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Result - Old Spots

Sat Jun 10th Parky puts the Porkers to the sword

Match report


I doubt that the Grannies have ever seen an all round display quite like that of Adam “parky” Parkinson against the Old Spots. Opening the batting on a soft, slow pitch he was one of the few players to get the pace of the pitch helping the Grannies recover from two down for just a few before a remarkable fielding exhibition in which his two spells behind the stumps were punctuated by 8 overs of offspin yielding 2 wickets and taking a full length diving forward catch at long on. The cherry on the cake was the cherry in the gloves…diving full length to snare the 9th wicket. Judging committee of the Mike Rogers trophy take note !
In between that the other 21 players contrived to produce one of the best games of cricket many of us have been involved in culminating on the penultimate ball with the last Old Spot (skipper Bill Tebbit) lunging full length in a vain attempt to prevent Strings running him out.

Euphoric Grannies.

It wasn’t so rosy when we batted first and had three ducks in the top 5 but Big Jim (51) combining with MoM Parky (38) rescued matters before Siebs (26) and Strings (52*) took a distinctly below par score onto a winning one. Strings has played this fixture many times before and whilst always fulfilling his bowling obligations he has almost always volunteered to lounge in the grass and let others doing the batting. Not any more old chap. His display of counter punching (on a slow deck) was second only to John Prescott…and not an egg to be seen.

Grannies 195 – 6.

The Old Spots openers won the first battle. They saw off Shiv’s first spell. Time for the first change of wicket keeper…and deputy MoM (Strings) the pads and the pre-warmed box (mmm..nice) to take his place behind the stumps. Immediate results. Chris Good, who was under orders to be home in time for The Night Garden, was racing through his overs and nipped out the first wicket with the help of a Monster catch (…not big…or spectacular…just caught by Monster de St Croix). Then Parky came on for his second over…second ball chipped to mid off…caught Jerabek. Fourth ball …repeat as above. Jerabek…DNB, DNB but caught two beauties. After two offspinners the skipper decided to take the pace off the ball and tossed it to Siebs who defied his recent medical history and bowled with flight, flight, flight and guile. His two wickets were extra-ordinary…Parky running in from long on diving full length forwards (you could almost hear the TMS team lauding it) to catch it on his grass stained whites…and Strings making a stumping !!! The fight for MoM was in full flow at this point. And to be honest Strings was probably edging it…partly because he had convinced his fiancée, Catx, to don her Brisbane University cricket strip (NB…they weren’t white…but at least they weren’t stripped like the Australia ‘teams’ of the 1700s) and take the field for the Grannies. And a big mention to Catx for hurtling around the outfield and reminding us all about being able to hurtle around the outfield. Anyway, unlike my rambling report, the match was reaching an exciting climax as the Old Spots rebuilt and then completely blew a position of strength. 158 for 5…184 for 6…12 runs required and 4 wickets. You can’t lose it from there? Jonny Morris, Shiv (2 wkts) and Strings (1 wtk) strangled them. Quick, accurate and aggressive…sledging! No, of course not. Queue Parky’s ridiculous full length dive; Strings’ run out; and euphoria.

Old Spots 193 all out.

Match info

A popular fixture for the Grannies since 2006 this is a beautiful, privately owned ground that until recently boasted some pet pigs deep in the heart of Surrey. No coincidence then that the ham sandwiches at tea are some of the best you'll taste! The Old Spots play their cricket in the same spirit as the Grannies which makes for a competitive but friendly game. Nice place to bring the family too.


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!