Refreshers v Authors
5 July 2026
Warm sunshine and the Refreshers arrived on 5th July at Little Marlow, the pretty home ground of the Authors XI, for only the second fixture between the two clubs.
Full and frank pre-match disclosure suggested the visitors were the stronger eleven; the toss was dispensed with, and the Refreshers batted first, aiming to post a decent total and later manage their bowling to deliver a narrow but satisfying victory. Sound in principle, but the game of cricket has a habit of confounding such plans, and so it proved on this occasion.
In truth the Refreshers, despite a promising combination of elegance and power in an unusually strong batting line up, never hit top gear against a consistent Authors attack supported by tight fielding.
Four of the top eight fell cheaply, whilst Brady and Sachin both made promising starts but ended c&b in the low 20s. This tale of unfulfilled potential was bookended by a typically accomplished 37 from Boscombe at 2, and what was surely one of the classier innings played in Refreshers colours in recent times from the young Josh Silva, the pick of the batters, falling just short of his 50. In the tail the Spurr brothers added 30 important unbeaten runs between them, and we finished on 198 – 9 off our 35 overs; respectable, and apparently defendable, but fewer than we had hoped for.
A flurry of early boundaries allowed the Authors a strong start in reply, as the ball flew several times at catching height through a packed off-side field in the first few overs. But some tight bowling (especially from Ted Spurr, Weekes, Sachin and Siggins) that was at times also impressively hostile (from Josh Silva in particular) soon stemmed the flow.
And so, despite some stylish accumulating from their top order, the Authors found themselves significantly behind the rate and losing wickets, and by mid-innings it was clear that it would take a miracle to turn the tide.
That miracle appeared in the form of the Authors’ ringer, a twenty-something ‘off-spinner’, who arrived at the crease at the end of the 27th over, hurled the bat at every delivery he faced, connected with most of them, and departed 18 balls later having walloped a memorable 42. This cricketing whirlwind turned the game on its head in just two overs; 41 of his runs came from his first 13 balls. By the time an effective strategy was devised (four fielders on the boundary between cow corner and long on and then bowl fast at leg stump) it was sadly too late, and as he breezed back to the pavilion and calm returned to the square, only nine were needed from the remaining five overs.
Defeat when it comes suddenly and unexpectedly can sting; in this case a generous invitation from our gracious victors to join them for beer in their local – a pleasant boozer a short walk from the ground – offered welcome relief under evening sunshine. No sign of the whirlwind by this stage; having slept the night before in his car after a party, he had departed to nurse his hangover.
HS