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Ray Russell Cup – Sunday 26th May 2019, Tally Ho! Sports Ground, Birmingham
The two sides met at an overcast Tally Ho! for the latest eagerly anticipated instalment of the Ray Russell Cup. The writing was on the cards for the social side from the outset as it was noted their average age was well in excess of their ‘veteran’ opponents given the inclusion of Roger Hazelwood, Simon Patten, David Bebb and Alan Reeves, in the starting XI.
In a break from tradition, Little Miss Mr Chairman Sir (Holly Marsh, age 10) and Little Little Miss Mr Chariman Sir (Lucy Marsh, age 8), accompanied Mr Chairman Sir (MCS – Richard Marsh), to the middle for the coin toss. The kids ‘saw off’ the opposition skip, won the toss and elected to bat – It would have been a stronger batting line up if they had actually been allowed to bat in place of Bebb and Patten!
Debutant, Rishi Patel and Marsh, opened the batting for the social side in the absence of any other options. Despite excellent opening bowling spells from Boyson & Quigley (far too young to be considered vets but far too good to be considered for the social side), Patel and Marsh (24) moved the social side onto 59 from 14 overs before the latter became the first of Collymore’s 6 wickets. With ‘Pride’ in full flow in the city centre, the social side were not to be outdone and had their own procession – to and from the wicket. A mixture of tight bowling (anything near the stumps proving to be effective) and inept ‘batting’ saw wickets tumble at an alarming but expected rate once Patel had succumbed for a tidy 36.
Mad Mick (0), Roger Hazelwood – VCVC (2), Paul Rees (11), George Rees (9), Alan Reeves (0), George Hazelwood (1), proving as useful on the pitch as they are in a professional capacity. However, there was always hope with Grant (2*) and Bebb at the wicket & with Patten to come in at 11. The same sort of hope I have for world peace or Corbyn/Trump bilateral trade agreement in 2020. Whilst at the crease, Bebb, for the first time in his life, was surrounded by 10 people with an interest in what he was doing. Marsh took a quick picture for posterity – it had to be quick – before Bebb (1) succumbed like the rest of the rabble. As Patten and Bebb crossed paths, the former on his way to the crease, there was a mystifying and unnecessary ‘consultation’ between the two. Ordinarily this moment would be to discuss the bowling, conditions or state of the game. Bemused onlookers could only assume this was a 5 minute chat about pies, lard and beer! Either way it was predictably ineffectual as Patten was cleaned up for a duck – his best score since his last duck in his last innings. Marsh was left to rue not selecting his kids at 10 & 11 as the social side were skittled for around 100.
Such was the inept batting display that the vets were asked to begin their reply pre-tea. Hazelwood (VCVC) (2 – 0 -17 – 0) was asked to open the bowling having described the pitch as a pudding and ‘impossible’ to score on – not that he batted long enough to give an informed opinion. His pitch analysis proved to be more Jonathan Ross then Jonathan Agnew, as the Vets openers dispatched his early ‘buffet’ to all corners of the ground. Thankfully G Rees was more economical at the other end (6 – 1 – 28 – 2). Marsh (7 – 1 – 10 – 2) replaced Hazelwood in full knowledge that he would look like a young Anil Kumble in comparison to what had preceded him. Hazelwood Jnr (6 – 1 – 20 – 1) showing his father the DNA test was unlikely to be positive as he produced a spell that belied the family name.
The once-a-season catch from VCVC sparked a mini wobble from the vets as they reached 57-3 off 10 overs before tea. With victory in touching distance for the Vets, the social side took a liquid tea. The Vets taking a more traditional and nourishing approach. However, as play resumed the scoring rate dropped and wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Some were heard to comment these intervals would have been more regular if DRS were available to determine a no-ball ‘wicket’ and a couple of run out appeals – those washing car windscreens at the Bristol Road lights apparently able to clearly see one of the run out decisions was dubious.
Contentious decisions aside, Patel (3.2 – 0 – 12 – 2) and Grant (2 – 0 – 10 – 0) chipped in with tidy spells before the Vets fell over the finish line in the 27th over with 3 wickets in hand for a much-deserved victory. The post-match raffle raising approx. £220 for the Shelter charity.