Minster Lovell 8 September 2024

Manager AJ Smith

Won by 16 Runs

SOA 165 for 7 (Dan Edwards 47*, Greg Pearson 46)

Minster Lovell 118 all out (Sam Down 3 for 42)

The home of Minster Lovell is not a high altitude desert. At the best of times, it's low and slow, albeit in a lovely setting on the flood plain of the River Windrush. After a damp summer and a particularly wet week (large thundery low pressure system moving up through France), the whole ground was lush and soft. The SOA were replete with youthful talent, supplemented by a smattering of experience.

We batted first on the very definition of a sticky dog and were soon looking into the abyss at 38-5 after ten of our allotted and very distant-looking 35 overs. A succession of quality batsmen, trying to force the pace, gave it away. Swappy, in schoolboy style, failed to run his bat in. The President-Elect, adjudicating at square leg, really didn't want to give him out - you could almost taste the dilemma - but Swappy had to go.

When Sam Down was bowled, inexplicably leaving a straight one, Dan Edwards, who has come on leaps and bounds as a batsman, was joined by Greg Pearson ("he might come in handy at No 7 if in trouble," said AJ). They put on 83, Greg oozing class (much like to old wicket ends). He really has a lot of talent that man! Eventually he took a risk and was bowled for 46, leaving Dan (47*) to marshal  Pearson junior (who can handle a bat himself) for some fun at the end. SOA finished on a respectable 165.

After tea it rained, some very big drops indeed forcing the players off. Fortunately, the anti-clockwise circulation of the low pressure sent the worst of the weather over Witney and we got on again quite quickly. The pitch did not improve with a bit of rain on it and Minster were treating it and our bowling with a great deal of respect. The newly svelte Launchbury and Swappy bowled their seven overs apiece straight through and gave very little away. Minster were significantly behind the rate required, but when their first team captain Mersh came in we knew it would be a different story.

After drinks Paton executed a smart stumping off Allen, highlighting that the square leg umpire had failed to join us. Fortunately Alfie Turner - fielding at square leg - gave him out, so all was good! Mersh came in and hit the ball hard, often beyond the boundary and into the river, but skipper Allen was in control. Man of the hour Dan Edwards and Sam Down (3-42) bowled well with the wet ball but also offered up a few juicy carrots - as our generous hosts thoroughly deserved.

The turning point arrived. Mersh slapped the ball through (he thought) mid on. Alas for him Pearson senior took a very good and nonchalant one-handed catch to see him off. I am certain that the very surprised-looking Mersh would have put the upstairs of his house on the ball going for four. Afterwards Greg convincingly explained that one-handed and nonchalant represented the limit of his physical flexibility. The game was up and a flurry of wickets taken by the hitherto bowling of Trevon Burgess and Down, followed leaving SOA victors by 16 runs.

Minster were lovely hosts. The bar was open all afternoon and the SOA had a lot of fun playing the game in the perfect spirit. The manager's thanks go to everyone who played. What a great bunch! This is a game, like our tour fixture at Chulmleigh, to be savoured as a reminder of what Sunday cricket has to offer. One final thing. Charlie Pearson looks like a very good bowler in the making. When his GCSEs are over next summer, sign him up. You might get his dad as a bonus.