Charlie Mack bettered Will Hales’s RCC 2016 individual batting record by 27 runs, scoring an unrelenting 238 from 78 balls faced against Beds Farmers. His innings contained 16 fours and 23 sixes – that’s 202 just in boundaries, with a strike rate of 305!

It was a very curious afternoon of friendly cricket on Redbourn Common enjoyed by batters on both sides, but not by the bowlers or fielders on either! A short 45-yard boundary to the avenue side didn’t help the bowlers. The Beds Farmers were skippered by RCC member Jimmy Speirs with brother Tom also playing.

The Farmers batted first and were soon rattling along at 10 an over, punishing some wayward Redbourn bowling. They didn’t let up the pace with Jimmy top scoring with 73 and three other batters retiring having reached their half centuries. Originally planned as a 40 over match, Redbourn captain Chris Godfrey negotiated a truce at 30 overs fearful perhaps that he might face a mutiny. The less said about the bowling figures the better, but the Redbourn bowlers were clearly no match for the big hitting farmers.

After the interval Redbourn’s openers Charlie Mack and Chris Godfrey strode to the middle with the huge task of overhauling 323 in 30 overs. The innings didn’t get off to a great start, a disconsolate Godfrey trudging back to the pavilion after edging behind in the first over. Graeme Cook (18) joined Mack and hit some pleasing shots before he was dismissed with the score on 99. Mack by this time had already brought up a 26 ball fifty and was building up a head of steam. Hopes for more big-hitting were pinned on George Luckhurst, but he disappointed the expectant faithful and was replaced by teenager Euan Rigarlsford. Mack’s hundred was brought up with a glorious six off only 44 balls. His 150 came off just 15 more deliveries.

For the Farmers Jack Cook’s (2-43) first two overs went for a miserly 4 runs, but Mack went big in his third and despatched him for 34 (5 sixes and a four). Rigarlsford was out in the 24th over for 16, but between them they had put on 123. 102 were still needed off the last 8 overs. Mack was unbeaten on 178 and closing in fast on his double ton. He was playing audacious lofted drives over long off and stepping across to the offside in IPL style and depositing the ball into the car park at will. Having been dropped by the keeper down the legside when on five, Mack was fortunate to survive a missed stumping, but this didn’t slow him down. His double century was brought up off just 73 deliveries with a blistering square cut that intersected the two boundary riders.

With the score on 295 at the end of the 26th over Charlie Mack tucked his bat under his arm and walked off, realising that it was the right thing to do given the match situation and that the Farmers had three batters retire. Fair play.

Amit Mathur and Ray Smyth sparkled briefly, but the Redbourn innings ended at 315 for 9 off their 30 overs, just 8 short of the Farmers’ mammoth total. Despite the imbalance in the Redbourn side the match made for a thoroughly entertaining spectacle.

The next Sunday match on the Common is against Wheathampstead in the Beds & Herts Regional Final of the Voneus National Village Cup on Sunday 5th June starting at 1pm.