Full Fixture Information

Result Descriptiom

EMCC ? 212-7 at tea // XII Men 98 all out - EMCC win by 114 runs.

Man of the Match

Chris Moor ? excellent batting at the end

Champagne Moment

Chris Moor?s Robin Smithesque back foot cut through point, through the bushes, through the road and

Teddy Bear Moment

Chris Moor ? peeing in the bushes next to the sight screen and putting off the batsman

Full Match Report

EMCC ? XII Men. 26th April 2026

Just before we get to the report ? a quick note on the day and fines ? it was a hot day in April, it was Marathon day, we?d all been in awe of the three record breaking runners two of whom broke 2 hours, but there was also one of our own, he may not have smashed 2 hours ? but Martin Cooke was out there running 26 miles in aid of Parkinsons UK ? a horrible disease ? and something that his father, Dave Cooke a long-standing VP of the club had suffered from. It felt right that our energetic fines would contribute to his total and Mooro, having scooped all three awards, had the honour and privilege of being able to top the fines up to a round ?200 with an extra ?28 at the end. Good effort everyone even if the captain did suffer more than most.

And now to the cricket. I won the toss and felt we should have a bat. Oli and Ian Cook opened up and as their septuagenarian opener trundled up the hill and Oli dispatched his third ball for four it felt like it might be time to make hay. However, Steve Ripiner hasn?t been bowling slow and straight for 50 years or more for nothing, and with the 4th ball of the over, Oli was a little early and extra cover was able to take a smart one-handed catch and it was 4-1.

James joined Ian at the crease, and in different gears the score ticked over at more than 5 an over for another 13 overs before James was caught behind in the 15th over for 47 and the score was 83-2.

It should be noted that as scorer I was able to bring up my full house of extras in the 8th over as five penalty runs were added to the byes, no-balls, wides and leg-byes that had kept the score ticking over with James, even if Ian was yet to find the middle of his bat.

I joined Ian at the crease and we batted together for another 13 overs, bringing up a 50 partnership, before Ian was ct behind for a very nice 26 ? 142-3. I didn?t stick around much longer becoming D Webb?s 3rd ct behind victim and departing for 40.

Josh got a good one for a quacker, Jeff played a couple of glorious shots for 10 before being LBW 173-6 and there was just time for Will and Mooro to add a quick 40 including a huge six into the Croft?s garden for Mooro, who was promptly bowled, leaving Tim L and Will Atkinson to tend to their averages and see us home at tea with the score on 212 -7.

The over rate wasn?t the fastest and so it was a pretty good score off only 37 overs against a good straight attack that didn?t bowl many loose balls and required us all to keep our concentration.

Tea was amazing ? there?s too many individuals to mention ? but Ian Cook?s beef short-rib pie was definitely a high-light and not something we?ve seen up the Meon before, the millionaire shortbread were fantastic along with a great Victoria Sponge. An absolutely ? Class A tea.

And so it was some portlier and heavier East Meoners took to the field in search of 10 wickets.

Everyone bowled well. Will (6-0-15-2) started us off having their opener out LBW in the first over for a duck. Tim Lawrence (5-0-17-2) fresh off a plane from down under picked up their numbers 3 and 4 ? number 3 beautifully stumped for 6 with a ball that drifted past his outside edge and then Oli taking a great diving catch at point which some of the team said reminded them of his dive into the paddling pool on tour.

Will bowled their number 5 with another good ball and the score was about 30-4. James (1-0-5-0) and Matt (5-1-18-2) came on at which point Matt picked up two wickets in his first over ? the first bowled with an absolute jaffa that pitched middle and kissed the top of off and the second ct behind by Mooro ? another couple of cracking wickets. 40 odd for 6 now.

Wayne (5-0-21-2) immediately replaced James and was soon into his groove and picked up a couple of wickets including a blinding catch in the covers by Jeff Wheeler, whose general appearance of brokenness belied his athletic grab down at his ankles. Wayne struck again shortly after having their number 9 LBW and it was left to Jeff Wheeler (2-0-10-2) to dismiss their opening bat for 35 LBW in a most unlikely fashion as he seemed to miss a ball he was sweeping collapsed in front of his stumps and seemed to be hit somewhere on the chest. But it says W in the book.

Jeff finished things off in his second over bowling their number 11 with a corker. All out for 98 and EMCC had won by 114 runs.

Brutal fines followed as reported above. But overall a great day in which everyone contributed their bit with catches, wickets and runs.

Whilst Mooro?s MOTM performance was a unanimous vote as it meant he had to top the fines up. I think a special mention to the five bowlers who shared the wickets equally and to Ian Cook, who can not only knock up a cracking beef pie, but also batted as well as any of us have seen him bat for some time. Hurrah.