Just over a decade after the first edition, Mercer and Ninety One arrived back at Shepherd’s Bush CC, for what promised to be yet another cracker, in a storied series. Ninety One with the 2021 bragging rights to maintain – Mercer with confidence under their newfound Captain Becker.
Mercer elected to bat first. No surprise given they have Bewley deep in their locker, who has been known to famously dispatch anything that isn’t on-the-dot, straight into the car park. Getting off to a solid start (Moat 11, McDuell 14), before two wickets in quick succession from Ed “line-and-length” Evers threatened a middle order collapse.
In then walks Rich Dell and Matt Stephenson to wave the willow, slapping Ninety One’s bowlers around for the very respectable scores of 25 (not out) and 16, keeping Mercer firmly in the fight. Dell with a number of glorious boundaries (mainly off Left-Arm ‘Spin or Slow?’ Sanderson), Stephenson more of a ‘take-the-singles broadly, in a diversified and sustainable manner,’ sort of approach.
Special mention goes to Matthew Barton, the new Ninety One’r, known for his cricketing abilities – he decided it would be wise, 3 months in, to run a very unlucky non-striking James Brundrett out – who had sadly only faced 4 balls. It was a ‘wizardrous’ yet non-thought-through piece of fielding. Sorry James. Barts you should stick to Advisor Sales.
Stalwarts of the fixture Mistry (caught by Evers [who may mention this in his intro in the next Multi-Asset call], and Richardson (sublimely run out by Laijawalla) – were dismissed for single digits, despite usually adding copious amount of alpha. Bewley surprisingly didn’t reach 25 this year and was dismissed for 13 – caught by MOTM fielder Wesley “Ringer/Client” TD.
Special mention to Ian Deacon for his excellent Client Management of the stumps, as WK for 91. Utter Talent.
A dropped pie of note from Will Carter-Keall kept Mercer’s batting hopes alive for a final flurry before the remaining overs ticked down to 0 leaving Mercer with a run total of 117-9.
It was now Ninety One’s turn to bat. Henko Haasbroek set the tone immediately, chanting “Welcome to Brighter” upon arrival to the crease and belting the ball into the tennis courts for six. Did Ninety One utilise what can only be described as some extremely sporty South African ‘ringers’ this year? There may have been a major South African Client Offsite this week, but this cannot be disclaimed in such a village match report.
What then blossomed was the match’s most fruitful partnership, with Clyde “nurdle-it-around” Rossouw making a point of the age old Ninety One adage, which is to keep “Quality at the heart of your batting order”. He literally did keep Quality in the centre of the square though – and is suitably now known as the “Minister of Defensive Alpha” – not just through his investment philosophy. The pair (Haasbroek & Rossouw) eventually settling on 19 and 27 (not-out).
Patel, Moat, Richardson deserve a mention for their bowling figures as they are strong and genuinely difficult-to-face bowlers. Bravo lads.
In then stormed Hywel Ford, known to have been practicing in a previous 15-week training programme at Sixes Cricket (with Becker and Brundrett), and cor’ blimey did it pay off – swinging the ball circa 1/2 a metre – to dismiss the usually illustrious 4Factor EM Equity Assistant PM Varun Laijawalla – although via LBW – which at this standard is often questionable – but that I genuinely do believe given Umpire Nigel Smith’s (UK CG MD) Cricketing mastery and past career.
A combination of Paddy McDuell’s lightning bowling and Max Becker’s merciless sledging resulted in the moment being too great for Freddy Graver, who was sent walking with a measly 2.
Future Ninety One employee Wesley T-D, and Friend of Mercer Ethan Allen all but put the fixture to bed, with convincing figures of 27 (not out) and 18 (not out). The remaining batsmen tip the run total to 121, the fixture then going to Ninety One.
Big thank you to Nigel Smith, Alex Jefferies and Josh Kriskinans for their umpire / scoring contributions. Huge respect to all of the 91 and Mercer spectators – everyone was on great form. Thanks again to Mercer for making the journey, we hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did, looking forward to seeing you again next year!
Report by: E Allen, F Graver
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