Report by Daniel Mortlock:
Our annual internal match, nominally a celebration of Remnants cricket, this evening became a celebration of Remnants cricketers: club founder Geoff Hales; and 150-game veteran Rusell Woolf, who sadly died last year, with the teams named in their honour. We omitted any formalities, but Andy and Denise Owen and Rog Shelley had organised a fabulous BBQ, with proceeds going to charity.
The result of the game itself was all but decided in the first few overs due the rampaging top order of what was formally Russell Woolf's XII, but quickly christened itself "the Woolfpack". By the end of the fourth (six-ball) over Cam Petrie had retired on 35* of 12 eventful balls, two of which were dropped edges. His opening partner James Robinson and number three Phil Stratton (representing Linton CC, regular opponents of Russ's league side Romsey Town) both made it to 37* before also retiring, and the first wicket didn't come until Vishal Bole (1/30) had CJ Barrie (11) well caught by Pete Ames.
Catching (by both sides) was about the only thing that went well in the field - we seem to be keener on catching our own batters than those from opposing teams. Remnants first-timer Matthew Doel looked effortlessly athletic in taking a running catch off Catherine Owen (1/23); and then, when TK flicked Daniel Mortlock (1/24) for what looked likely to be a huge six, Nick Johnson steadied himself and waited patiently for the ball to come down and nestle in his hands. Meanwhile, Andy Bell (25*, perhaps inspired by the Test debut yesterday of his daughter and one-time Remnants player Lauren) and Temoor Khan (21) took their side to an unassailable total of 198/3 off their 24 overs.
Faced with such a target there was no choice but to bring out the big guns, Dave Norman and Kanwar Singh being given the opening slots. For all Kanwar's enthusiastic hitting, it was rather predictable that he'd be out-scored by Dave . . . although it was a surprise that it was by Dave Green - he'd been promoted when Dave N. had been waylaid behind the bar. Dave G. looked set to make it to retirement before he all but let himself be run out for 22 (off 28 balls), subsequently offering up the spurious argument that he wasn't scoring fast enough. Seemingly in solidarity, Kanwar was then dismissed next ball for 27 (off 27 balls), brilliantly caught one-handed in front of the pavilion by CJ off the (reluctant) bowling of James Robinson (1/18).
No matter, as Dave Norman was now at the crease and joined by Julius Rix (who'd been traded both to - and then from - the Woolfpack). They both scored at more than a run a ball, before being dismissed by Anand Kairamkonda (2/35), for 26 (off 18 balls) and 25 (off 20 balls) respectively. That was the end of any meaningful chase, and the game settled into a rather enjoyable series of intra-club contests.
Pete Ames (13 off 11 balls) got the points initially in his duel with Andy Owen (1/35) by exhibiting a cheeky reverse paddle, but Andy got his revenge with a successful implementation of the much-missed "run out of ideas" ball with the 45-degree run up. We then finished off with an inverted duel between John Young and his son Lewis. Despite the fact that Lewis is a budding bowler and that John has sent down just one over in the last decade, John was to Lewis, who ended up taking the points to finish his first Remnants innings undefeated on 3* (off 3 balls). At the other end Vishal Bole finished on 17* (off 18 balls), taking the total to a healthy 157/7, albeit 41 runs short of the target.
Not that anyone really cared, as by this stage the smell of the BBQ had wafted across the ground and the focus changed to enjoying the long and warm evening with lots of Remnants and Romsey plays from past and present. With match fees included, £600 was raised, half going to The British Heart Foundation and half to Cancer Research UK, honouring the lives of Geoff and Russ, respectively.
