Sun Jul 28th Grannies won by 50 runs
Match report
A second win in a row for the Grannies at Eton. On a bone dry flat track, Grannies won the toss and elected to bat in this 50 overs a side game. An excellent start led to us being 161 for 1 at lunch after 32 overs. Ned Williams (on debut) looked odds on to make a hundred before lunch when he was out LBW for 92, scored at well in excess of a run a ball. James Marsh then took up the mantle and batted throughout the 50 overs to finish with a very accomplished 109 not out (his second Grannies century). The pitch got slower and lower as the innings went on and Grannies found it hard to accelerate in the last 10-15 overs and finished on 260 for 7 off their 50 overs. A score that looked good, but potentially a few short of where we should have been given the start.
Eton started well in response reaching 50 without loss after 10 overs. Charlie Machin then entered the attack and bowled an excellent spell of 10 overs, taking 3 wickets before the tea break, leaving Eton at 90 for 4 off 17 overs. James Howie also bowled some very consistent off spin at the other end allowing the Captain to generate a degree of pressure.
Having controlled the game very well until this point, Grannies then lost their way slightly and a good Eton partnership put on 90 for the 5th wicket - Eton #5 making a hard hitting 65. Needing 80 to win off the last 15 overs with 6 wickets in hand the balance had almost tilted towards the hosts until an inspired bowling change brought the experienced Staniforth into the attack in the 35th over.
After 2 off side wides the senior pro then toiled away in the heat and took 2 priceless wickets of the Eton #5 and #6. Both were excellent, match winning catches, firstly from James Marsh at deep mid wicket under a skier. Then James Brewin at deep square leg, catching a flat hit that would have gone for six just a yard inside the rope. Staniforth finished with excellent figures of 2 for 17.
This altered the whole momentum of the match and with George Marsh coming back into the attack at the other end, Eton were slowly strangled. Marsh took the final 3 wickets in an excellent spell leaving Eton all out for 210, some 50 runs short of our target.
So - a very pleasing win in the end. Man of the match award to James Marsh for a very patient century, but the real differentiator was, unusually, the Grannies catching and ground fielding on a good pitch with a small boundary.
Well done all. Same again next year please.
Match info
All day game v Eton Ramblers / 50 overs per side / 11.30am start
Location
Eton College,
Windsor,
SL4 6DW
How to get there
1 hour from London. Down M4 to Jct 6 and follow signs for Eton. Game is played on 1st XI pitch (Upper Club)