Fulton and Bassett set up a 43-run win at Maori Oxshott

This was the second year Maori Oxshott CC hosted London New Zealand CC since the game was reintroduced to the fixtures list. Knowing Maori Oxshott were going to bring a competitive side, The Sheep selected a talented side to attempt to repeat victory of last year.

The Sheep surveyed a pitch that looked flat enough to bat all day on, and did the only sensible thing: won the toss, batted first, and set about the task of accumulating runs.

LNZCC Innings (267-6)

Umesh Govind and Shekhar Aryan opened proceedings in circumspect fashion, both content to play themselves in. Govind eventually fell for 22, introducing The Sheep to the crease. Seven deliveries later, he was walking back for a duck, regretting the decision of picking himself as a specialist batsman. Aryan built patiently to 31 but fell not long after. LNZCC were 76-3 and needing a partnership.

Fortunately, Jacob Murray made sure the innings got back on track. His quick 32 and Callum McLean with 22 kept the score ticking along and getting to drinks 109-3.

The top order had laid a platform to launch, but a few quick wickets left 139-5 with 16 overs remaining. Enter Mark Bassett and Ben Fulton. Bassett was calm at the crease with 43 runs off 43, and not a single moment of panic. It was an innings that would have made The Mutton Birds proud: anchored the ship, holding firm through the middle overs. No frills, no fuss, just the steady, dependable presence every good sail through Kiwi waters needs.

The anchor at one end allowed Fulton the freedom to swing from the hip in the closing overs. He finished unbeaten on 63 off 42. Brad Abraham, Fulton’s favourite client at work, stationed dutifully at the other end, played his part with a composed unbeaten 19 (but if you asked him, he was short changed a run). A 70 run partnership was impressive for the 7th wicket.

Abraham’s contribution seemed to involve sprinting through for the one run to get Fulton back on strike. The first of these quick singles saw Abraham pulling up gingerly and clutching at his groin — an injury the physio will no doubt file under “overexertion in service of someone else’s strike rate.” Fulton, for his part, offered no apology, but I am sure Abraham will have the last laugh, by reporting Fulton to the SRA for failing to act in the best interest of his client!

A 70 run partnership was impressive for the 7th wicket and one to mention in the Monday morning Team’s meeting. The final total of 267 for 6. A great total to defend!

Maori Oxshott CC Innings (224 all out 36.2 overs)

Maori Oxshott’s chase promised plenty. The top order flashed some early intent, racing along at a the required run rate briefly looking in control. However, wickets kept falling and required rate kept nudging upward. It all proved too much as LNZCC bowled Maori Oxshott out in the 37th over for a 43 run victory.

LNZCC’s bowling attack shared the wickets around. Mike McClean was the pick of them with 2-23, though it should have been three, had a routine dolly at gully not been shelled by a fielder whose identity has been kept out of this report purely out of mercy. Vinay Kumar was unlucky to not get a wicket with 0-22 off his overs. Michael Gane took 2-52 from his seven-overs. Callum McLean also chipped in with 2-47.

Murray bowled well and held up one end with 1-22, while Bassett — evidently not content with merely anchoring the innings, produced the wicket that turned the match. At 173-6 with two batters set, the more dangerous batter picked out the Sheep on the boundary, who held on to a catch and, in doing so, went some way to erasing the memory of his duck earlier in the day. Fulton got an over, ever the entertainer, nearly stealing a wicket himself with catches near cow corner.

Remarkably, Abraham’s afternoon of self-inflicted suffering wasn’t quite finished either. Still visibly hobbling from his earlier exertions with the bat, he somehow found the gas to swoop, gather and get a run out — a piece of fielding that owed rather more to adrenaline and stubbornness than to any remaining structural integrity in his groin.

Govind got in on the act with the last wicket. The match complete!

The Presentations

Earlier in the day, pins for 25 games were awarded to Gane, Aryan, and Mike McLean. Well done!

Man of the Match honours deservedly went to Fulton for his unbeaten 63, though a strong case could be made for Bassett’s anchoring in the middle overs as the innings’ true backbone and the crucial wicket of the day. An honourable mentions to Abraham’s groin, a casualty of war in service of the greater cause, and to Gane for turning back the clock with a full seven-over shift on his long-awaited return.

Maori Oxshott’s man of the match went to Dominic Laidlaw with his 51.

After presentations, both teams mingled, listening to old stories from games against LNZCC and Maori Club 30+ years ago.

Big thanks to Maori Oxshott CC for a great afternoon of cricket. Thanks to their captain Samuel Murphy for a well-run, good-spirited game, and to the club for putting on a fantastic lunchtime spread that fuelled both innings nicely. A special mention has to go to Sam’s father, who capped off the day with cooking a BBQ and providing jugs of beer afterwards — an act of generosity well above and beyond the call of duty. Legend!

Conclusion

A final thanks to Malcolm Miller for giving up his Sunday to umpire and James Telling and Maraka McLean for scoring the match. Having these three doing the mahi so us players can enjoy the treats is awesome.

Overall, an amazing performance from the lads. The Sheep felt like a passenger in this one. But form is only temporary, the result is permanent — and the aftermatch beer tastes better with the win!

Photos

Shekhar Aryan and Umesh Govind put on 56 for the first wicket

Presentations at Maori Oxshott

Presentations at Maori Oxshott

Mike McClean, Michael Gane and Shekhar Aryan got their 25 match pins

Ben Fulton being awarded player of the match

Winners are grinners