Penn Street vs Cross Arrows

Penn Street CC lost to Cross Arrows CC by 8 runs

The biannual President’s Day dawned grey and drizzly, leaving some doubt as to whether or not we would be able to play any sort of game against the legendary Cross Arrows. With the forecast in mind, the captains agreed to play a 30 over game in the hope completing a match.

Fortunately, President Ian Jones’ powers seem to extend to controlling the weather gods and not only did the predicted rain hold off, the sun even came out for some parts of the afternoon.

Batting first, Cross Arrows got off to a rapid but never convincing start against a hostile opening spell from Matt Hewlett and the usual nagging accuracy of Nick Loftus. One opener edged made a catch behind to San Martin before the other fell to a fine caught and bowled from Nick and then the number four batsman was cleaned up by a vicious delivery from Matt.

The change bowling attack of Jamie Fryer and Archie White maintained the accuracy but the Cross Arrows really ran into difficulty when Bobby Fryer, called up as a late replacement for the injured Chris Russell, came into the attack from the wood and delivered some of his legendary, metronomic, left-arm Amish. He quickly had the opposition batsmen in knots and rattled through a spell of nine overs of five overs for just nine runs, during which time he picked up two wickets, both to good catches behind the stumps from Sam. There was also a moment of comedy when the cry from behind the stumps of “Great bowling Bobby, extra jelly for you in the old folks’ home tonight” reduced the opposition captain to a fit of giggles and a protest that it was unfair because now he couldn’t possibly risk getting out.

With Cross Arrows struggling to put a decent total on the board, Captain James Sempill took pity on them and called the club secretary into the attack to purvey his usual mixture of filth and inaccuracy. He did not disappoint but in doing so startled the Cross Arrows captain so much that he slapped a wide half volley straight into the hands of Dave Jones at cover. Archie returned to the attack to clean up the tail but Penn Street were very grateful to bowl out the opposition for just 128.

After a sumptuous tea provided by Jane Fryer’s regiment of wives, girlfriends and other willing volunteers it was James and Matt Reavey who set out to chase down the Cross Arrows total.

It was quickly apparent that the visitors were a much stronger bowling side than they were batting one and both openers found difficulty getting the ball away, James unluckily falling to a catch at slip off a very accurate left-arm bowler from the Wood End (where have we seen that before?).

Dave Jones came in and tried to accelerate the run rate, hitting four sixes in a 27 ball score of 38 before being caught. Pete Jupp tried to drop anchor and steady the innings but wickets fell around him at a regular rate, with Josh Tollerfield going cheaply, Sam being run out in a calling mixup before he could really get going and both Matt Hewlett and Nick sacrificing their wickets in the search of runs. In the end the target proved to be a tantalising eight out of reach and Penn Street succumbed to their fourth successive close defeat.

During the Penn Street innings play paused momentarily so that the players and spectators could pay tribute to Ian with a lengthy round of applause as he was driven past the ground. It was a shame that he was unable to spend much time at the game for health reasons but wonderful that he was able to play a part in the day that he had done so much to arrange.