Jack Straw XI at Eton

As the Jack Straw runs mounted up, especially from the bat of Hatrick, with his 15 fours and two sixes, the game seemed to be slipping from our grasp on the spreading fields of Eton, bathed in warm sunshine. They were rattling along at just under seven runs an over, with Richard Beard joining in the fun at number six and knocking an unbeaten half century.

But as soon as Benny had strapped himself up and strode out to the crease, our fears began to fade. Even though Gilly, Brian and David disappeared for 13 runs between them, Steve’s entry to the fray sparked a giant partnership of somewhere around 210 runs, during which the Straws were cast to all corners of the ground like chaff. Ben’s final 36 runs comprised four sixes, two fours and four singles before he took one heave too many and perished for 114. Steve, meanwhile, scented victory and steered us to it with a couple of overs to spare.

As ever, this fixture was played in an excellent spirit: competitive but relaxed, evenly contested, and with free beer at the end!