Match Report

Leicester Teachers V Kibworth Sunday 9th July (with thanks to the home side for the generous manner they conducted affairs throughout)

First there was Star Trek, and then there was the next generation. On Sunday at the Whetstone home of Leicester Teachers we didn't really have Kibworth, we didn't even have the next generation, we had something like Kibworth the futuristic embryo (well apart from the car driving contingent who had the bad form to be officially adults.)
Holidays, 2nd team cup and other commitments had left the usual suspects decidedly thin on the ground, not only that but until Malc King had escaped the clutches of petty coat rule there were only 9 players to uphold the good name of the club.
Under such circumstances the educators were invited to bat and captain for the day Villy circled his wagons the best he could. Those watching the game from the sidelines could have been forgiven for thinking they had their binoculars the wrong way round but the wicketkeeper really was as small as he appeared. Size though, as 'The Bard' is often informed, isn't everything and Ben Matthews emulated his dad in grand style.
Gareth Morgan opened the bowling with Sam Pounds. It was certainly tough on the young nugget to have to bowl into the breeze but he did himself, and his granddad, proud. He did display a lack of the usual family decibel level though.
Despite the best efforts of the bowlers the opening wicket would not come, unfortunately this was to be a recurring theme. Elliott Lodge and Dave King then took their turn and Elliott plugged away giving precious little for the Teachers openers to hit even though they were now looking ominously comfortable.
Ben Matthews swapped keeping duties with the long haired 'Tad' Pole and then immediately started pestering the skipper for a bowl. It was that sort of afternoon as the sheer enthusiasm of the youngsters was carrying the side through.
Villy rotated the bowling around. Illo had his first trundle for four years, Malc had a go when he had successfully removed his marigolds and Ben Matthews had a couple of overs, skidding a few through from little above ankle height.
After 38 overs the Teachers declared on a club record 251 without loss, both openers having scored chanceless centuries. As they went off to thoroughly deserved applause the only murmur of discontent heard all afternoon came from a venerable opening bat wondering why he hadn't had the chance to bowl.
With little prospect of making the runs required for victory the skipper implored his team to fight a valiant rearguard action and save the game against the odds. To their credit that is precisely what they did.
Ken departed the scene early thanks to one of three slip catches taken by the bucket like hands of Murphy, obviously scoring a ton was just a warm up for him.
Tad Pole (12) put up a fine defensive display and Elliott (5) also kept Illo (32) company for a good amount of time. Malc King decided he hadn't seen enough of Murphy's catching technique and fed him another to make way for his son to compile 49 not out and save the game with the help of Gareth Morgan.
It was a tough afternoon but the effort never waned and the youngsters conducted themselves in an exemplary manner, even down to the falsetto words of encouragement heard all afternoon.

Man of the Match;- Maybe not men but take a bow Sam Pounds, Elliott Lodge and Ben Matthews

Sight of the Match;- Ben who was determined to Umpire in the white coat even though it was longer than he was. As one onlooker observed it looked like he was floating like some kind of Jedi Master.

Stephen Thompson - 10/07/2006