Sunday 10 August 2025
Follies Farm Old Spots 264-6 (40 overs)
SCCC 141 all out (34 overs)
FFOSCC won by 123 runs
40 over match
SCCC won the (negotiated) toss
Scorecard
Ed Grinders writes:
The Cryptics returned for a 23rd fixture against Follies with summer 2025 delivering another glorious day. With 16 available a week in advance, yet only 10 with 24 hours to go, it was a relief that Oscar Ingles stepped up to provide a fifth bowler. Unfortunately Mother Ingo reversed into a bollard and Father Ingo had to step up and play (sort of) instead. Gossy decided with limited bowling we should try that first; the batsmen can chase anything – right?
Goss father and son (Rory) opened the bowling against Griffiths father and son. Ours didn’t come out victorious. The fine opening stand of 52 was broken by Ed G. bowling the elder Griffiths, before picking up the next two wickets to make the score 90-3 just before drinks. By now Rory Goss’ economical opening spell of 8-1-37-0 had been replaced by James “Waitrose” Scott. Scottie’s shopping was less successful than usual, although dropped/refused catches did nothing to help all the bowlers’ cause. Ingo, a wicket keeper by trade, was thrown the ball for his second spell in 27 games which went smoothly for two overs, and then to all parts for the subsequent couple. Netting with the under 13s is all very well but….0-51 off 4.
Skippy decided we needed a wicket so bought himself back on and delivered, thanks primarily to a Dom Wood full length screamer closer to long-on (where Toby started) than where Dom started at long-off. Toby by this point had ditched the “speed goggles”, that earlier made him appear completely unaware of a chance to dismiss young Griffiths before his fifty. He completed a fine maiden century – the four drops will be a mere footnote in future re-tellings. On 122 he succumbed to Dom Wood’s offies, finally failing to pick his fielders and hitting it to Gossy, currently the safest pair of Cryptic hands on the field.
Dom picked up another, well caught behind by Ware, to finish with a respectable 4-0-24-2. Ed and Gossy returned to close out the innings but the bunny shopping opportunity was nowhere to be seen and although Scottie returned fire with the Waitrose chat, Ed was in fact bowling more like the infamous middle of Lidl aisle (for those above such establishments, it is essentially a widespread jumble of cr*p).
264 in 40 overs felt like a lot because it is, and some very tired Cryptics trudged back into the pavilion, out of the sun, to be greeted by burgers and cake for tea. A few too many probably had a beer to wash it down in the lovely company of Cryptic spectators Bridges and Pippa plus wives. The batsmen can chase anything – right?
Ingo and Toby set about the chase, Ingo returning before a run was scored off the bat (it really wasn’t his day, let’s blame speculation about his no claims discount). Toby and Dom both struck fours, before departing soon after to leave us 9-3 off 3.3 overs. The batsmen can chase anything – right?
Neither Hugs or Scottie had finished their beers in advance of walking in, so perversely decided to bat rather slowly. Hugs had an unsuccessful swipe across the line in the 12th over with the score on 23, only to be followed an over later by both Puppy and Rollo in consecutive balls. 29-6. Seeckts Snr. strode out to survive the hat-trick ball before beginning to garner back some respectability, 56-6 at drinks. The batsmen can chase anything – right?
Scottie began to finally find the middle of the bat after drinks and the Cryptics accelerated until Seeckts departed LBW for 20 – he explained later it can’t have been out as his feet started outside leg and didn’t move. Ed (14) and Scotty put on another 45, before the former slapped one straight to cover, including Scotty bringing up his 50 just after being dropped having been goaded to stop “batting for his average”. Goss Snr repeated the same dismissal as Ed just five runs later, and Rory followed for just one to close out the day. 141 in 34 overs, including 26 extras and a Waitrose red-ink-sticker (do they bother with discounts?), was a pretty poor effort from a strong batting line-up. Regardless, a great day was had against one of our favourite oppositions and the post-game beers and pizza is always a treat. The batsmen can chase anything – wrong.
Pretty in Pink