A hat-trick of run outs by former player and current Vice President, Phil Stride

Hat-tricks are an established highlight in the game of cricket - but a hat-trick of run-outs?

This was the (possibly) unique achievement by wicketkeeper Phil Stride, playing in an indoor match at The Oval’s Ken Barrington Indoor School.

Phil was playing in a corporate match on 6 December 2017 for the ‘Tunnelling Ashes’ between London’s two biggest current infrastructure projects - Tideway, building the so-called ‘Super Sewer’ underneath the River Thames, and Crossrail, building a new network of rail tunnels under the capital.

The match, with an umpire supplied by the Oval, ended in victory for Tideway, who scored 133 for 9 in their 12 overs (losing 5 runs for a wicket, their total score was 178) against Crossrail’s 24 for 15 (total score 99). But the highlight of the game was three runouts in consecutive balls – via Phil’s direct throw for the first wicket and collecting returns from other Tideway fielders for the next two.

None of the players on either side, nor the Oval staff, could remember seeing a hat-trick of run-outs. Phil said ‘What are the odds of that happening? The Tideway team fielded brilliantly and for my part it was a case of being in the right place at the right time’.

Phil has been playing cricket for over 40 years. Many years ago he played for Wiltshire Colts and Corsham in the Wiltshire League. He is currently a Vice-President of Corsham Cricket Club.

The picture shows the victorious 'Tideway' team holding aloft the 'Tunnelling Ashes' trophy. Phil Stride's face can be seen second from the right, stood behind the chap in the white shirt. Phil is the only player in the team wearing cricket whites!