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Result - Old Spots

Sat Jun 4th Old Spots 200 for 5 BEAT Grannies 121 all out.

Match report

Old Spots 200-6
Grannies 121 all out

The bald facts are these: the Old Spots batted first and made an imposing 200 from their 40 overs on a mildly sluggish pitch; the Grannies then battled to stay in touch with the run rate against accurate seam bowling, putting together a couple of promising partnerships, before falling in a heap 79 runs adrift. So much for the figures: the scorebook doesn�t tell you everything. It doesn�t record, for instance, that the Follies Farm ground looked a picture; that the Old Spots parted with tradition and fielded a team bristling with youth; that the ham and mustard sandwiches were excellent; or that everyone really did try their best.

But that�s enough post-match rationalisation. After taking the field, Stanners terminated the Old Spots� lumpy first wicket stand with a superb ball which took off stump. This may, in retrospect, have been a mistake simply because it brought Barson to the wicket. He punished anything short. And anything overpitched. Indeed, he gave the impression of a man with an urgent appointment who was keen to finish the match in time to catch the 3.10 from Godalming. It was only as he got into his 50s and realised the ton was on that he settled back and treated the game as something more than a five-over beer match. He was finally dismissed for a superb, brutal 109, ably assisted by an ironclad 52 from the aptly-named Hardman.

The old stagers Stanners (1-26) and Mike Fernie (3-43) were by some distance the pick of the Grannies� attack. Parky, who did not don the gauntlets so was at a loose end, turned in a tidy spell of off-spin which belied his self-description as a net bowler. Scottie flighted things nicely in that slightly crabbed way of his and also took a wicket. Justus van Lare bowled some testing deliveries but struggled with rhythm, while the most interesting part of Hillers� spell came when he hit his hand on the stumps in his bowling action, incurring a no-ball and necessitating mild medical attention for a hurty finger.

Throughout all this, the fielding was keen: Big Jim, captaining from the front, took three good catches while on mid-off/extra cover patrol, and Scottie (although no-one is to tell him) was splendid around the boundary, effecting a clinical run-out from the deep when one of the Old Spots batsmen unwisely took on his arm.

At the turnaround, the Grannies were confident. Parky and Jim began dealing with the openers without alarms and keeping the chase in touch. But things were never comfortable: not content with his hundred, Barson also prowled the covers and managed a diving stop which Jonty Rhodes would have applauded. It turned a certain 4 for Jim into a near run-out: that sort of brilliance does the village game no good at all.

Parky was disappointed to chip to midwicket. James Brierley was looking in good touch but rather unluckily played on for 19. Scottie went a similar way, and the Old Spots were suddenly tugging at a thread which started to unravel at speed. The tail wagged briefly before accepting the inevitable. In all, seven Grannies had their timbers disturbed, suggesting both accurate bowling and perhaps a bit of ring-rustiness on the part of the batsmen.

But the performance was far from disheartening. The skipper fought hard for his 46 � easily the Grannies� top score � before losing concentration against this testing attack. Rob Cranston showed what he is capable of with an exquisite on-driven 4 which brought purrs from the fielders, although he could not build on it. (But as he correctly commented: �At least we saved the follow-on�). Candidate Rob Clilverd used his spanking new bat to good effect with a couple of lusty boundaries to provide hope and entertainment.

However, when the result is this emphatic, one must seek one�s highlights in other places: for example, the Old Spots� spectators were pleasingly impressed with the exotic names of the Grannies� middle order (van Lare, Clilverd and Jebarek at 6, 7 and 8). And this lovely ground, which is the private possession of a Greek shipping magnate, has still not been sold despite threats to do so.

All in all this may not have been the most distinguished outing in the Grannies� 60-year history: but there is no disgrace in being outbowled and outbatted. At Follies Farm the bar is well-stocked, the tea unsurpassed and the setting sublime. It is quite possible to lose and still enjoy the day. Fortunately.

Scribed by A.A. Hill�critic, commentator and connoisseur (ed.)

Match info



Location
Follies Farm,
High Street Green,
Chiddingfold,
GU8 4YB

How to get there
Follies Farm is a mile out of Chiddingfold on the road to Dunsfold. Chiddingfold is on the A283 about halfway between Milford (just off the A3) and Petworth. Heading south on the A283 at Chiddingfold turn left at the green (not the cricket pitch). Follow this road out of Chiddingfold for about a mile and take the first turning left. Follies Farm is on the right hand side. The ground is not visible from the road but is down a track perpendicular to the road running through the farm. Mind the pig!