded by bowling even slower than John. Ordinarily slow balls on leg-stumps are "money for old rope", but Quentin repeatedly beat the bat, and got his wickets from a ball that turned in a mile from outside leg to clip the bail, a good catch by John Young at square-leg, an an even better catch by 'keeper Andy Owen after the batsman was through his sweep too early. All in all, it felt we were in total control, and it was almost a surprise to come off the field to find out that we'd won by "just" 56 runs.
Not that we've got any grounds for getting cocky, mind: our season's record is still in the red (4 wins and 5 losses) and, maybe more to the point, history suggests that The Philanderers will even the score when we play them again in June.
