Thu Aug 6th Match Drawn
Match report
With a strong XI the captain was confident of a first victory against the OA's.
The day started badly with a call from the southern hemisphere contigent that they had broken down on the A3 and were waiting for a recovery service.
With three men down at the start of play it was agreed by the two captains that the Grannies would bat first.
With strict instructions that a total of over 300 was required Frank Walden and Tim Piper opened the batting. Sadly Tim was still reminising of his glorious hundred two years ago and tried to hook a wide long hop only to mistime it and sky it straight down square legs throat - 1 for 1 and news that the 3 southern hemisphere boy's wre having to be towed back to Fulham!
Dom Fry came in at three and took us up to 120 + at lunch. By which time John Davies and fellow southern hemsiphere boys had arrived after hiring a car.
Dom sadly got out shortly after lunch and for 67 and Sam Weston Simons took over with a wonderful innings which sadly ended on 98 caught on the long on boundary.
Frank Walden did what was required and held the other end up as batsmen were instructed to speed up the scoring, of which Jim Hunt made a rapid and valuable 35.
We declared after 50 overs for 308 for 4 with Frank Walden unbeaten on 87 and with a a rarity in grannies cricket of having 7 front line bowlers we duly set out sniffing victory.
John Davies, still reeling from his journey down and Sam Weston-Simons angry at falling just short of his ton opened up the bowling and after the first over both the openers were calling for their helmets! Both bowled beutifully going outside the edge on numerous occassions but sadly to no avail.
The game swung both ways and unfortunatly in true Grannies style a number of missed oppertunties were lost by drop catches and eventually at stumps Old Amplefordians ended on 291 for 6 off 46 overs.
In all fairness probably a fair result.
Summary:-
Grannies 308 for 4 off 50 overs(or 312 depending on who you want to believe!!)
Frank Walden -87 not out, Dom Fry 67, Sam Weston-Simons 98, Jim Hunt 35
Old Amplefordians 291 for 6 off 46 overs,
Match info
Great excuse to get out of the sweaty office. Always a good close game that unfortunatly we have narrowly lost on the past couple of occassions. The oppo are on tour for the week and the ground catering is superb. The pitch itself is excellent, home to the school 1st XI and kent 2's.
Location
Sutton Valence School,
ME17 3HL
How to get there
Junction 8 of the M20 otherside of Maidstone
http://www.svs.org.uk/?cid=420