THE Elephant?s Nest Cricket Club took a party of 35 players, families and friends on a Whitsun tour of the Isles of Scilly to play the islands of St Mary?s, St Martin?s and Tresco. Despite their small populations, 1600, 120 and 170 respectively, each of the islands fields at least one and usually more Australian or South African players of considerable ability and St Mary?s has several players who, if on the mainland, would play at premier league level. This coupled with an average player age of over 40 meant that the Nest would be seriously tested so sinews were undoubtedly stiffened as the party embarked at St Mary?s harbour for the 20 minute boat trip to the first fixture on St Martin?s delightful ground a few minutes from Higher Town Quay adjoining Par Beach. Winning the toss the Nest elected to bat in variable weather conditions and Crispin Chambers and Chris Miller made a watchful start against tight bowling from Morton and New Zealander McGill, until Miller was bowled in the fifth over with the score on 15. This brought in Edmund Hulme making his first guest appearance of the season for the Nest. Hulme launched an almost immediate aerial assault on the opening bowlers taking 14 off McGill?s last over who until then had bowled three overs for just 8 runs. He was ably supported at the other end by Crispin Chambers. Unfortunately one of these quick singles aggravated Edmund Hulme?s hamstring requiring Chris Miller to return as his runner. Despite chaotic occasions when all three players were out of their ground the partnership flourished with Hulme despatching the bowling to all parts of the pitch, including the pond, in a swashbuckling innings of 64 off 9 overs (including three sixes) until he was caught in the deep with the score on 101. After Crispin Chambers?s carefully crafted innings of 23 was ended by Goddard, Pete Wilson then carried on the attack, hitting an undefeated 29 and Nest ended with 139 off 20 overs. St Martin?s started steadily matching the Nest?s run rate after four overs until Dave Cherrington bowled Goddard (8) bringing in their big-hitting New Zealander, McGill was looking dangerous until he advanced too far on Neale?s last ball and was bowled off his pads for 16 (3 fours). Smith played a careful opener?s innings of 28 almost batting through until bowled by Wilson, but at the other end wickets fell regularly to the Nest?s other bowlers ? Crispin Chambers ( 1 for 8); Chris Miller (1 for 5);Dave Cherrington (1 for 20) and Luke Harrington (1 for 16) for St Martin?s to be bowled out for 99. This meant an Elephant?s Nest victory by 40 runs which was then celebrated in St Martin?s only inn the Seven Stones. The return boat trip to St Mary?s saw a deterioration in the weather on the Sunday causing the match against St Mary?s to be cancelled and driving the majority of players into the Mermaid and Atlantic Inns for most of the day and into the evening. The following day, against a good Tresco side, the weather cleared and the trip to Tresco was a highlight of the tour with the famous gardens a particular pleasure for many of the party. The cricket ground, beside the pretty parish church, was a new artificial wicket laid on a concrete base. It made the pace and bounce difficult to adjust to on first acquaintance which was undoubtedly why Tresco on winning the toss asked the Elephant?s Nest to bat first. Tresco?s two Australians were a decisive influence on the outcome. Hamilton opened the bowling and achieved considerable pace and lift accounting for all four of the top order. Crispin Chambers (1) and Pete Wilson (12) walked to faint edges to the other Australian, wicketkeeper-batsman Maskell, who kept extremely well in shorts and without pads! Terry Pearce (3) was bowled just as he appeared to be finding his touch, and Saturday?s run scorer, Edmund Hulme top-edged Hamilton trying to hook him out of the ground. The unfortunate run out of Dave Cherrington (4) left the Nest reeling at 27 for 5 and only a pugnacious 19 from captain Ben Neale supported by Chris Miller with 9 took the score to 75, about half of the required target off 25 overs. Hamilton took 4 for 8 off 5 overs and his compatriot Maskell took four catches behind. The Nest did not capitulate however and made Tresco work for the 76 runs needed for victory. Dave Cherrington took all four of the wickets to fall (4 for 24). Despite the weather on the Sunday a most enjoyable tour ended with honours even, with a win and a loss, and happy memories of a visit to the ?fortunate islands.?
