On Saturday the 1^st of August 2009, after a year of anticipation following on from last summer’s thriller, the British and Irish XI and the Most of the world XI took to the pitch at South Park to battle it out for this year’s honour. The British, with their professional looking kit bags and numbered shirts at the ready, were feeling confident upon arrival after seeing one member of the opposition turning up in his Aussie Crown Green Bowls Sunday best (later to be seen throwing some pretty interesting shapes in Aragon House). Their task was made a little harder, however, on losing the toss and being put into bat on an overcast day and on a wicket which looked more a cobble path than a road.

They made a good start however, with John ‘this year I won’t put my back out’ Hetherington scoring freely, whilst also keeping First time cricketer (and many time clown) Rory ‘lonely heart’ Rigney away from the strike, on his way to a quick fire 35 and into an early retirement.  Rigney eventually perished after a rather long stint at the crease for a slow fire 2. Skipper Clark was feeling confident though, and decided to send the owners of the two largest Kit bags he’d seen in a while (one even being personalised!) in at 3 and 4. However James ‘I’ve already put my back out’ Weeks and Mark Sweeting perished quickly to controversial 3 bounce balls from Hammers newly appointed 2^nd XV captain Andrew Rogan. The Aussie has already proven to be a valuable asset to the club in terms of rugby duties, but MoW skipper Wesley is sure to have his name down on next year’s team sheet already, providing an official review of his action proves inconclusive.

Unfortunately this sparked a little bit of a collapse for the Home team. ‘Legs’ Kenward and ‘Ernie’ Hemmingway provided some cultured and not so cultured shots throughout the innings, and Nick ‘Barnes would have better bowlers!’ Kirkham managed to hold on to the bat long enough this year to provide some lusty blows. ‘Whitenoise’ Clark came in put Adam ‘The Gob’ Wotton’s suspect looking bowling, as well as Stoney’s gratuitous bowling, to all areas of the park which brought his early retirement, and older statesman Tom Clarke to the crease.

It was then that the controversy surrounding the format of the game arose. With Hetherington and Whitenoise both poised to return to the crease, the British felt like they may be able to force another 50 or so runs from overs 20-25. Opposition Skipper Wesley had other plans. After a quick glance at the skys above, he decided that they would not bowl any further in fear of the rain and that the game would be reduced to 20 overs per side. The scribe would like to think that this would have made a difference to the outcome of the game, but in reality, probably not. The target for MoW was a paltry 151.

The Most of the World Side went to work. Clark’s quick conference with Kenward deciding that the bad bowlers should bowl first to get them out of the way quickly backfired as Cruickshank, Pfeffer, Wotton and Hillier all passed 30. After a calamitous performance with the ball and in the field mainly from Rigney, the British finally got a wicket with the running out of poor old Mike Gane for just 1. Hetherington came on towards the end of the innings to show the captain what he’d been missing with two quick wickets, but Clark being despatched for 24 off one over by none other than Crown Green Bowler Dave Wallace, sealed the fate of the home team.

So the Antipodeans reign supreme again for another year whilst the British leave ruing the fact that there was an Irishman in the team. Good day had by all and thanks go to Sam ‘I don’t really play Cricket or Rugby, but seem to do alright at both’ Welsey for organising the day.

British and Irish XI: Rigney, Hetherington, Sweeting, Weeks, Kenward, Brunyate, N Richardson, S Richardson, E Clark, Hemmingway, Kirkham, T Clarke. Man of the Match: John Hetherington Tin Man: Rory Rigney

Most of the World XI: Pfeffer, Cruickshank, Wotton, Hillier, Rogan, Finn, Gane, Stone, Welsey, Graham, Wallace Man of the Match: Cam Pfeffer Tin Man: Rob Cruickshank