Friday 30 May 2008
The Devon Malcolm Lord's Taverners XI v Oakham School, Rutland
Match Report
Result:
Lord's Taverners XI
145 All Out (Paul Tisdale 50; Graham Rose 38)
Oakham School
148 for 3 (Jamie McCormack 83)
Oakham won by 7 wickets
Match Report:
Ignore curmudgeonly old T S Eliot. It's May that's the Cruellest Month, as Taverner cricketers champ at the bit to get the new season under way, only to have to wait to cast their clouts until midsummer itself is on the horizon.
For God's sake, two Test matches had been played against New Zealand before the first Tav side of 2008 stepped out onto the lush pastures of the magnificent Oakham School ground. This was swiftly voted one of the classic venues for a Taverner game, a view which held firm even as the school first eleven proceeded to win the game comfortably, albeit after a few alarms, excursions and fabulous Graham Rose outswingers.
Skipper Devon Malcolm broke with tradition by deciding the Taverners should bat first. Soon openers Lloyd Scott and Paul Aldred were facing a hostile reception from a pacey attack led by Stefan Kelly and Alex Wyatt, but just as they appeared to be settling, the latter was the victim of a fabulous direct hit on the one stump viewable as he attempted a second run.
This brought to the crease Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale, fresh from his successful campaign to haul the Grecians back into the Football League. Paul had been on the blower for five hours that morning, piecing together his League Two side for the new season...followed by a long drive up from Wiltshire. However, Paul oozed class at the crease from the start, with elegant shots all round the wicket.
Lloyd Scott gradually opened up in increasingly beefy style as the partnership blossomed...only for both batsmen to perish in swift succession, Paul Tisdale having just reached a delightful fifty off 57 balls.
This left the fate of the innings largely in the hands of Graham Rose, who was soon smiting those trademark blows in front of the wicket. But on the way to a belligerent 38 he was to find barely a partner to support him for any length of time, the pressure intensified by terrific Oakham School fielding, demonstrated not least in some marvellously assured catching. Through the revolving doors went Devon Malcolm (caught off a second stratospheric skier), Chris Cowdrey and son Fabian, actor Colin Salmon, soccer commentator Guy Mowbray (undone by a vicious lifter) and Premier League referee Steve Bennett....leaving one-time England wicketkeeper Roger Tolchard and tennis star John Feaver not out at the close of the innings. (Good to see 'Tolley' again - his journey to Oakham having taken him from his home in Torquay via Manchester for a Bruce Springsteen concert). Oakham spinner Joe Cuthbert was the pick of the bowling attack, with five for 33.
Just 145 the total. Even so, the whispers from the school dressing-room were that this might well be beyond the home side, given the alleged deficiencies in their batting. Deficiencies??? Well, openers Jamie McCormack and William Edwards struggled for some time against the bowling of Malcolm and Rose. Time after time ball beat bat without finding even the faintest edge. But gradually confidence grew...and grew...until the winning post was passed at a canter. Steve Bennett took his maiden Taverner wicket, demonstrating the skills that made him a Kent county youth team all-rounder in his schooldays. He then took a stunning catch..at the third attempt, to give Charlie Ross (auctioneer off the telly) his first Tav wicket, thereby bringing to an end Jamie McCormack's terrific innings of 83. At 16, another great prospect in the school team that produced Stuart Broad.
The Tavs tried everything, even introducing charity fundraiser par excellence Lloyd Scott as substitute fielder...dressed in the famous diving suit in which he 'ran' the London Marathon. However, this didn't go down well (get it???) with Steve Bennett, who duly red-carded Lloyd - a member of his own team, for goodness sake - leaving him to trudge back over the boundary rope.
Alas, the winning run was hit off soccer star Alan Paris - making a welcome return to Tav colours - with a handful of overs still to run. Oakham School head of cricket Frank Hayes (Lancs and England) can be mighty proud of his lads.
Never mind the result, it was a great way to start the 2008 cricketing calendar. Such a pedigree venue, which had hosted two county one-dayers earlier in the week. Wonderful hospitality and a bumper £15,000 cheque to the Taverners were gratefully received. We trust the day also went a long way towards funding the school's forthcoming sporting trip Down Under...best of luck with that.
Deepest thanks to all involved at Oakham School, to head teacher Joseph Spence, to Frank Hayes; to organiser Neil Mullinger and to sponsors Clydesdale Bank. Tavs Andrew Oakes and Tim Clifton were absolutely superb administrators, while matchday MC Chris Cowdrey and marquee auctioneer Charlie Ross did sterling service.
Ah...that old familiar scent of new-mown grass...John Price and Mike Denness ambling out to the middle to umpire....John Duncan intoning his drolleries down the mic in time-honoured fashion....Trevor Sturgess scoring immaculately as always, with the help of his ageing West Ham Utd calculator. The Taverner cricketing wheels are turning once again.
Scorecards:
Oakham School Innings click here
Taverners XI Innings click here
Press coverage:
The Messenger
MAIN IMAGE - Players (left to right): Colin Salmon, Roger Tolchard, Paul Aldred, Alan Paris, Chris Cowdrey, Charlie Ross, Andrew Green (background), Guy Mowbray, John Feaver, Paul Tisdale, Devon Malcolm. Players not in the photograph were: Graham Rose, Fabian Cowdrey, Steve Bennett
Rutland and Stamford Mercury
Printable Version
...Back
