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Volatility returned to the market as the young Nelson was joined at the crease by their man in charge of Central European markets – Krunic. We were given a great demonstration of how to build, manage and grow a portfolio. The Krunic fund appreciated slowly but surely in value as he cruised past 50 with half of the 40 overs gone. Unfortunately for us, this was not some sort of Madoff ponzi innings and the tall batsmen depatched all of our bowlers to several parts of the Oise in accumulating a wealthy total of 105 not out – the highest score by any batsman in CCC history.

Whittington returned to the attack and with a clear desire to rid himself of the demons of a failed Ashes summer, and proceeded in skittling out the young traders Nelson and Smith Jr, removing the self same stump that Patrick had targeted earlier and finishing with fine figures of 2 for 24 off his 8 overs. However, Whiting served as solid insurance for the impressive Krunic and saw out the 40 overs to cash in on 193 for 5.

The champagne and oyster bar so befitting such City slickers was opened for tea – Another sterling effort from Ness and Louisa with FRESH cucumber and cheese and pickle sandwiches and a vast array of goodies featuring a lemon cake which ran Denzil’s previous masterpiece a close second ! Thankyou ladies.

So could CCC investments buck the market ? Oakley and Sansbury began well pushing the fund up to 19 after five overs, until both men had their contracts terminated as Nomads re-structured our innings. Nick Shepherd, batting more like an actuary than a stockbroker, played the percentages whilst Craig speculated his way to a rapid 17 before falling foul to an lbw decision meted out by the financial authorites – so an identical return – 54 for 3 in the 13th over. Nick Shepherd followed in similar fashion to Charlie Hedley for 26 and shortly afterwards Nick Clarke had his wicket re-possessed for 11, trapped lbw by the young and very promising off-spinner Hardy with CCC balance standing at 93 for 5 after 22 overs. Adrian, aiming for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow skied one to mid-off and became Hardy’s next scalp.

Time to change the strategy – enter Patrick – the bright young market-maker. Forget the premium bonds this was much more “in for a penny, in for a pound” or rather a pounding ! Patch sent the ball and our score spiralling.. Would our investments recover ? Nick Jones, recently back from the US, had some exchange rate problems, trading his wicket for only one of his leg-side boundaries. Denzil capitalised on some openings and moved the total on steadily. Patrick finally went for bust and was clean bowled by Krunic – having survived a couple of stock exchange enquiries he reached the highest score by a CCC batsman of 76. We were up with the rate, but running out of liquidity.

Jean-François made it out on to the dealing room floor, and started promisingly with a single and a four until Blumberg froze our account on 183 with a maiden in the second from last over. Homer was caught behind for 12 in the penultimate over and the match was slipping away. Max Shepherd needed a run a ball off the last eight to tie. A block, a well-run three to third man, and we needed a run a ball of the last six to win. A powerful pull through midwicket for four off the first delivery, but alas a blip as Blumberg bowled him to win the match by a single run and four balls remaining.

This had been something of a roller-coaster game, befitting the turbulent economic times in which we live - the excitement and enjoyment was palpable on the boundary right to the very end – another momentous match, crowned off by the man-of-the match ceremony as Rob presented Krunic with one of our brand new CCC caps (Thankyou Jonathan) and a bottle of bubbly. The rest of the players enjoyed one of Denzil’s stellas as Sue meticulously audited the accounts to see if we could find a run to improve the content of the Chairman’s report at the end of the season. Creative accounting was not to come to our rescue this time but it all added up to another great game.

Nick Shepherd