On this day in 1977 Geoff Hales and Sally Morris were married; and on this day in 2002 we played a 25th anniversary match between Geoff's Secretary's XI and Sal's Scorer's XI. It appears that this anniversary game is set to become a fixture (ha ha) on the Remnants calendar and so 22 cricketers (well, people who like to play cricket) headed off to Fitzwilliam College's playing fields for today's match between Geoff's Senior Moment and Sal's Toy Boys. As you might have guessed from the team names, Geoff's team comprised the more decrep-- er, knowledgable members of the club (minimum age 48, but with young Alex Brown in as a ringer) and Sal's team of sexually potent young studs ranged in age from mid-teens to 47. The young 'uns had to start favourites but, as last night's match showed, experience counts for a lot in the game of cricket.
Phil Watson led Geoff's team onto the field and by and large their bowlers were both tight and canny, but it wasn't enough. Paul Jordan (1/23) got an early wicket, but then the young Dave Williams (66) and the even younger Andy Owen (73*) put together a superb 105-run second wicket partnership. There were a couple of huge sixes over the square boundary (one of which was the game's first scoring shot, albeit dropped on the boundary line, and one of which was a rather rude greeting to Les's first ball which Dave Green captured on video), and they also ran brilliantly (the highlight being a three when the ball was hit straight to an unnamed opening bowler in the deep).
Eventually Dave fell to a good catch by Phil Watson from the bowling of Jim Schwabe (1/22) and then Phil (1/22) took up the attack himself, bowling a hapless Ev in an eventful five-ball over which finished the innings.
Dave Williams then marshalled his love-toys with the confidence of a man who knows the opposition aren't too likely to get 153. Indeed by the time Mike Jones (2/12) and Daniel Mortlock (0/7) had finished their spells the Senior Moments' required rate was almost ten an over. The rest of the game was lacking in tension, but not drama, with a wonderfully theatrical conclusion. Dave Green (1/28) got his first bowl of the season and scored a tactical victory over Steve Attmore (17) with subtle variations in line; Mike Scanlon pulled off a superb direct hit run out (although there was some suggestion that this was a bit harsh as the victim was young Alex Brown, yet to score); and Geoff (2*) defied a crowd of aggressive fielders to continue his four-year undismissed run. But Mike Sneyd (a chanceless and deserved 55*) had the last laugh, completing his half century with one ball remaining.
We all clapped Mike from the ground, but attention quickly turned to the guests (hosts?) of honour, Geoff and Sal. In part we wanted to help them celebrate their anniversary but it was mainly because they insisted on buying all the drinks. They were eventually persuaded to stop being so silly and join in with everyone else in devouring Dave Norman's tea. Not that this is any time to get complacent -- twenty six not out is a good start, but with the experience of several hundred cricket matches under their belts they should go on to at least a half century.
