On Tuesday I travelled to North Yorkshire to play in Emeriti's annual fixture against the Ampleforth College 1st XI.
We enjoyed stunning weather, matched only by the incredible beautiful setting, overlooked by the Abbey, and the game went down to the last ball of the day.
Emeriti were inserted and made good progress until a flurry of late wickets presented the opportunity of a tribute to the Late Richie Benaud, as we declared on 222 for 9.
The boys set to their task well, despite some good quick bowling and close shaves with catches which didn't quite carry to hand. At tea Ampleforth had not lost a wicket and Emeriti were beginning to feel that the game might be slipping away but, as the remaining overs began to make the required run rate harder, the wickets began to fall.
As the final twenty overs ticked away the boys had to accept that the total was no longer possible and instead tried to preserve their remaining wickets against an accurate attack. In the true spirit of the fixture the result was not certain until the last ball of the day was bowled and Ampleforth held on for a draw, with nine wickets down.
[alert heading="Emeriti Cricket Club" type="info"]Emeriti is the past participle of Emeritus and means something along the lines of "those honourably discharged". The cricket club which bears the name draws its players from those who attended Catholic public schools in England. The wandering club travels the country playing against current pupils of Catholic schools in the hope of giving them an insight into the joys of Gentleman's cricket.[/alert]
Thanks, Nico, for keeping us informed - especially those of us who are scattered to all four corners (like Arizona, in my case).