This year, the Director has been banging on a lot about the role of the Archive’s matchday captain as Keeper of the Flame of the Close Finish. There is little joy in a Taverner’s match that ends in crushing victory or defeat, while a final over that starts with all three results possible speaks to a Job Well Done. So, it was full marks to Captain Reay, who presided over a thrilling (and – at various points in the narrative arc – deeply improbable) tie against both the oldest and friendliest of our old friends, the Theatrical Cavaliers.

The Archives had struggled for numbers and welcomed Ian Smale (from Greystones), Ben Sweeney O’Brien (on debut) and Jazzy (via Supreeth).

We batted first and accumulated runs without ever coming close to dazzling. The innings featured not a single retirement (save for Gordon and Gareth, who came ashore at the end of a patient 17 and 4 respectively). Ian fell, going big, on 19. There was a rare low score for Supreeth, caught well by Cavalier Fay. Three of the middle order were bowled, O’Regan Mills (10), Bennett (5) and debutant Ben (5).

As the low scores imply, runs were not flowing: the scorecard featured a maiden and two overs where only a single run was scored.

Happily, the retirements and wickets meant that Werner and Jazzy came together for the last 4 overs or so and a distinctly underwhelming 73 at the end of the 16^th over became a respectable (is whelming a word?) 116 at the end of the 20^th. Having struggled with his first over, Jazzy took a liking to the bowling of Coury, scoring a coruscating 18 off the last.

When the Archives took to the field, it was with Supreeth out of the bowling attack, and behind the stumps. So long as the Phoenix horror show (7 dropped catches) was behind us, we could surely do this. O’Regan Mills and Bennett  took the new ball. The former found his length well and Coury in particular struggled with the nippy pace. No wickets, but very few runs off his two overs. In contrast to the vim of the younger opener was the guile of Bennett, who saw a weakness in Coury’s batting. Insisting on a second fielder in the gully area in the face of the open disbelief of his captain, his call paid immediate dividends as the repositioned Gordon took a fine reflex one-handed catch above his head.

Breakthrough notwithstanding, by the 7^th over the Cavaliers were scoring at the run a ball rate they would need to win the game. Wickets – or tighter bowling - were needed. Werner obliged with the latter (his two overs going for 9 runs), while Ben obliged with the former, having a well-set number three batter caught behind. This seemed to induce a crisis of confidence in the Cavs: the run rate dropped, while wicket-machine Gordon and comeback kid Gareth claimed a wicket each. Suddenly, the Cavs needed 25 off 4, with the unflappable Martin Murphy retired and two new-ish batters at the crease. The remaining 4 overs were to be shared between new boy Jazzy and Ur-Archiver Captain Reay. What could go wrong?

Well, for starters, the 17^th over went for 14 runs, as the obviously talented Jazzy struggled in his first bowling outing for a while. Advantage back with the Cavs: in theatrical parlance, the fat lady was clearing her throat in the wings. 11 needed for victory off 3.

Weaker minds than Reay’s were wondering about whether Supreeth should doff his gloves and turn his arm over. Reay’s mind was bent on higher things. The 18^th over saw the Director and the still-wearing-the-gloves Supreeth combine for a sharp run out, while the Cavs scored 5 runs.

Jazzy stepped up for the 19^th. Whatever rust there had been on show in his previous over was mere memory, as he found line and length to concede only 3 runs.

Three needed off the last for victory. Two for a tie The Flame of the Close Finish burning brightly. Reay turns on his mark: Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot.

Bloody hell. He couldn’t, could he? In a sense, he could. A despairing edge off the last ball. Although your chronicler was too excited/old/distracted to see exactly where it went, two runs were scampered. A third was never on. The game tied. Not since the Handbags in the Dark of 5-ish years ago have these two old foes played out such a thriller (and Reay was instrumental in the outcome of that one too). Jazzy was deserved Archives man of the match (although Reay’s nerveless last over was worth a shout, too).

The Blackstock-Wallis-Hill Cup was the trophy up for grabs in this fixture. It is named after the three founders of the Archives. Their founding mission included the belief that every game should, where possible, end in a tie. They would have been extremely pleased with their successors.