Two hundred and fifty years ago, the forebears of the Brigands were arguing about whether to introduce a third stump, while the forebears of the Butterflies were fighting over America. In August 1776, the Hambledon Club were debating matters across the road at the Bat and Ball; the two-stump wicket had been letting bowlers down for years, and a third stump was agreed on the grounds that it would shorten the game. At the same time, politicians who had progressed from one of the six Great Schools, that the Butterflies now represent, were dealing with a Declaration of Independence signed in Philadelphia. Lord North, the Prime Minister and King George III's "safe pair of hands", was Eton, and would end up as the man who lost America. Lord George Germain, who wrote the orders that crossed the Atlantic, was Westminster. Burgoyne was Westminster, Cornwallis was Eton. Two of the signatories were old boys as well: Thomas Lynch Jr of Eton, and Arthur Middleton of Harrow. The six Great Schools have produced 37 of Britain's 58 prime ministers. They also produced the man who beat Napoleon, the man who beat Hitler, and Will Miller, who hit a six to win a cricket match at the cradle of the game 250 Augusts later. For the second match running the Brigands fielded four members of the same family. This time it was the Kalras: Paul, with Harry, Sam and young Jake. Harry and Sam opened and went at it from the first over, 42 off 5 and 86-1 off 10, which is not how the Butterflies expected their Sunday to start. Gerry Northwood hit a brace of boundaries and then hit the ball in the air to a fielder. Neil Wood made 18. Guy Ladenburg made 81, with 15 fours and 2 sixes. The Butterflies used eight bowlers, and Oscar Chalk was much the best of them, 2 for 7 off his 3 overs. Brigands declared, independently, on 235-8 off 35 overs. The day was managed by the affable Richie Hay, scored by Caroline Beardall and Peter Danks, and umpired by the debonair Paul Whittle. His visiting counterpart, unbriefed on the village code, was stricter on wides than usual; there were 31 in the match. Lyndon juggles at point, then Perry slides over one at deep mid-wicket The chase began just as briskly, 27-1 off 5, 60-2 off 10, 113-3 off 15. Neil Wood bowled the best spell of the day and got one wicket for it, the dangerous Lily Lyndon. Tom Perry was brilliantly caught by Paul Bailey and walked; the spirit of cricket alive and well. Rupert Preece, an Old Harrovian and a Brigand guesting for the Butterflies, scored a classy 37. Ladenburg picked up important wickets; one skied to long off and held by Lee Gray, another one a late cut hit hard at gully and held by Mike Beardall. On the boundary, some of the crowd, including Pete Tomkins, Harry and Nina Bates, spent a while trying to remember another Beardall catch at gully, and concluded there had not been one, ever. Beardall bowled with flight and solid figures of 1-43. Gray bowled seam and then spin for 1-69, unable to replicate his Saturday League form on a Sunday. Drinks came with 20 overs left, 129 to win and 5 wickets standing. Will Miller came in at 7, Chalk at 8 and Pusinelli at 9. Partnerships of 27 for the seventh wicket and 64 for the eighth kept the Butterflies in it. Twice the ball went up towards the Monument and twice Dave Henderson caught it. The first he slid and juggled to see off Chalk. The second he took above his head, an inch in front of the rope, to see off Pusinelli. Twenty runs needed off two overs, and there was still work to do. Miller hit one in the air to deep square leg in the penultimate over, a sharp chance went down, and four runs came instead of a wicket. The barest of margins. Nine off the last over. A single, a dot ball, a two, a single; so five to win off two balls. Miller swung, the ball went towards the Monument, and it kept going, up and over the boundary for a six, and the Butterflies had won. Over 470 runs in just 74 overs. Another day of sunshine, runs and a close finish in this lovely summer. Village cricket was England's gain, and America's loss. Brigands 235-8 lost to Butterflies 237-8 by 2 wickets with two balls to spare Wides 31, run-outs 3, Beardall catches at gully 1 Butterflies celebrate as Miller hits the winning runs with a ball to spare The talented Kalra family at the cradle of cricket

The Nursery of English Cricket On this day in 1970, the South Yorkshire Times published the Summer Holiday notes of one of its cricket-loving journalists, Alan Banks. He covers the ground's history, the characters that performed here, and, like many visitors, bowls an imaginary ball in his mind's eye. Alan Banks, published 22 August 1970

On only their second visit to Broadhalfpenny Down, their first being New Year's Day 1929, The Invalids brought down a spritely and well-tailored XI. Having inserted Brigands into bat, Ladenburg and Whittle succumbed to accurate bowling on a day that was difficult to score runs. A steady flow of wickets was slowed by Charlie Peach (26) and a few aggressive drives from Dave Turner, and a lovely last wicket stand of 20 from Neil Wood and Dave Hemsley. Tea featured sandwiches, posh crisp, amazing sponges, rocky road and almond biscuits. With only 141 runs to defend special measures were needed; bowling tactics were to lull the opposition into thinking they would get home easily and then surprise them with rippers. First over; a full toss was despatched for four, then the surprise long hop was despatched straight into the hands of the fielder behind square leg. Genius. Ed Hands bowled with menace up the hill (but with the wind) and catches were taken including Inglis and Northwood holding on at cover and extra cover respectively. The tactics continued; Ladenburg started with a lulling full toss and then got two in two balls cheered on by the locals. Hemsley was no-balled for a beamer and then again for a double-bouncing ball, followed by two snorters including the last wicket which saw off stump out cartwheeling out the ground. The Invalids had inexplicably collapsed to 59 all out leaving more time for photographs, drinks at The Bat and Ball, and a record evening of sales for the Broadhalfpenny Down merchandise shop. Brigands 141 all out beat Invalids 59 all out by 82 runs

Brigands skipper Gerry Northwood won the toss for the second time in two games and this time elected to bat first. Suffice to say, this played better with those Brigands who are sensitive to the afternoon heat, than Sunday's decision to field first. Mark Flewitt and Dave Turner opened the Brigands account with a pair of 50s and retired to make way for the rest of the Brigands youthful yet strong batting line up. Batters 3 to 7 all played their part with the standout performance coming from Zeb Jay who totally over matched the Nomads bowlers and batted with supreme confidence to quickly ratchet up 46* at the declaration. At tea, Brigands 220 for 6. The Nomads chase stuttered on the third ball with the fall of a wicket - an audacious reverse sweep that misfired as an LBW. Thereafter, the Nomads batting settled down and there was no mistaking that their run chase was fully underway. Within the space of 8 overs they were nudging 100 before Mike Bath (5-33), Hari Walton and Jemima Bowman (2-7) steadied the ship with accurate and demanding bowling, and cut their way through the Nomads batting line up. Brigands 220-6 beat Nairobi Nomads 139 all out by 81 runs. Picture shows Jemima Bowman striking her first ball on Broadhalfpenny Down to the boundary.

Brigands started well with a 60 run opening partnership between Wood, Bailey and Byes that kept the scoreboard moving at 5 an over. With a batsmen-heavy Brigands line up, strike rate was the order of the day and on a straw coloured turning pitch defence was more dangerous than attack. Henderson hit 5 sixes, narrowly missing the Honorary Secretary's mother-in-law and just evading the windows of the Bat and Ball. When he was stumped it was left to Turner, who played shots all around the ground, and the more classical Charlie Peach to keep up the momentum. A brief cameo from Bates took the Brigands to 200-3 off 35 overs to allow an early declaration and tea. The Portsmouth chase started briskLy and it took line-and-length from Hays and a smart caught and bowled from Hands to keep the score to 60-2 after the first hour. The floaty-spin-triple-threat of Northwood/Jay/Turner were assigned the Pavilion end and Northwood in particular found good turn and bounce. Portsmouth remained patient and 90 off the last 20 overs with 5 wickets in hand seemed doable. Hands and Ladenburg switched ends and more wickets fell, Jay took a stunning one hand catch at silly mid off and now it was 30 off 6 overs and just 3 wickets left; more dots, more pressure and 16 needed off the last 2 overs. Under pressure, under the sultry evening sun, and under the impression he is an opening batsman, Wood was hit by Hampshire's Simon Jones for a couple of sixes and a four in the 47th and penultimate over sealing a 3 wicket win for Portsmouth. Brigands 200-3 declared lost to Portsmouth by 201-7 by 3 wickets

Turner, Bath and Wood hold their nerve in last over nail biter. Against the stunning backdrop of Blenheim Palace, Brigands played their first-ever fixture on the South Lawn and proceeded to provide an amusing diversion for the thousands of visitors exploring the palace and grounds throughout the afternoon. Brigands were in the field for a forty over a side game; Ladenburg and Wood opened the bowling but were unable to achieve a breakthrough despite going close on a number of occasions. After a relatively shaky start, the Blenheim Park openers grew in confidence and the scoreboard began to tick along until Hemsley, coming on as first change, bagged the first wicket. However, it wasn’t until skipper Dave Henderson turned to Bath and Padget that the scoring rate was significantly slowed. Between them, the pair took five middle-order wickets with Bath’s three wickets (a treble wicket maiden) in seven overs particularly impressive. Harry Bates was outstanding in the field and Adam Jay bowled his first maiden for the Brigands. Some lusty blows by the Park’s tail saw them reach 141 - an eminently defendable total given the tricky nature of the wicket. So, it proved with the Brigands losing three cheap wickets before tea was taken after ten overs of their innings. A fourth wicket was lost soon after the resumption with the score barely 40. However, on a wicket that was two-paced, Dave Turner curbed his natural attacking instincts to make an excellent 59 and hold the innings together as batting partners came and went. It wasn’t until he was joined by Mike Bath that the pair finally got on top of some tight bowling. Unfortunately, Turner fell just before the opposition’s score was overhauled and it was left to the cool head of Wood to strike the winning runs with three balls, and three wickets, to spare.

England's footballers reached the finals of the Euros so a short-format game took place against the Saints on a spongey Broadhalfpenny Down wicket. Saints, who always bring a strong team down from London, bowled straight and caught well and Brigands struggled to get any momentum reaching just 122 of their 150 balls. Brigands sinned with 4 dropped catches and England missed three penalties as Saints, and Italy, were victorious on the day. Saints 150-5 off 25 overs beat Brigands 122-7 off 25 overs

Brigands saved by the weather.....maybe. Somehow following a night of heavy rain and a forecast of more rain, the annual Brigands V Oundle Ramblers game got off the blocks and very nearly ran the course. In previous years the Oundle team has consisted of upper sixth students enjoying their last hurrah at the school on a cricket tour that includes a visit to Broadhalfpenny Down. On this occasion, courtesy of Covid, the school was unable to stage the tour and in place of the Upper Sixth, Oundle stalwart and manager Philip Pedley gathered together a talented team of old Oundles and Exeter University students. The Ramblers won the toss and elected to bat against a slightly depleted Brigands side of 10 players. Some increasingly effective bowling by debutante Brigand Sam Sargant (2 for 39) and Neil Wood (2 for 54) at first seemed to keep the Ramblers in check. Though this was not for long, as robust and hard hitting batting inexorably increased the run rate and they were on their way to a declaration at 4pm with 216 for 5 posted on the scoreboard. In reply the Brigands innings, anchored by opener Adam Jay (37) and supported by some clean hitting from Milo Fletcher (36no), took the Brigands to 103 for 3 at the start of the final 20 overs. Yet, by this stage the incessant drizzle was proper rain and the teams had no choice but to agree that it was time to call it a day. Oundle 216-5 drew with Brigands 103-3

For the third time this season, the weather has got the better of cricket, and the match against Merchant Taylors has been called off. Here's hoping for better luck next Sunday at Broadhalfpenny Down.

This game was eloquent testimony to the glorious unpredictability of cricket and a lesson in the importance of keeping going even when defeat seems inevitable. For the second week running, a stunning piece of fielding effectively swung the match, Brigands eventually emerged as winners from a contest in which they had been second-best for much of the time. On a hot, sunny afternoon, the Down looked at its best but this ensured that whoever lost the toss would be condemned to fielding in the roasting sun. So it proved: Dave Henderson called correctly and opted to bat. Droxford rose to the challenge of the heat by bowling and fielding extremely well throughout a long afternoon. As a result, Brigands made relatively slow progress for much of their innings, Jay anchoring the first part of which with a well-made and patient 39. He was well supported by Dave and Dougie Henderson and Whittle. However, it was left to some judicious hitting by the late order, notable young Jonas Waktare with 32, to enable the Brigands to declare at tea. At 118-1, Droxford were cruising to victory, this in spite of an excellent opening spell by Ladenburg and Hemsley, who took his first wicket for the club thanks to a sharp slip catch by Beardall. Henderson rotated his bowlers well, the Droxford second wicket partnership moved serenely past 100 and, with plenty of overs to spare, looked set to achieve a comfortable victory. For their part, the Brigands’ bowlers and fielders stuck at their task and standards were maintained in spite of the heat. When Henderson turned to Wood and his son, Dougie, the run rate started to falter and it was then that Waktare, fielding in the deep picked up and threw down the wicket with a direct hit, running out the Droxford Number 3 by half-a-yard. His partner fell LBW to Wood soon after and Brigands sensed that the tide had turned. So it proved and the return of Ladenburg proved too much for the Droxford tail which succumbed, leaving Brigands with a victory snatched from the jaws of defeat! Brigands 167 all out beat Droxford 144 all out by 23 runs

First, the outfield mower broke, then the square mower wouldn't start-up, then the floor fell out the heavy roller; bad things come in threes. And yet, somehow, Broadhalfpenny Down looked beautiful in time for the visit of the Old Wykehamists and the documentary maker from the International Cricket Council. Behind the scenes there was a monumental effort from Harry, Nina and Gerry; good things come in threes too. Jay and Flewitt laid the foundations for the Brigands who pushed onto 198 with a fifty for Ladenburg and a forty for Northwood. At tea-time players, officials and supporters enjoyed beautiful homemade sausage rolls and cake whilst caps were presented by Nick Harris, the Brigands Chairman, to Guy Ladenburg for his "consecutive fifties and important wickets" and to Dave Turner for "turning up". Old Wykehamists went for it from the start with Wood despatched for 12 in his first over. Peach managed to keep one end tight whilst runs flowed and wickets fell at the other; there was a high catch caught by Henderson Senior, a smart low catch by Flewitt and a full toss leg-before as Henderson Junior picked up three wickets. The match turned on a smart run out by Peach who was fielding at mid-off and whose pick up and throw clipped the bails and left the Old Wykehamists needing 20 with 2 wickets to spare. The pressure was mounting on both sides; Old Wykehamists were taking risky singles whilst Brigands fielders started moving themselves. With only 5 runs needed a ball was hit skywards to long-on where Turner avoided the catch and yet, whilst horizontal on the ground, picked up the ball and threw to the bowlers end to Ladenburg who ran out the number 11; it sealed a 4 run Brigands victory and redemption for match-winner Dave Turner. Brigands 198 all out beat Old Wykehamists 194 all out by 4 runs Bad things might come in threes, but good things come in

It's often the small things in life that, when taken away, are missed the most. This weekend saw the return of sunshine, refreshments on the pitch, home-made cakes in the marquee and supporters on the boundary. Every Brigand batted; Paul Whittle hit a six, Dave Henderson hit three in three balls and both Barney Wyld and Gerry Northwood scored elegant twenties. The Brigands declaration came at 190-9. Din Patel, Mike Beardall and Jake Peach took care of uphill containment bowling duties whilst Neil Wood was left to attack a round Petersfield team with his accurate "darts". Five in his first spell and two more to mop up the tail finishing with a Brigands career best of 7 for 15 which left the visitors 79 runs short. Chips arrived as the sun began to set and the first jug of the season was poured at the Bat & Ball; the small things. Brigands 190-9 beat Petersfield 111 all out by 79 runs

After inspecting the pitch ("a pudding") and consulting the weather forecast ("solid rain") the match between Brigands and Portsmouth CC on 23 May has been cancelled. Luckily there is a return match with Portsmouth on the seafront in mid-July which is one of only 2 away fixtures this season. The next scheduled Brigands match is on 30 May against Petersfield CC.

Brigands scored 207-8 declared with Guy Ladenburg scoring 80 Not Out on debut. Vagabonds shut up shop at the end and finished on 174-8 when time ran out with Neil Wood talking the first 3 wickets and Jake Peach and Jonas Waktare bagging two each.

The match against London New Zealand has had to be called off due to rain and a very waterlogged Broadhalfpenny Down. Hopefully, the Brigands will be back in action next weekend against Portsmouth CC.

Sons of Bacchus won the toss and elected to bowl first against what, on paper, was a strong Brigands’ batting line-up. In fact, the Brigands made slow progress against consistent and accurate seam bowling, backed-up by some excellent catching and ground fielding, which restricted the run-rate to little more than three-and-a-half an over for much of their innings. In the end, the Brigands were indebted to Mark Flewitt who batted for very nearly the whole innings for his painstaking 81. At the other end, batsmen came and went with none of them staying around long enough to put together a meaningful partnership; in the end, it took some lusty blows from the lower order to get the Brigands to a defendable score. Unfortunately, when it was their turn to field, the Brigands failed to match the accuracy of their opponents’ attack and fielding. As a result, Sons of Bacchus got off to a flyer and were scoring at six-an-over for the first ten of their innings. The introduction of Jake Peach and Mike Beardall had the effect of reining back the scoring rate and a smart stop and throw by Dougie Henderson brought about the first wicket with a run-out. Neil Wood then returned to pick up two wickets, one an excellent catch by Gerry Northwood at mid-off. However, any hopes of a breakthrough were stifled by Guy Ladenburg, playing for his regular side, and Sons of Bacchus overhauled the Brigands’ total with overs to spare – and just before the weather closed in! Brigands 180 all out lost to Sons of Bacchus 181-5 by 5 wickets

After looking good in the first pre-match fielding practice of the season, the Brigands failed to tackle the twin challenges of a low bounce wicket and running 22 yards slumping to 90-6 including two run-outs. An elegant 34 from Ed Hands and a maiden career 50 for Dougie Henderson led a Brigands recovery meant captain Mike Beardall could declare on 209. After the Hursley Park opener asked, politely, if we wouldn't bowl fast as it was his first game ever, the Brigands let loose new Grandad Neil Wood and Graham Inglis. At 60-1, the visitors were going well but a 6 ball spell from Ed Hands ripped out the top order which will give him something to think off whilst he enjoys his haircut next week. Hursley Park then sent out a man with one knee and a 1980s V100 bat to play for the draw but even this was no match for Jake Peach whose triple-wicket last over saw the Brigands home. Adam Jay contributed with outfield beers as Graham Inglis retained the Matt cartoon award and we interviewed the most interesting man of the day, Mike the Hursley park Captain; the man in the supply chain between the tree and the bat makers. Brigands 209-8 beat Hursely Park 130 all out by 79 runs

On another pleasant mid-April day the Newport Gentlemen made their first visit to Broadhalfpenny Down, and won the first toss of 2021. They elected to bat and made slow but steady progress against a decent Brigands attack. Opening up with Neil Wood and Ed Hands, skipper David Henderson had a varied bowling battery to rotate. Ed Walker, Dave Turner, Dougie Henderson, Gerry Northwood and David Henderson himself all turned their arms over, and there was always Jake Peach available in the locker too. Neil trapped J Khan LBW for a duck in his third over, before Imaq and Zia put on 43 for the second wicket, when Zia was bowled by Dougie Henderson. Three wickets then fell quickly to Ed Walker’s pace and Dave Turner’s spin, leaving Newport at 66 for 5, Brigands relaxed their grip a bit then, and the score moved along to 125 when Jamal was run out as Newport’s top scorer (39) was going for a single to Gerry Northwood! Newport Gentlemen finally reached 147, Ed Walker the pick of the bowlers with 4, the last one to a good slip catch by Ed Hands. Dave Turner took two on his debut, and David Henderson one. This was a solid start in the field for the Brigands first outing with, the skipper said, only a couple of blemishes. Brigands then went in to chase, starting with a quick 74 run stand between Paul Whittle and Jake Peach (retired on 51), which inspired a mini-collapse as first Paul, then Graham Inglis (a first-baller) fell. This slight wobble worsened with Adam Jay out for 1, taking Brigands to 86. But the ship was steadied, and eventually the match won with 13 overs to spare, thanks to an excellent 44* by Dougie Henderson accompanied first by Dave Turner who batted carefully for half an hour, and then Ed Walker (7*). Graham Inglis was the first recipient of the weekly award of The Matt Cartoon, following a democratic debate.

At the end-of-season dinner at the Rose Bowl marking the Brigands' golden jubilee in 2009, chairman John Musters announced the batting prize like this: "At 16 years old, the future of the club is in the hands of players like Jake Peach; and what's more he has younger twin brothers - so who knows, in four or five years' time we might have father and all three sons playing together in the same side!" He was right about everything except the timescale. It took another 17 years, and a good deal of patience from the twins. At Broadhalfpenny Down on Sunday, Graham Peach and his three sons walked out together in Brigands colours, watched by a substantial and widely travelled clan of family and friends; two of whom had flown in from New York to be there. The opponents for this well-supported family reunion were the zingy-sounding Refreshers CC, on their first visit to the cradle of cricket. They arrived rather unrefreshingly: no scorer, no umpire and two players short. In the finest Brigands tradition, the hosts covered the gaps. Paul Whittle stepped in alongside Bryan Burns as umpire, Sue Bailey partnered Peter Danks in the Refreshers' scorebook, and Aimee Benfield volunteered as their tenth player. The Portsmouth & Southsea all-rounder, fresh from a winning morning in the Hampshire Cup, had hoped for a quiet afternoon in the sun watching her boyfriend Jake Peach. Everyone except Jake persuaded her otherwise. Bravo Aimee. The Refreshers' top order made little headway against the nagging accuracy of Neil Wood's left-arm seam. He clean bowled three of them and finished with 3 for 23 from eight overs, two of them maidens. With half the home fielding side unusually youthful, the banter was vocal. "Tidy it up, Nelly!" came a quip from a nameless junior Peach whereupon Wood bowled his second victim with the very next ball. "Banter works," sniggered the larrikin at the huddle. Holding things together at the other end, opener Stewart hit the gaps, blocked the good ones and made a patient 35 from 99 balls in two hours. Around him an accelerating middle order; Bryant 22, Longstaff 41, Clapp 22 each looked set for something bigger before being arrested by John Brehaut, Graham Peach and Mike Beardall respectively. The Brigands' fielding was sharp and athletic. Six outfielders scampered, and throwing arms thumped the ball into Paul Bailey's gloves from the rope, with Charlie Peach seemingly everywhere at once. His leap at cover point for Beardall's first wicket was cat-like, and it came directly after Mike's wife Caroline had shouted "Come on, Bearders!" from the boundary. Jake Peach then earned his wicket, clipping the top of off stump to send back Baloch senior, before Beardall ended Stewart's vigil to make it 156-8. The loudest applause of the innings came from the Peach clan as Aimee strode out to join 13-year-old Baloch for the last pair. Knowing she would have to face her boyfriend's spin, she had a sudden bout of the giggles, then nervelessly clipped her first delivery through midwicket to a roar that would have woken Clanfield. "I'm not enjoying this," Jake muttered. "Well, I'm not exactly thrilled about it either, mate," came the instant reply. The pair added handsomely before the innings closed on a run-out, the batters having unwisely taken on Charlie Peach's arm. 170 to chase after tea. Tea was a Preece family production of the highest order; sumptuous, and devoured without ceremony by players, officials and a good many visitors besides. As the five-minute bell rang, a rendition of "Happy Birthday" drifted from the pavilion verandah to the ever-youthful Caroline Beardall, who blew out the candles on a cake iced by another woman of many talents, Sue Bailey. Back on the straw-coloured sward, Brigands chairman Gerry Northwood drove and swept an immaculate 51 from 42 balls with ten classy boundaries. His opening partner Aaron Saunders made 25 on debut and fell shortly afterwards with the stand worth 85. Left-hander Jonty Peach added 14 in a brisk 44 with his scampering twin before skying one into the covers. That left match manager Rupert Preece, 4 not out, to accompany Charlie to his own 42-ball fifty, the target passed with the youngster's tenth boundary. 61 not out, and 12 overs to spare. One-sided in the end, then. Readers of Ashley Mote's The Glory Days of Cricket; the Extraordinary Story of Broadhalfpenny Down will know the photograph on page 387: the triple father-and-son pairings of Bates, Burns and Mote. Fathers and sons are an old Brigands habit at this ground, and the club has never made much secret of enjoying it. A quadruplet, though? Many wondered whether it had been done here before. A punnet of Peaches, perhaps. Refreshers CC 169 lost to Brigands 170-2 Match report by Graham Peach, Photographic credits Isobel Opie, Mark Emerton, Paul Whittle, Rupert Preece and Graham Peach

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: for Brigands to field ten men once might be considered a misfortune. To do it two matches running looks like carelessness. At Broadhalfpenny Down on Wednesday, thanks to a printer issue of all things, ten Brigands took the field against eleven from Whitchurch, the visitors marking 250 years and welcoming back Hampshire and MCC wicketkeeping favourite Paul Bailey. Whitchurch won the toss and invited the home side to bat. Sue Bailey and Peter Danks settled in to score, and Harry Bates began a long day of supplying drinks to players and officials: orange squash and water in equal parts. Neil Wood went early for 4. Rupert Preece and Dave Turner added 50 for the second wicket, and then the innings seized up: 18 runs in the nine overs after the twelfth, a fair share of them beaten past the outside edge by the topspin of Eddie Treble kicking off a hard pitch. Toby Trinder was tidy at the other end for 1-30 off nine. There are only two tragedies in life, said Wilde, one is not getting what one wants and the other is getting it. Turner, frustrated, called a quick single, got it, and Preece was run out. Dave Henderson came in and the pair put on 50 in seven overs once both had worked out the bounce. Turner reached his fifty after 28 overs at the crease, a Hadrian's Wall of an innings, built by hand and doing its job in the end. Guy Ladenburg hit a lightning 29, and Rob Manson struck three boundaries in his one over out in the middle. 218-4 declared off 41 overs. Then the main event. Sandwiches, sausage rolls, fruit, and a table of cake with the air of a Bake Off showstopper round relocated to a Hampshire tent; coffee and walnut, chocolate tiffin, scones, Ginger cake, Victoria sponge, and a Persian love cake of pistachio and almond built to make people fall in love. It was Vice Presidents' day, the tent filled with Brigands legends, and the camaraderie abounded. Whitchurch went at it from the first ball: 26 off five overs, 54 off ten. Sam Trinder's first seven scoring shots were 4, 4, 4, 6, 1, 4, 4. He was supported by Hoare and Hack, which sounds more like a dubious Victorian law firm than a batting partnership. Jake Peach bowled the first nine overs downhill, spin and seam mixed, and took two. Dougie Henderson patrolled the long western boundary in the heat, and watched a man in old-fashioned-clothing riding past him on a penny farthing. With Trinder set and Oz Osmond scoring 30 at a run a ball, Whitchurch were in control needing under five an over to win. Then Mike Beardall found turn and bounce, Trinder skied one to mid-wicket, and Ladenburg got underneath it and spilled it. The shriek from bowler and fielder together carried down the Hambledon valley. Two overs later a mis-bowled half-tracker arrived and Trinder played the identical shot; he could resist everything except temptation. This time Ladenburg clung on like a limpet to the hull of a naval frigate. Ninety needed off 16 overs. The Brigands then lost another fielder, gaps opened everywhere, and Paul Whittle covered more grass than a Wimbledon mower does in a fortnight. Gary Shaughnessy, who is Chair of Parkinson's UK, blocked and drove his way to 17 with the luck of the Irish against a field set to all-out attack; three gullies and a silly mid-on. He cover drove one to a tired Dave Henderson, who half-stopped it with his boot, won a foot race with Whittle, and returned it from the boundary like an exocet to the bowler's end for the run out. Shaugnessy reflected that “having not played cricket for nearly a quarter of a century ... I was not sure what to expect It was, however, an afternoon of friendly competition. I was delighted not to be out first ball!” Thirty needed off three. Manson bowled Hathaway, and Brigands needed one wicket. Paul Bailey is far too experienced to give his away, and three runs off Peach closed the game out. Wood 1-28, Beardall 2-29 and Ladenburg 2-46 were the pick of the bowling. Ten men, one wicket short, and nobody on either side much minded. Wilde said that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. This match will be fondly remembered, and talked about for a while. Brigands 218-4 declared drew with Whitchurch 203-9 The Hampshire Cricket story on the match, the Penny Farthing and the remarkable Gary O'Shaugnessy can be found here