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In what will surely go down as one of the most astonishing collapses in club cricket history, Richmond Cricket Club’s 4th XI endured a nightmare outing on Saturday, succumbing to a scarcely believable total of just two runs in their Middlesex County League clash against North London.
To add insult to ignominy, only one of those runs came off the bat, the other was gifted via a wide. The scoreboard, at the end of 5.4 chaotic overs, painted a brutal picture: 2 all out, with eight ducks and ten broken hearts.
North London’s Run-Fest
It all began with Richmond winning the toss and inviting North London to bat. What followed was a masterclass in aggressive strokeplay. North London piled up a colossal 426-6 from their allotted 45 overs, dispatching bowlers to every corner of the park and racking up boundaries at will.
With such a towering target, even a fighting effort would have gained admiration. But what came next was cricketing carnage.
Batting or Brief Encounter?
Richmond’s reply was less of a run-chase and more of a procession. Only one player managed to get off the mark, contributing a lonely single. The rest fell like dominoes, with eight failing to register even a run. The innings, lasting under six overs, became an instant entry into the annals of the absurd.
Social Media Reaction
Taking the drubbing with a dash of humour, Richmond's official account on X posted:
"A lot of context but still not a result that we are proud of! Our 2's, 3's and 5's all won though."
A silver lining, perhaps, but the 4th XI’s collapse will likely be remembered for all the wrong or, depending on your perspective, right — easons.
A Reminder of the Game’s Cruelty
It’s often said that cricket is a great leveller. On this occasion, it was more like a demolition. Richmond’s 4th XI may want to forget this outing swiftly, but for the rest of the cricketing world, it’s a scorecard that’ll be chuckled over for years to come.
