OPC Summer Party - Match Report
R.S. Baldock XI vs Old Pauline CC XI, 18th July 2004
It was particularly appropriate that the final event in the series of social occasions to mark Stephen Baldock’s retirement as High Master should have a cricketing flavour. Three years in the School First XI, Captain in 1963, coach of many Junior Colts teams and stalwart batsman and wicket-keeper for the Masters ‘All-Star’ XI for over thirty years: cricket has been a significant part of Stephen’s thirty-nine-year association with the school.
It was also appropriate that the two teams selected to do battle in his honour should include some players who, like me, remember him as a thirteen-year-old new boy, his own contemporaries, and former pupils from each of his terms as teacher, Housemaster, Surmaster and High Master; and that his own team should be captained by his son, Andrew in this match of thirty-five overs a side.
At lunch I sat opposite Brian Thompson, ageless maestro behind the stumps and brilliant Captain of my 1959 Second XI. Next to him was Janet Baldock. They are soon to be neighbours in another sense as Janet and Stephen are moving to Over Wallop, in Hampshire shortly, which is Thompson country. She was on particularly lively form, telling us how Stephen, actually put the ring on her finger over dinner at a hotel in Amesbury en route to her parents’ home in Taunton, adding that he had had to sell his car (a Rover called Rhoda) to buy the ring. This was later confirmed by the vendor/emptor.
After a spirited gastronomic net the players took the field, Baldock fils having won the toss and elected to bat. James Poulet (’94 vintage) and John East (’64) had a good look at the lively Tom Peters (’94 ) and Sam Hyman (’97) and liked what they saw. Poulet was polished and professional and East employed an increasing amount of blade until the guileful and miserly Paul Moir trapped him lbw for 36. 67 for 1 off 14 overs. Chris Musk (’60), having bravely (foolhardily?) volunteered for the number three spot, came in and after several stylish but unavailing flourishes finally made two availing ones. Evidently fatigued by this success he promptly retired ‘to let someone else have a chance’. Tom Etherton (’97) offered some seductive off-spin and lured Poulet into indiscretion for a well-crafted 48. This brought in the Lord Razzall (’61) who scampered some surprisingly frisky singles and even went so far as to run a three. He survived his old team-mate, Richard East’s (’61) ‘Gatting ball’ but was caught soon after for an aristocratic 11. Benjy Webb (’81) after being dropped–and-bowled by East holed out to Sam Peters. This brought the Captain (’94) and Alastair Grant (’98) together with the score 142 for 4 off 30. The next five overs yielded 67 runs. Various bowlers toiled and spun, David (Dotty) Thomas (’62) and Alex Duncan (’98) among them but Andrew and Alastair swashbuckled most productively – 16 coming off the final over – to set a total of 197 for 4.
An excellent tea was further enlivened by two brief speeches by Ray Burton, Chairman of the OPCC, and Stephen Baldock after which battle was resumed. Your correspondent persuaded Andrew B to allow Razzall to bowl an over or two to Richard East in riposte, hoping that his Lordship would not prove too expensive. I needn’t have worried. After seven overs he took his sweater with figures of 3 for 20 having foozled three batsmen (including East R., who will surely never be allowed to forget this) with bowling of unbelievable slowness and positively spendthrift flight. His other victims were the dangerous Alex Duncan with a brilliant low caught-and-bowled rendered possible by his vestigial follow-through and Tom Etherton stumped by Musk with John Murray-like suavity. Peter King (’71), replacing Paul Mann (’00) was similarly tantalising at the other end snaring Sunil Kaikini (’91) with a caught-and-bowled. At this point – 50 for 4 off 16 – East R., with characteristic critical acumen, observed ‘It’s not looking good’. However Manav Maini (’04) and Sam Peters (’96) played with increasing composure and positiveness until both were bowled by David Methuen’s (‘00 ) orthodox left-arm,, Sam being deceived by the quicker one (‘Or did you just miss it?’ I inquired on his return.). Hyman and Tom Peters now came together at 98 for 6 with twelve overs to go. They had much to do and did some of it pretty well before Hyman got there far too soon for an East J. delivery. Brian Thompson (’59), clearly rehearsing for his appearance for the MCC (South-West) v. MCC (East Anglia) at Lord’s on 16th August – his Lord’s debut – now unleashed a devastating attack on East J. driving him on both sides of the wicket for 15 in the over. The bowler soon got his revenge however: a neat stumping by Musk (SPS Second XI wicket-keeper ’60) sent his immediate predecessor in that role back to the pavilion. It was now 157 for 8 with 4 to go – a tall order but still possible. Peters, ably assisted by Thomas, strove mightily to keep up the required rate but the steadiness of East J. and Giles Corner (’99) - Fives Champions both - and some mixed but enthusiastic fielding proved just too much. 19 were needed off the last over and 9 achieved.
Fittingly R.S.Baldock’s XI had prevailed by 9 runs and Stephen’s health and happiness were drunk in beer and Pimm’s in the OP tent.
Many thanks to all the players, helpers and spectators; to Umpires Ian McNicol (’64) and Peter Brown (’71) - the latter a late substitute for John Doughty (’52), injured while over-training for the event - and Scorer Alan Hague; to James Rolfe (‘95) for masterminding the whole thing; and to Stephen Baldock for inspiring it.
ALASTAIR MACKENZIE
