TECSA retain the Hudson Ashes

TECSA retained the Hudson Ashes in a convincing ‘Bazball style’ display against TECBAR, on a charming June evening at Kew Green.  Led by the Brearlyesque Jonathan Gold (Sheridan Gold) (i.e. he cannot bat, bowl or catch, but makes good jokes), the TECSA team’s performance was very impressive, against a rather enfeebled TECBAR, despite the presence of Sir Robert Akenhead.  TECBAR’s confidence in electing to bat was short lived, after the medium pace of Naveed Hanif and wily spin of Charlie Chetwood (both of Pinsent Masons) tore into TECBAR’s batting.  Nick Cook (Brecher) adopted the Ben Stokes enforcer role to keep TECSA’s foot on TECBAR’s throat.  Jonathan Stone (Mayer Brown) gallantly tried to give TECBAR a chance by dropping a couple of catches at cow corner, but then bowled liked a young Jimmy Anderson to remove Ben Sareen for a second duck.  TECBAR finished on 110, which was in part due to the fine wicket keeping of Matt Watson (Pinsent Masons).  Matt then opened TECSA’s batting with Bairstowesque gusto, before Simon Shaw’s (Mayer Brown) silky Rootlike stroke play lit up the evening, showing everyone how proper cricket should be played.  The batting was so strong that it deprived Robert Stevenson of the opportunity to show what he could do, with the runs knocked off by TECSA with four overs to spare.

The performances only got better in hindsight as some beers were drunk to celebrate the occasion, with everyone agreeing that cricket was the real winner, in addition to TECSA.  Special mentions and thanks to Dominic Helps (Corbett) and Matt Ashman (Atkin Chambers) for making the event happen, and also for Dominic and Martin Bowdery QC (Atkin Chambers) for umpiring.  It was as ever quite a special occasion.