Cambridge 2010 - A Tale of an Enormous Tail
2 games, 2 losses. Curry house altercation, scorer almost scoring, champagne Tim Neale celebratory catch and winning boat race - the Strollers at their best and worst. A good tour.
Saturday saw a good containment exercise against St Catharine's College undone by a batting collapse of epic proportions, even by Stroller standards. 35-9 from a good platform that had been laid by a fine 66 on debut from Mick Dundee and Maurice's nurdling 4. Hollers gave it away, Youngy showed further alarming form and Macca distracted by mental imagery of his wife (aren't we all) collectively failed. All out for 117 and a sorry affair given an eminently getable 169.
In the field, Strollers had initially struggled in the polar conditions. Paddy and Hollers spilled catch after catch and Bristoe got some tap after Grant had taken a wicket in his first Strollers over. But 4 cheap wickets for Hollers and Macca's angry keeping contributed to a decent first half. The collapse that followed was lamentable.
The Stollers nabbed their only victory of the weekend in the Saturday evening boat race (Splits: Youngy 12.4s, Macca 8.1, Rick 6.8, Luke 8.7, Grant: 3.9, Paddy: 4.5). Grant's 3 second necking of his pint was critical after Youngy's poor poor efforts on the first leg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_40R1UlyN0&feature=channel and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux1RZFEk-H4&feature=channel) Currygate was in hindsight amusing but at the time Dr Holliday thought Luke was medically dead, Mick showed his lairy Oka Aussie heritage with a dreadful pointing display and the manager wanted us out of his ******* restaurant (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6XVdpRSuZg&feature=channel). Paddy's diplomacy surprised some observers and Cindies was usual mix of break dancing, man hugging and oppo scorer entertainment. Macca and Youngy left early for a quiet pint.
Sunday was a much tighter affair. After a gourmet breakfast, the troops headed to Pembroke and found an equally matched College oppo. But failing to defend 172 in 30 overs was disappointing. Some pointed to Paddy's 6 overs for 58 but this correspondent alerts readers to the 2nd collapse of the weekend, including 14-8 in 5 overs.
The Strollers top 4 had delivered. Dougs was solid, Hollers below par but useful 51, Paddy 25 and Luke a mercurial 64. Rick's second duck of the weekend, Mick's wild slog and Tim Neale's gutless defence. As for Youngy - "keeper" but not "batsman keeper".
Stollers then put themselves in command of the match after tidy bowling left the college oppo well behind the required run rate. That was until skipper Patrick McGuirk brought himself on to bowl and was unable to hit the deck, bowling slow full tosses on leg side, conceding an incredible 58 runs off his 6 overs. Despite the brave efforts of Rick Bristoe with the ball, the college oppo finally secured victory with 2 balls to spare, and the side were left frustrated with the skipper who had refused to take himself off, no matter how badly he bowled.. Serious questions are now being raised by the inner and upper circle as the qualities Patrick possesses, and whether he is fit to continue as captain and indeed bowler.
Player Ratings
Mick - fine debut on field. Brutal batting at Catz. Poor PR and general Aussieness. Solid Stroller. 7.5* (and star man)
Maurice - unhappy with scorer's calculations, unusual walking fleece on dancefoor attire. Delivered with bat both days. 100 Stroller career runs. 6
Luke – fell over in curry house and threatened manager with unnecessary violence, failed to MTFU until dancefloor cleared coma concerns. Poor on day 1, excellent on day two. 4
Hollers - good with ball, poor with bat. Spent a lot of Rick's money on vodka red bulls and was usual large frame in field. 3 (weak link)
Dougs - professional tourer. Been there, done that, broken man in the field at Pembroke. 5.5
Youngy - terrible with the bat, dreadful drinking, woeful behind the sticks. Better than average overall performance. 7
Paddy - worst organised tour ever. Only captain to ever lose twice on one weekend. Bowled 23 consecutive legside full tosses. Dropped 3 catches in 3 overs. Redeemed only by some runs, 3 wickets (the scorebook sometimes lies), run out and breakdancing on dancefloor in amongst glass. 6
Dan Levin - best ever Stroller representation from family. Carey not missed as his replacement was equally ordinary. 6.5
Macca - return to form on and off pitch. Best keeper on display at Catz with just a single bye. Shame he had to adjourn early from Cindies. 6.5
Grant - foul mouthed yobo always seeking physical contact and purveyor of beamers. Great debut over with rapid LBW and from there down hill rapidly. If not for Bristoe would be worst Stroller batter ever. 5
Bristoe - worst Stroller batter ever. 8 ducks in 21 Stroller "knocks". Bagged a pair. Bowled well with little reward. Should sell hedge fund and stop trying to wave his cash around in nightclubs. 2
Tim Neale - greatest sporting weekend of his life with Tranmere victory celebrated in outrageous style. Staved off hat-trick and then got out. Puts body on line every time. 6.5