On a very hot and sunny afternoon of 24 June, the Clare Hall community gathered at Leckhampton Sports Ground for the traditional Annual Cricket Match, which saw the President’s XI take on the Students in one of the College’s much-loved end-of-term fixtures.

A wonderful highlight to close the Easter term, the afternoon brought together students, Fellows, staff, Life Members, families, and friends for an enjoyable game of cricket, delicious food thanks to our fantastic catering team, and plenty of relaxed conversation in the sun.

The Students emerged victorious once again, but the real success of the day was the warm community spirit and shared celebration that made the match such a memorable occasion.

Please enjoy the match report below, courtesy of the Twelfth Man.

The Midsummer Match

Midsummer lived up to its reputation as a time of magic and mayhem for the Cricket Club this year as they played Clare Hall’s annual Midsummer Match between the President’s XI (or so) and the Students’ team in blazing heat.

The magic had been in evidence on Midsummer’s Eve when a great all-round team performance led by Skipper Chris saw Clare Hall turn on the heat in the heat and win a rare victory over Trinity High Table on Old Field.

No wonder the Spellbound Elders of the President’s team, led by (non-playing) Mr Cricket Sam, flushed by this triumph as well as the sun, expected to see off the challenging Students, captaincy for the day turned over by Chris to Rishul and Ryan, rampant against Trinity, next day.

Alas for the Elders, Rishul’s outreach into sister college Clare during the football season had encouraged him to invite a namesake Clare as his guest for the Match. A Blue, Clare left the President’s best feeling blue as, after the more needed than ever thirst-quenching tea, she followed up an unbeaten 26 retired by taking the wickets of the President’s top order three (for a mere 6 runs). Mayhem.

One arcane curiosity. On a day when the heat caused the Match to be foreshortened to 22 overs each, the last wicket to fall for both teams was at 111, a geomantic figure known to cricketers as a Nelson. But whereas the Students’ still had batters to take them on for a further decisive 22 runs, the President’s had exhausted theirs. Totals: 133 for 7 to 111 all out.

Beyond Clare’s Player of the Match figures, honours went to Sai (in blazing Sunriser shirt), 24 n.o., Leo, a leonine 18, Ryan, 15 n.o., Chris, 10, and Theo 2-6 for the Students’ and to Lorcan, 21 (including the only 6), Quentin, 17, Unni & Seb, both 16, and Ram, 10, for the President’s.

A most welcome end to 24 hours of cricketing mayhem came with a first-ever Sports Formal, the formality of coats dispensed with in the heat, while afterwards on the terrace, groups enjoyed a leisurely gossip as it became cool enough to, well, play football, volleyball or, as it may have been, cricket.

A full account of the Midsummer Match will appear in the Clare Hall Review.