Refreshers v Chelsea Arts Club

Under the watchful eye of Henry Blofeld, the Refreshers completed a comprehensive win over old rivals the Chelsea Arts Club (of which Blowers is the President – hence his appearance at a windy Harrow). Due to circumstances long since forgotten (as with all the best feuds) the Refreshers relish a win over the Arts Club more than any other, and so when the two languid openers from Chelsea cruised to 100 before the 20 over drinks break, some nerves were beginning to build. They did so helped by the fact that we had only 10, but it would have been many more had it not been for the excellent and controlled opening spell by off-spinner Milo Skelton, supported from the top end by first Richard Warlow and then Chris Bell. Jack Bell replaced Skelton into the wind and bowled four overs of splendid and tempting leg-spin and wickets began to fall. Cannon mopped up the tail with 5-12 (clearly benefiting from those that had gone before, as so often), Gross took 3 with his neat and sharp seamers, and the Chelsea Boys were all out for 132. It didn’t seem enough.

It was not enough – not even nearly. Paul Stewart and James Skelton set about the bowling, and when Burrett replaced Skelton, the game was soon up. Stewart bludgeoned an unbeaten 40, and Burrett departed for 52, the game already won, leaving Ed Gross (my dear old thing, why have you kept him back so long?) to hit five fours and, with an assassin’s lack of compassion, coolly thwart both the Arts Club’s distant hopes of victory and Stewart’s hopes of a fifty. Stewart seemed not to mind; one suspected the Auld Enemy minded somewhat more. Refreshers win by 8 wickets.