RIG vs BBC Radio Finance Cricket Match

 

iNEVILLE CARDIGAN WRITES:

The heavens miraculously cleared at South Park Cricket Ground in Fulham for the inaugural RIG v BBC Finance 20/20 challenge. Skippered by the indomitable Michael Davis, the BBC team won the toss, and took to the field. RIG opened strongly with Freelance Max Wooldridge and London Door’s Chris Williamson making a steady start. Williamson’s aerial drives and late cutting looked impressive. Des Shaw (Ten Alps) proved a useful No 3 and, for a period, matched Williamson stroke for stroke during his innings of 11. Anthony Denselow (100 Objects) was clearly regressing some schoolboy memories, and looked confident before being trapped LBW by a vicious Davis in-swinger for 9. Having played the anchor role, Williamson followed, losing his off stump to Radio 3’s Ben Woolland for 44. With seven overs to go, Boz Temple-Morris of Holy Mountain added a touch of flair, impressively upping the run rate with a breezy 15 not out. When joined by Roger Bolton, hot foot from the Feedback studio, the two took the RIG team into three figures. There was the sound of rapturous applause. Bolton’s late sweeping in his innings of 5 not out was a pleasure to watch, vaguely redolent of the Nawab of Pataudi in his pomp. RIG’s total of 105 had set up the match nicely.

 

The RIG bowling attack looked promising. The new(ish) ball was taken by two best-selling authors and broadcasters: Adam Jacot de Boinod (“The Meaning of Tingo”) and Max Arthur (“Forgotten Voices of the First World War”). Jacot de Boinod started with a maiden, then wavered somewhat. The veteran Arthur struggled with his length. Roger Wright (Controller, Radio 3) and Tom Guest of Business Affairs were tough to shift, and slowly accelerated the run rate. In the tenth over, Williamson bowled Guest with a beautifully arcing off-cutter and RIG breathed a sigh of relief. Tight bowling followed with spells from Williamson, David Prest (Whistledown), and Temple-Morris. Graham Frost (Ear-2-Ear) in caddish three-quarter length flannels threw some good-looking shapes in the outfield, and casually pouched a steepling drive to dismiss A+M Procurement man Mark Weekes. Wicket-keeper Bolton, looked relieved to take a thin edge off A+M Management Accountant Geoff Drury’s bat. He then topped off a tidy session behind the timbers with a casual run out which had all the hallmarks of a reluctant husband sent out to the local supermarket only to find himself in a 12 yard sprint for the last shopping trolley.

 

With the match in its final stages, RIG’s secret weapon in the shape of Whistledown’s Rose de Larrabeiti was wheeled out. It was an impressive late spell, her whippy action tempting Roger Wright into a hitherto unexplored corridor of uncertainty. But Wright was in no mood to surrender. This was a man in pre-Proms focus: dogged and limpet-like. With just 8 balls to spare, Wright majestically hit the winning runs to bring home a BBC victory by 6 wickets.

 

Not quite a nail-biter - more of a cuticle tickler. At the post-match presentation held at a Parson’s Green hostelry, Michael Davis accepted the newly minted trophy on behalf of BBC Finance. Plans are already in hand for the 2012 challenge, and RIG’s preparation must start now.