Faire vs The Jesters 2016 - Report
Sunday 26 June 2016 (2 days post-Brexit)
Chiswick House, London
Faire is the XI v The Jesters
Jesters: 140 for 10 from 34.3
Faire: 143 for 7 from 34.1
Faire won by 3 wickets
The Borough of Ealing voted Remain 60%-40%. After the dangerous journey outside London to Henley last time out, Faire's return to the sunny lush grass of Chiswick House was a safe haven. Some of Faire's men (EM de Minckwitz, JDM Kanagasooriam) wore personal scars from the campaign, and needed a soothing day of cricket, an experience that can be relied on with more certainty than the polls.
After the customary delay to the 130pm start to accommodate faffing, The Jesters walked out to bat. CHT Potter and R Bowen opened for Faire, producing a masterclass in miserly seam bowling on a pitch not made for flashy strokes. After 6 overs, The Jesters had prodded to 8, and Faire's famous chat, led by RJ Ponti, grew in confidence. As the pressure grew, Potter struck, inducing a rash drive, hit high to short cover, M Dass taking an impressive catch. Captain Stobbs rotated his pack soon after, introducing AF Greaves and OW Hunt. Frustration quickly got the better of another Jester, Greaves holding a professional catch (with dive) from Hunt's short and wide leg spin to leave the score 21-2 off 9. The crowd were treated to spin twin delight as JDM Kanag joined in, inducing the customary panic and brace
position on the boundary as the Jester's got hold of his looser
moments. But, as the run rate never reached 4, and Hunt and Kanag picked up more wickets from excellent catching by CM Stobbs behind the stumps, the Jesters' total didn't look imposing. De Minckwitz, ECV Stephenson and Greaves took full advantage of the pitch's natural variations to keep the score low and wickets falling, Ponti also joining in on the wickets column. After a couple more wickets for Kanag and Hunt, Potter returned with Dass for some excellent death bowling, Potter removing the final Jester in the 35th over with the total at 140. Faire felt confident of the chase.
Before that, Faire triumphed at tea, SF Stobbs leading from the front as ever, and newcomer CES Lewis wowing the crowd with chocolate, halva, and walnut brownies. CM Stobbs and Dass started Faire's reply with confident strokes, easily staying above the required rate with an opening partnership of 48.Home advantage meant they knew keeping the ball above the spongy outfield was crucial, and although the runs came with risks, Stobbs in particular benefited from some generously poor catching. After departing for 24 and 29 respectively, Bowen and de Minckwitz continued Faire's progress to victory. Despite what he might say, Bowen will be eagerly anticipating the video highlights of his majestic straight
six. An excellent boundary catch dismissed Bowen, meaning Potter came in at 5 with a steely determination, which was just as well - de Minckwitz and Stephenson departed not long after, leaving Faire looking a little dicey at 109-5 off 24, and the Jesters using their own pair of tricky spinners. Hunt joined Potter with some excellent forward defensives, but the Faire crowd grew jittery as the score only inched to victory ("Hunty mate, just run 2 yeah?"). When Potter fell for a vital 26, the game was in the balance. Ponti and Hunt shared a mighty stand of 7, then Greaves replaced Ponti with Faire needing 9 off 12, the Jesters' opening bowlers returning, and things getting a little tense with Kanag left in the hutch. Much to the crowd's relief, Greaves struck a boundary with 7 balls to go, and with 2 needed from 6, Hunt pushed the first ball of the final over to the boundary, giving Faire another win for the season.
Man of the match: CHT Potter - 2 for 7, 26.
---- O. W. Hunt