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Result - Wiltshire Queries

Sun Aug 21st The Grannies lose (again!) by 28 runs

Match report

Once again, the Grannies were able to field a strong side for this excellent fixture in Wiltshire. Once again, that win has proved elusive, although (unlike last year, where the Match Manager batted out for a draw in a most curmudgeonly fashion) this time we stuck to the "live by the sword, die by the sword" approach which characterises Granny batting.

Winning the toss on an overcast morning with a little moisture in the (usually excellent batting) track, the Grannies took to the field. Opening pair Dom Ely and Tom Hamilton took a couple of overs each to find their lines, but were soon operating very well in tandem and were in amongst the wickets - with Dom building the pressure and Tom reaping the rewards! At lunch the Queries had progressed to around 100 for 5, converting this to a total of around 220 by around 3.40pm, at which the declaration (encouraged by some polite goading from the Grannies!) was eventually made! Credit to the change bowlers (Stanniforth, Thomas, Warrick) for keeping the pressure up and never allowing the Queries to run away with the scoring rate.

Our innings started very well, with a partnership of nearly 50 (I know! Unheard of!) between Gardiner-Hill and candidate Jonathan Warrick to put us into a strong position at tea. Jon batted superbly for most of out innings for his 69, and despite cameos from Tom Hamilton, Henry Weston-Simons, Gwilym Thomas, Patrick Tolhurst and Jeremy Wynne, could find no solid support to build that elusive match winning partnership.

Stanniforth, Percival, Ely and Fry swung the willow a little towards the end of the innings in a valiant attempt to overhaul the Queries total, but it was not to be, and we went down in yet another blaze of glory!

Many thanks to all who participated, and a note to all Grannies about this fixture - where else can you watch the test match on the big screen whilst eating a superb lunch, washed down with Wadworth's 6 X brewed a little under a mile away, before going out to bat on a perfect track?

Match info

Around 50 minutes drive down the M4 from London lies the picturesque (apart from Swindon) county of Wiltshire. Its premier wandering club is called the Queries, and the Grannies CC is lucky enough to have a fixture with them every year. The fixture used to be played at Tidworth but has now relocated to Devizes CC - a wonderful ground with an excellent pavilion, fast outfield and good batting track.


Location
Devizes CC,
The Sports Ground,
London Road,
Devizes,
SN10 2DL

How to get there
From London on the M4: Leave the motorway at J14 and follow the A4 through Hungerford and Marlborough. Follow the A4 about 6 miles out of Marlborough until you hit Beckhampton roundabout (passing Silbury Hill and the Waggon & Horses pub). Take the first exit (signposted Devizes A361). On entering Devizes town centre (c. 7 miles) you will see a large police station on your right. The turning to the ground is after the police station, on the right, just before the canal bridge.

From London on the M3: Leave the motorway at J8 and follow the A303 to the South West. Just after Amesbury, leave the A303 and take the A344 towards Shrewton, then the A360 to Devizes. From Devizes Town Centre take the A361 London Road (signposted Marlborough). Go past the pond and St.James Church, and straight over the mini roundabout. The turning to the ground is 200m on left just after canal bridge.