Embarrassingly, we won it in one!

FUrTHer to the letter from David Cox about the ‘rescuing batsmen’ (Peterborough), here follows the story of a cricket match that ended as a result of one team winning the game with an innings of just one shot! it was Sunday, June 13 (unlucky for someone), 1971, and Malvern ramblers (now Malvern) were entertaining a team from Kidderminster called Textiles, a regular homeand-away fixture, at their regency road ground. Textiles won the toss and elected to bat. The wicket and conditions must have been perfect for the ramblers’ bowlers because the Textiles innings ended after just 11 overs, during which they scored only two runs! one bowler (now sadly passed away) took 1-4, the other bowler taking 1-6. To rub salt in the wound, the ramblers’ opening batsman struck a beautiful flowing four through extra cover from Textiles’ first ball, to end a match that embarrassed even the victors. Greg Fester (eternal A. N. Other for Malvern Ramblers), Gt Malvern, Worcs.

Follow-ups

Following on from the cold-call knock-backs (Peterborough), we had the same here in Tenerife. our daughter received one on a recent Saturday morning and handed the phone to our threeyear-old great-grandson, who speaks some Spanish, some english and some gibberish. We imagine the caller moved on as the phone was dead when we took back the receiver. Rick and Pam Greet, El Varadero, Tenerife. Many years ago, my wife and i were living in Crawley new Town in a council flat. We were not very well off, but coped. one evening came a knocking at our front door. outside stood a salesman with an armful of the encyclopaedia Britannica which he tried to convince me to buy. i asked him why i should consider his offer and was informed that if i read all the contents of the volumes i’d be able to get a fabulous, well-paid job as a result. With a straight face i asked if he himself had read the books and, being told that indeed he had, i inquired why he wasn’t in a better job and closed the door in his face!

John Langley, Newport, isle of Wight.