Arthur's Knights: 138 (or 142) All Out in 20 overs
Batting: H.McNab 22* T.Millman 21* H.McNab 20* P.Murray 12
Bowling (All 2 overs): F.O’Beirne 2-6 R.O’Connor 1-2 E.Rankin 1-4 T.Millman 1-6 P.Fry 1-10 H.McNab 0-2 D.Bursey 0-2 P.Murray 0-10 G.Dunne 0-11 G.Walsh 0-16
Halverstown: 72 for 6 in 20 overs
Batting: T.Case 12 D.O’Ceallaigh 8* S.Hayes 7 M.Case 6 D.Drumm 6
Bowling (All 2 overs): N.Case 2-8 D.Drumm 2-10 D.O’Ceallaigh 1-12 J.Kirby 0-5
M.Case 0-8 S.Hayes 0-10 N.O’Reilly 0-16 P.Carroll 0-21 T.Case 0-22 G.O’Shea 0-27
Defeats by Arthur’s Knights are happening with monotonous regularity. I don’t like to admit it, but Arthur’s Knights are a pretty good Taverner’s outfit these days under Frank O’Beirne, despite with me missing (or because perhaps). It had the hallmarks of a good Taverner’s game early on but the batting line-up of the Knights has depth and maximum scores from Henry McNab, Gerry Walsh and Tim Millman as well as double figures from Robert O’Connor and Dave Bursey gave them a good total of 142 (or 138- both figures making an appearance in the score book; I want to believe the latter). Robert was lucky: he was flouncing off the stage after a bizarre run-out where he ran off to pick up his bat which had flown further than the ball. Andrew Williamson, who was excellent behind the stumps, knocked off the bails. We called him back and he performed an encore, scoring 11 not out.
The Oaks did not bowl terribly well but the Cases starred: Neville took 2 wickets, one with Ger taking a fine boundary catch to dismiss Dangerous Dave Bursey on the very last ball; Mark bowled tightly with an economy rate of 4.0 whilst Terrence was later our top scorer with 11. The rest of us should feel embarrassed. Deaglan bowled the man who bowled Chandre Borde in the Taverners tour of India in 2006, for which (plus his 8 not out) he deservedly earned our Man of the Match Award. I took 2 wickets, one a swift stumping by the ever alert Andrew, and Jon Kirby and Stuart Hayes troubled their batsmen also but otherwise we tended to give away too many wides.
Our batting in response to their total, whatever it was, never really got off the ground- though perhaps too much off the ground with Knights taking 5 catches: 2 for keeper Ben Glascott and good catches for Frank, Pat Murray and Gerry. Quite possibly a record for the Knights! Terrence’s batting impressed , staying at the wicket for 8 overs. Dad Neville was out for a duck but brother Mark put on a nice partnership with him. Wides were easily the biggest contributor to our score and by the 6th over it was already looking an uphill task. Nevertheless it was a good evening’s cricket and played in the right spirit by all. Henry McNab could feel a little hard done by in not earning the bottle of fine wine from the cellars of Circle K that we presented, having bowled superbly (including a maiden) and batted well as with Robert (a maiden also) and Tim. However, I presented it to Frank ; we had bemoaned the lot of captains together during the game and he is captaining a good side well and on top of that his double wicket maiden just has to be recognised. Well done Captain Frank!
Written by Des Drumm