PRESIDENT'S MEN WIN AGAIN

26/06/02: A thrilling finish to a very long day saw the President's XI beat the OLCC for the second year running.

Having triumphed by 46 runs in 2001, OLCC President Graham Carter's side repeated the trick this season - although they were run much closer this time as the OLs fell just nine runs short.

The tone for a memorable day was set in the very first over as OLCC legend Mickey Moss, opening the batting for the President's XI, snicked a beauty from James Craig and departed having failed to trouble the scorer (one Junior Jack Straw).

Craig struck again to remove Moss' fellow opener John Crosfield (11) before the Carter brothers Tom and Ed steadied the ship with an impressive partnership of 46.

Ed, sporting Jason Gillespie-style facial hair having just returned from a trip around the world, looked a little rusty but had obviously psyched himself up well during the 45 minutes prior to match in which he mysteriously 'vanished' as he withstood a barrage of sledging to make his way to 28.

However it was not to last and with lunch approaching the elder of the brothers was next to go, some accurate bowling from Richard Newell Price forcing him to chip the ball to Paul 'Judith' Chalmers at midwicket, who needless to say made no mistake with the catch.

The Carter family connection was maintained after lunch with Sean Stubbs (the President's second cousin) and Tim Stubbs (the President's first cousin) adding three and four respectively before falling to Price.

But Tom Carter continued apace and compiled a superb 71 before eventually holing out to a magnificent running catch by the otherwise under-employed Neale Jackson off the bowling of Craig.

Eric Jackson and Tom Scrase then produced some lusty hitting to boost the President's XI total, which hitherto had been stifled by some remarkable fielding, with Simon 'Granny' Best and Chris 'Jack' Straw both in excellent form. (Also worthy of note was the sensational bit of fielding performed by Julian Fitter on the boundary, which left all who witnessed it paralysed with laughter).

Jackson and James Berridge perished in the late flourish, which saw the 'visitors' reach a total of 228 for eight declared, reached in a total of 60 overs.

It was a stiff task for the OLCC, and one that was made all the worse as Fitter, Tom Gillmor, Straw and Jackson were all back in the pavilion with the score on 43.

However James Craig lifted spirits with a dashing innings of 21, featuring two mighty sixes, and Nick Wood showed admirable application in building a stand of 56 with skipper Phil Samuels.

Wood finally went lbw to John Crosfield, but Geoff Samuels took up the baton and added a rapid 21 before Tom Carter returned to flatten his stumps.

His brother Phil (57) and Best then departed in quick succession to leave the OLCC staring down the barrel at 190 for nine, still 38 runs adrift and with time running out.

But Price and Chalmers kept edging closer and it was only when the former lofted a return catch to Julian Shackel that the President's XI pulled off a narrow victory, dismissing the home side for 219.

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