Quidnuncs Match Reports
Quidnuncs vs Harlequins, 24th July 2011
The inaugural ‘Nuncs/Quins’ was an overwhelming success, despite the presence of persistently damp conditions. In the gloom of Dulwich, the pink ball was positively luminous as it flew around the small Prep School Ground. Stand in captain Newman elected to bowl first and found himself most pleased with an excellent start from Hopkins and Hemingway. However, the absence of a 5th bowler rendered the ‘Nuncs ability to keep the score below 150 virtually impossible as the combination of Owen and Chervak claimed 1-59 in four overs. Nonetheless, tight work from Danson and again Hopkins at the death kept the score to 167, Millar top scoring with 73.
In reply Cambridge found the probing seam of Morse and the accurate spin of McMahon too much and were always behind the rate. Insult was added to injury as three ‘Nuncs batsmen were dismissed by the loaned gloves of ‘Nuncs keeper Heywood, including the latter as he fell on his sword to be stumped by a yard. Lusty hitting from Hemingway and Hopkins, once again forming a formidable partnership bumped the score up to a respectable 153. The result may have been altogether different had a contribution from the former Secretary materialised. Sadly however, the only driving he was to be doing was on the M11 as the Quidnuncs were forced to spend the evening with 10 men.
Players from both teams remarked on the excellent format and venue and there will most certainly be more such fixtures to follow. Thanks must go to Tom Savill for his organisation and to Anush Newman for his assistance, particularly after Tom was rushed to hospital with appendicitis. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
Quidnuncs vs Harlequins, 22nd May 2011
The Quidnuncs responded positively to their defeat a fortnight earlier by defeating the Harlequins by 6 wickets at Arundel Castle. The victory was all the sweeter having been bowled out for 69 in the same fixture last year.
Having been asked to field by ‘Quins skipper Nick Woods, Stand in captain Heywood must have thought all of Chrsitmas’ had come at once, reducing the opposition to 26-4 – a scoreline that he was more familiar seeing his for his own team during his long span of Varsity cricket. Alas, the combination of the classy Woods and the combative Stearn took the sting out of the ‘Nuncs attack with a 5th wicket partnership of 204. Thomas Probert lived up to his name by bowling a consistent and probing line, claiming 3-17 by lunch. David Noble rolled back the years as his first spell of 7 overs went for 23 claiming the wicket of Paul McMahon. Kemp, returning for his first game back after recovering from a hamstring injury, continued the pressure with an excellent line and length, and should have had Stearn caught behind. The thick edge went down as Heywood, standing up to the wicket, couldn’t get enough on it. Two exploratory overs before lunch from Newman did little but cause the fielders to explore the long grass over the boundary, but at 97-4, ‘Nuncs Secretary was happy.
After lunch however, the wicket flattened out and the bowlers lost their consistency. Woods continued on his merry way and the ball got closer and closer to the middle of Stearn’s bat. By the time the pair had but on 200 for the 5th wicket, the former Oxford medium pacer/keeper/middle order player had hit 3 fours in front of square. The declaration came as Woods fell for 131 to the returning Noble and at 230-5 and with a rusty ‘Nuncs top order, a good score seemed to have been posted.
In reply however, ‘Nuncs openers Deasy and Bartholomew had other ideas as they repelled the threat from a battery of 5 Quins seamers; never has this fixture seen so much medium pace bowling with ‘Nuncs providing four of their own. Deasy was the first to go for 54, with the score on 118 and as Bartholomew continued to take a leaf out of the Stearn book of ‘Run making; using the edge’, Commander Pearson continued on the good work. Bartholomew fell and was replaced by former 2007 skipper Massey.
The game hung in the balance, two spinners with already several overs under their belt this summer in the form of McMahon and Woods, and two batsmen with a combined balls faced of 10 in the last 9 months. It was the Cambridge duo however that prospered as Massey in particular favoured the leg-side to great effect. Despite much spluttering from the Members, Massey muscled his way to 54, with Pearson contributing 33 in a 3rd wicket partnership of 50. Noble eventually aided Massey to the victory target in the last over.
The Quidnuncs’ next fixture is the inaugural T20 game, again versus the Harlequins at Dulwich College Prep School on 24th June. Please contact Tom Savill or Anush Newman if you wish to play.
CUCC vs Quidnucs, May 8th 2011
CUCC won by 3 wickets after a tremendous fight back by Kennedy and Bahl as the pair put on over 50 for the 8th wicket. A full report of the match can be found on the main CUCC news page.
Quidnuncs vs Free Foresters, July 25th 2010
The Quidnuncs snatched a last-over victory against the Free Foresters at City of London Freemen's School. A full report of the match can be found on the main CUCC news page.
Quidnuncs vs CUCC, June 27th 2010
CUCC won by 69 runs. Please see the main CUCC News page for a full match report.
Quidnuncs v Harlequins, May 9th 2010
In these times of current social and political uncertainty, it was refreshing to see a display of absolute dominance as the Quidnuncs lined up against the Harlequins at Arundel. Whilst the Quidnunc effort did not quite hit the lows of the BNP in this recent election (they did actually take some wickets and score a few runs), the performance was a poor one. Chasing 229 for victory on a typically good Arundel wicket, the coming and going of Quidnunc batsmen certainly did not resemble the situation outside many a polling station at 21:50h on May 6th, in that the flow of personnel was frequent and regular. Harlequins’ Amit Suman, Paul McMahon and James McAdam all took 3 wickets as the ‘Nuncs were skittled for 70.
Earlier, the Harlequins were twice pegged back by the accurate and at times hostile swing bowling of Matt Friedlander (Guest – 5-56); initially finding themselves at 40-5 and again at 168-8 – Neil Millar (73) and Paul McMahon (28) putting on 84 for the 5th wicket. A late onslaught of 53* by Amit Suman took the Harlequins score to their respectable total.
Overall, The Harlequin’s performance was a thorough and savage one – resembling something of the competition between the invading ladybird beetle of the same name and its British relatives.
Thanks must go to our new match sponsor, ‘Sportspages’ for making the day a possibility.