Match Summary

A return fixture, old-fashioned English sunshine, the now familiar texture of a 'lively' Bappa wicket, and a daring new opening partnership were the order of the day as the twenties took to the field against the always affable Corridors.

Skipper Groom called it wrong and found himself trudging in on jelly legs for an appointment with fear opposite the more composed Lloyd-Baker. Never looking comfortable at the crease, and trying out a new stance, the captain was soon back under the trees thanks to a plumb LBW courtesy of the rambunctious Rhino Butta, the Corridors dashing aussie all-rounder.

Lloyd-Baker followed soon after, the first of several victims of the now notorious Bappa wicket, his leg stump clattered by a ball that moved a good three feet (and probably more) off a ridged foot mark. Godsal, with high hopes of a big score after clobbering the Corridors attack last year, was unfortunately on his way soon after, caught on the leg side after one of his trademark leg side wafts failed to connect properly.

'Archie' Stevens failed to stop the rot, bowled for another duck by a rampaging Rhino, and the twenties were, to put it frankly, in some serious shit on 11-4.

The Corridors brought on the dibbly dobbly merchants, and Willis, ably supported by a watchful Greayer, began to impose a little respectability on proceedings, the pair adding 46 valuable runs. Unfortunately Willis miscued a hook off the returning Rhino and was brilliantly caught in the deep by Thomson, and the incoming Elwes was soon outgoing, captured LBW by the same player.

With Greayer run out for a gutsy 13 the twenties threw the big hitters into the mix. Cannon and new bug Cator performed admirably, lashing 35 and 46 respectively, and in quick time. With the score on 143 Lucky Pierre sloshed at one too many and was bowled by left-armer Lee (who ended with excellent figures of 8-0-33-3), but Tyers came to the crease and supported King Ralph to add another 17 valuable runs. Then the Cat departed for 5, bravely - although somewhat comedically - trying to get Cator back on strike, and debutant Holden made a brief cameo to take the score to 165-9.

Given the vagaries of the pitch, this looked a defendable total, and so it proved. Cannon opened up for the twenties with the usual steely glint in his eye and all the fire that his name implies. In the blink of an eye three Corridors were back in the hutch for just seven runs, victims of a ball that was swinging both ways and a pitch that could best be described as 'helpful' to the bowler.

Elwes chipped in next, Sam 'Golden' Holden pouching a neat chance close in. The Corridors teetered on 14-4, rather as the twenties had, and then, also rather like the twenties, they turned to a gutsy antipodean to put things right. Rhino showed that his rapaciousness was not just limited to bowling, and struck a series of lusty blows off the home side's spin battery, equalling the match top score of 46 before the returning Cannon knocked back his off peg. A hostile spell from Cator then did damage to the Corridors lower order, with three of the visitors clean bowled for just 21 runs off his seven overs.

With the groundsman - if one can call him that, given the state of the strip - appearing to warn the combatants that time was nearly up Groom brought on the slower bowlers again, and the ten-man Corridors were finally finished off 25 runs short when Davis was stumped off the guileful twirling of Lloyd-Baker. With another man in the pav would the plucky visitors have carried the day? We'll never know, and to be frank the result was of scant importance compared to the conviviality of another enjoyable and amiable fixture.

View from the Away dressing room

Match report by D. Mallard, Skipper, Corridors.

The team arrived at Barn Elms at around 1pm. The skipper just after 2pm. Wes not at all. After several weeks of rain sorry drought, Saturday dawned fair as a female Swede. These two immense rivals squared up once again. Twenties-v-Corridors are rapidly becoming the Ashes of shit level cricket. Vice Captain Pogo Patterson won the toss, much to his surprise, and elected to bowl. Good lad. This time last year the Twenty Minuters put on a huge total for the first wicket. Even then one of the openers had to start heaving at the ball before a wicket 'fell'. This time there was to be no repeat performance. New signing Ryan 'The Rhino' Butta, bowling uphill against the wind; and Matt 'Mutley' Lee, bowling downhill and with the wind (obviously) were quickly amongst them. The Twenties openers, Groom and Lloyd-Baker, were sent back to the hutch early Doors. Groom fell to a tasty LBW from paceman Rhino, while Lloyd-Baker was bowled round his legs by Mutley. The ball pitched outside leg before cannoning into that hapless batsman's leg peg, or peg leg this spoke volumes about the deck but take nothing away from Mutley, this was a fine return to form for the day's leading wicket taker. It wasn't long before he was in there again. Danger man Godsal pulled at a short one but only succeeded in sending it down 'Radar' O'Reilly's throat at square leg. The lad leapt like a salmon and fell like a brick with the orb pouched safely in his mitts. Rhino pitched in at the other end barging into Stevens' stumps and suddenly the Twenties were in trouble. Rhino and Mutley made way for Radar and Pogo. The slower bowlers sent down their 57 Varieties but with little success, until new Danger Man, Willis, hooked at one from Radar. A good shot, but only good enough to send it over new boy Thomson. The Tiger leapt, put his hands behind his head, and landed like a cat, ball in hand. Those doubters who maintain that he only pulled it off because his girlfriend was scoring only yards away may have a good point. Anyway, it was a stunning catch totally against the grain of normal Corridor fixtures. The Tiger was rewarded with a spell of bowling and made the most of his opportunity on debut, bowling a tidy spell and taking the wicket of Elwes LBW. He also had a hand, quite literally, in the next wicket as the Twenties 'Gentleman' Jim Greayer went for a daring second from an overthrow by Patterson. The Tiger pounced and whipped one in to Devious who shattered the stumps to send Greayer back to the pav. Just as an aside, it's interesting to watch Devious as the bowler runs in. If you watch his hands, safely ensconced in the now famous green gloves, they're furiously working away like giant lobster claws. Now I'm not suggesting a change of nickname for the fella, I'm just, you know, pointing something out. It must be said that the Green Lobster barely let a ball through all day. The only one this reporter can remember was a genuine edge from Cannon that slid between Lobster Boy and first slip. The only reason this reporter remembers this is because he was bowling at the time. Cannon then made hay with some lusty blows, blocking the Skipper's good balls before despatching his rank beamers for several maximums and Quattro's. It was this low order hitting from Cannon and Cator that did for the Corridors. Cannon (35) was eventually blasted away (sorry) by the returning Lee (who finished with figures of 8-0-33-3) and Cator (46) was his own worst enemy ambling for home as Pogo fired one in from the boundary which Devious clawed at before whipping of the bails. In total, 9 wickets fell for 165 runs. Not as good as the last time these two behemoths clashed (we'll leave Captaincy struggles to the Twenties), but an imposing total nonetheless.

It seemed even more so when the first few Corridor wickets fell for little reward. Skipper Mallard was out for a duck to a ball that jagged back in at him (no, really it did). Only to be followed by Junior moments later. The Tiger and fared little better but at least played a few shots before they too succumbed to some deadly, straight bowling. Both were caught, much to their credit. So, four down for not many runs. In many respects a similar start to the Twenties innings. To give their S.kip credit, he did change the bowling (as the Corridors had done) to even up the contest. Could the uncertain Corridors match the Twenties fight back? Cometh the hour, cometh the man they say. Well, he couldn't come so he sent Ewens instead. And with him came the Rhino. These two set out to steady the ship, Ewens with his unorthodox shots and the Rhino with grace, style, flair and élan. Can you tell we want him to play for us again? Ewens was eventually bowled by the irrepressible Cator for 13 but not before showing a great eye for the ball. 'Imagine it's a pint' I said. The Rhino was out bowled as, on Skipper/Umpire's orders, he started to hit out to up the run rate. By now the Groundsman had appeared to inform us that the gate would be locked at 7.30 and that all 21 players, scorers, girlfriends and children had to be out within the half hour. This rarely happens at Test level although there is a report that a match between Middlesex and Surrey Juniors had to be abandoned because several players had to be home for tea. Anyhow, the lusty Corridors threw the bat about with Pogo, Radar and Devious in particular stripping the willow at all comers. Pogues and O'Reilly were eventually bowled going for a big ones (shots that is) and Devious was stumped doing same, but not before hitting some sizzling boundaries. All this left Mutley stranded on 9 not out with no last man to come. And here is a moot point. With two overs left and 26 runs needed, could Mutt and, perhaps Wes, have knocked off the runs needed for victory? Or even batted out time for a plucky draw? Should the Groundsman's intransigent recalcitrance be taken into consideration? We'll never know. What we do know is that the Corridors rose to the occasion. We also know that we believe in ourselves in all departments, not just in Accounts and HR. And we need to get back in the nets. 11 players would be nice too.