From left: Captains Bob Miller (Us) and Peter Horrocks (Them) prepare to toss, with Umpire Rupert Simmons on hand to see fair play

This match, played on July 14 in 75-degree sunshine, was a pleasing contrast to the drizzly, soggy inaugural meeting in June of last year, when the Sherlockians hung on to force a draw (8/65 chasing our 8/171).

Both sides made several changes to their elevens, which in fact turned out to be "tens", because of late cry-offs. This allowed for a sporting consolation to the unfortunate Gold Bat Bill Kent, run out for a duck without facing a ball. It was agreed he return at No.11 (there is still debate as to what he was then called - "Psmith" was popular, while traditionalists wanted the usual name in English club cricket, "AN Other").

Bill enjoyed a busy day, having between his appearances at the batting crease acted as substitute fieldsman for the Sherlockians - and then being invited by skipper Bob Miller to don the gloves when the bats fielded. Commended for his resemblance to the solidly-build Australian Test 'keeper Gill Langley, Bill added to the impression by pulling out the tail of his shirt in traditional Langley fashion - and still did a most workmanlike job behind the stumps, despite never having tackled the duties in his cricketing life.

The Sherlockians gave the second chance to one Charles Miller, who re-appeared under the curious sobriquet of "Grinder" (a play on "the Mills of God", it seems), having doffed his moustache to suggest he was in fact a different chap altogether.

Play was watched and enjoyed by a sprinkling of Wodehouseans, led by chairman Norman Murphy, and a greater number of Sherlockians - many in period costume - plus two sleek horses beyond midwicket, and vast numbers of midges and flies which forced their company especially on the (static) square leg umpires.

A splendid plug for the match, delivered by Society patron Henry Blofeld on BBC Radio cover of Saturday's NatWest Series Final at Lord's, using material skilfully fed by Hilary Bruce, did not appear to have attracted the masses - a matter of no concern, as these are very much family affairs.

The Bats opened up, and it was soon apparent that the innings-building methods of Oliver Wise, a half-centurian last year, were much missed. But we found a sterling substitute in newcomer Chris Reece, who hit a brisk 39. Chris, who from his Somerset fastness does such a splendid job in keeping this site working, had brought his son George, in hope of a family partnership (they are pictured, left, boning up on the 1895 Laws of Cricket before making a joint debut for The Gold Bats). This was to get off on the wrong foot when Dad kept pinching the strike, but George eventually managed to face up, and played some cultivated shots in his brief knock.

The compulsory Sherlockians' lob bowling role was again entrusted to our friend Charles Miller, who added to his moustache of last year a monocle, managing to keep both in place as he delivered his allsorts.

Opener Mark Wilcox, captain Bob Miller, and Tim Stevens (what it is to be young and have a good eye!) helped build the Gold Bats' score to a useful 103, later batsmen much puzzled by Lindsay Deveney's flighted legbreaks, which often turned so much as to miss bat, pads, wicket and all.

Those legendary 1895 Laws of Cricket under which these matches are played (in deference to the declaration of Sherlock Holmes, "It is always 1895") caused few problems either to those who had met them a year ago, or to the newcomers. However the back-foot no-ball law did present difficulties, especially to the Bats' attack, and after customary warnings, several no-balls were called as bowlers of today, accustomed to operate with the front foot behind the popping (batting) crease, found themselves all too easily lifting the back foot over the bowling crease.

There was a frightening experience for your correspondent who, on no-balling Tom Stevens for this transgression, was rewarded by an earsplitting howl as the bowler clutched his shoulder in agony. He explained that he had dislocated it, a problem to which he was prone since a tennis injury, but a quick nudge back into place allowed him to continue bowling - at distinctly reduced pace.

Chris Reece produced the most intriguing allround bowling performance, bowling right and left arm, over and under-arm, and round and over the wicket - causing umpire Rupert Simmons considerable difficulty in keeping track so that he could advise the striker what to expect. Chris ran out of of options (he might have tried bowling under the wicket, but it takes time to master the technique).

The first seven Sherlockians failed to reach double figures, the team slumping to a depressing seven wickets down for 27 runs after the lively and startlingly accurate medium pace of Frank Claydon destroyed the top order. However, the reviving effect of tea, some erratic bowling by the change merchants, and new-found aggression from the later batsmen, threatened to halt our victory charge.

The last pair hung on grimly, but Miller became over-confident, even asking the umpire to be advised when play entered its last five minutes - and was promptly bowled by our Miller, in what might be termed a different sort of "captain's knock".

Miss Kitty Owen, rumoured to be the Sherlockians' secret weapon for the next match, took every opportunity of polishing her batting technique

GOLD BATS

SHERLOCK HOLMES SOCIETY OF LONDON

Bowling: Claydon 3/7; Collins 1/11;Wilcox 2/4; G.Reece 2/6; Bruce 0/2; C.Reece 0/10; Tim Stevens 0/2; Tom Stevens 1/7; Miller 1/6.

The Gold Bats won by 25 runs.

by Murray Hedgcock