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Sun 4th Jun 2017 vs. Wantage & Grove (A) @ Charlton Village Road, Wantage

Match report

IVCC win outright majority against Wantage & Grove.

In the week of the General Election, the candidates from IVCC travelled to the picturesque ground at Charlton Village Road to play Wantage & Grove. The corresponding fixture last year saw Tim Morton break all IVCC batting records with an executive 143.

The weather forecast offered as much reliability and variability as an election manifesto. Therefore, the parties agreed on a 35 over format. With Wantage & Grove winning the toss and electing to bat, the IVCC front benchers had to rally to make the field in time for the first session. With some IVCCers failing to follow the party line, initial voter (fielder) turnout was low. Order was restored upon the arrival of Big Aimz Irvine (candidate for the East Oxford Publican Support Party) for her second appearance in IVCC colours as a specialist fielder.

IVCC opened their campaign with Troth from “The Hedge” end and Bobby Boundaries from “The Road” end. Bowling in coalition, the pair built pressure on the opposition. This saw Troth take the opening wicket with a full straight one giving the Returning Officer no choice but to raise the finger - Haine gone LBW for 7.

With Bobby Boundaries embroiled in an expenses scandal relating to a Lion bar and a packet of Rib and Spicy NikNaks, he was replaced by Smith at the Road end. With the swing-o-meter showing some movement, Smith nipped out the other opener Mercer – bowled for 26. Troth reached the limit of his campaigning budget, so was replaced by new kid on the block, Scott, from the Hedge end. The man-with-two-first-names was immediately in the action, bringing about the Dissolution of the partnership between new men Bramley and Spencer, Troth Downing Spencer with a marvellous diving catch.

After initial marginal gains, the game swung back in Wantage’s favour with some lusty blows from the new man, Bramley. He worried the Boundary Commission on a number of occasions. Some balls disappeared into different constituencies and became eligible for postal voting. While falling short of an all-out landslide, Wantage moved from 96-3 to 214-4 with a well-constructed and aggressive partnership between Bramley and Manwani. At that stage, IVCC certainly had to come off their soap box and accept that a big chase was in store. Notwithstanding a very tidy spell from new man, Mohan, and a couple of late wickets, one apiece from Bobby B and Smith, Wantage headed for their Battlebus having posted a formidable 233-5 in their 35 overs. Having started conservatively, the Wantage attacking intent was far more liberal in the final 20 overs.

At the half way stage, the opinion polls suggested Wantage & Grove were ahead, but IVCC were confident of being able to overcome the deficit. With perfect batting conditions, some would describe the situation as a hung parliament.

After a delightful purdah of baguettes and homemade flap jacks (for which the opposition have the thanks of the IVCCers), the parties got back to it, looking to be the first-past-the-post.

IVCC openers, Law and Ram, answered all and any questions thrown at them by the Dimbleby-esque Wantage bowlers, racing past 50 without loss. Whilst the weather was threatening, so too was the IVCC opening pair, mixing outright power with touch and finesse, very much like a young Norman Lamont. Not until the score was on 80 did Ram spoil his ballot, being smartly caught for 30 off the bowling of Wood. This brought previous Premier, Morton, to the crease. Morton is clearly at home in the front benches of Charlton Village Road, moving elegantly through the gears and depositing a number of deliveries to the boundary. What Morton did not account for was the controlled spin of Haine, spin Alistair Campbell would have been proud of, trapping Morton LBW for 30 with the score on 165. This was a Hard Brexit for him to deal with after last year’s strong campaign.

Needing just over 70 to win, Smith entered the fray and looked to nudge and nurdle his way into the game. With Law at the other end suffering from an aggressive bout of asthma, unfitness and possible pleurisy, his Churchillian effort came to an end just short of his ton – bowled on 92 – and he returned to the back benches to a standing ovation.

IVCC still needed 50, and Smith opened his shoulders in an attempt to settle the debate. He was all too briefly joined initially by the promising Mohan and then by Bobby (no) Boundaries, who departed for 2 and 4 respectively. Voter confidence in the IVCC effort was starting to wobble and the run-out of Cavanagh for 1 did nothing to remedy that. The IVCC machine was starting to Labour in its endeavours. Yet, the doubters need not have doubted. Smith steadied the ship with 19 runs off the 29th over, whipping three consecutive deliveries to the boundary. Whilst Taylor fell on his sword without troubling the scorers, new man Troth and Smith finished the job, reaching 229 in the 33rd over. Following a brief recount after Smith and the Wantage keeper thought the game was over one run too early, the result was announced to the delight of the IVCC faithful.

To conclude, this was an extremely well fought consent, with both parties wrestling for power like the Milliband brothers. True to form, the uglier and less talented one ended up winning the day!

Thanks to Wantage & Grove for their hospitality and we look forward to another battle next season (or possibly a midweek by-election this season).