Skip over navigation

Result - Odiham & Greywell

Sat Sep 14th Grannies won by 6 wickets

Match report

Odiham & Greywell 189-4 (30 overs)
Grannies 191-4 (29.3 overs)

The ten men of the Grannies bested the eight men and three women of Odiham in the latest titanic struggle between the teams in a match which kept its interest to the final over.

Potential for Stygian gloom and mild monsoon led the captains to agree a pragmatic 30/30 format and Odiham were inserted on a pitch which, after two days under covers, was true enough but provided some grip for the seamers and a bit of nibble for everyone else.

Candidate Russ Mayhew took two of the four wickets to fall, enticing the first of a brace of slip catches for Dom Fry - the latter perhaps sensing a late charge at the season's champagne moment. Stanners, bowling as ruggedly as ever, induced the other edge while Jeremy Wynne bemused the batsmen with some late-stage wrist-spin. Billy bemused everyone with a mixture of the unplayable and the unreachable while Dom set an impressive example by sprinting back to his mark to increase an over rate which he deemed 'funereal'.

An honourable mention, too, for Chris Rooney, who laughed in the face of a difficult start before a switch of ends brought him control and the wicket of Odiham's top scorer.

The home side's left-hander Phil Thomas overcame some tight bowling and spirited attempts at mental disintegration from Billy to biff and bludgeon his way to 75. Graham Jones, who has the look of an extra from The Cruel Sea - a mischievous but loyal midshipman, perhaps - then made an unattractive but very effective half century to push the innings towards 200.

A splendid tea was taken in Odiham's spanking new pavilion, a modernist phoenix from the ashes of an arson attack, while outside a squall livened up the pitch.

This pleased Grannies openers Matt Gullick (52) and Nick May (20) no end, and they took the opportunity to neuter the new ball attack and set up a useful platform - Matt increasingly finding the boundary in a tone-setting knock. Billy then stroked two sixes in a short stay at the crease while continuing a lively conversation with selected members of the opposition. After him, the game was seized by its very neck-scruff as James Brierley (38) and Dom (45*) mixed judicious defence with often breathtaking hitting, keeping the run-rate always within bounds and testing the catching ability of occasionally reluctant deep fielders.

Chris Rooney completed his rehabilitation by carving the winning runs, giving the Grannies a second win in this fixture in successive seasons.






Match info

An end of season Grannies favourite...we've had mixed results against Odiham and Greywell which rather depends on whether they field a team of youth and grey hair or a team including a sprinkling of their 1st team. Always enjoyed by the Grannies the mixture of a good pitch, welcoming oppo plus a bar make this an excellent way to see off the season.

Location
Odiham and Greywell CC,
King Street,
Odiham,
RG29 1NF