Played at Victoria Park. Report by Hassan Khan (captain)

Mad Morrocas forfeited the match due to insufficient  players. Consequently,  all agreed to a friendly fixture,  reduced to 14 overs per side due to poor weather. Debutant Matt Ng-Wai and Matt Wake agreed to play for MM and Mark Scoltock selflessly volunteered to keep wicket for both sides for a combined 28 overs.

Having lost the toss, we were put into bat - a surprising decision bearing in mind the weather and damp pitch. Rav Matharu was effortlessly on his way to another 50 before missing a straight one from Matt W. This brought in Charlie Miller and our run rate accelerated as this astute academic art historian  metamorphosed from Picasso scholar to pugnacious Pieterson,  smashing a belligerent 38 not out.  He  was ably supported by Tim Castle, a classicist by training who defied the MCC coaching manual with 3 scorching 4s despite zero footwork!  Only later did I discover Tim's strokeplay was "enhanced" by a pulled hamstring! Thanks to Charlie and Tim, OFCC posted a competitive 139.

MM were always struggling,  thanks to deadly spin duo John 'Wily O'Riley' Shaw and Steve "Hammo" Hamilton.  Wily, defying age like vintage wine, tied up the MM batsmen in knots with 2 wickets. Not to be undone, Hammo, coaxed into bowling after Brearley-esque mentoring (by HK, of course),  broke the spine of the MM batting with 3-19. Proving that he was a player as well as a gentleman,  Tim added to his crucial runs with a critical wicket.

However,  the match bore the twists and irony of a Homerian fable. Thanks to the 2 Matts, batting as the final wickets in the final over,  MM needed 16 from the final over, Matt NG emulating Usain Bolt with two all-run 5s! The battle switched to Rav and the umpire, who he accused of cheating after calling wide the 1st 2 balls. Quickly,  I once again did some Brearley-esque counselling and the bowler duly responded by yorking last man Matt W to end the MM innings, 13 runs short.

 In summary,  2 victories in 3 hours for OFCC, splendidly celebrated afterwards in the People's Park Tavern.

Old Fallopians won by 13 runs

Old Fallopians 140-4 (14 overs)
Rav Matharu              b Wake   48
Mark Dummett   ct Marcus b Ng-Wai 11
Charlie Miller not out            38
Steve Hamilton lbw       b Ng-Wai  0
Tim Castle               b Marcus 14
Hassan Khan    not out             1
Extras: W 24, NB 1, B 1           26
DNB John Shaw

Angus       3-0-23-0
Joseph Gray 2-0-26-0
Marcus      3-0-26-1
Mike        2-0-27-0
Matt Ng-Wai 2-0-17-2
Matt Wake   2-1-9-2


Mad Morrocas 127 all out (13.3 overs)
Marcus      ct Miller  b Castle   12
Ed          ct Miller  b Hamilton 15
Joseph                 b Hamilton 21
Angus       ct Khan    b Shaw     23
Mike        ct Matharu b Hamilton  0
Matt Ng-Wai not out               27
Matt Wake              b Matharu  17
Extras W 6, B 2                    8

Shaw     3-0-29-1
Miller   3-0-24-0
Castle   2-0-21-1
Hamilton 3-0-24-3
Dummett  1-0-11-0
Matharu  1.3-0-10-1