Sun Sep 10th Grannies lose in 35-over match
Players
- Battersby, James
- Bell, Tom
- de Mestre, Andrew
- Haria-Shah, Shiv
- Hoskyns, Tom
- Maisey, Billy
- Percival, Bob
- Scott, James
- Staniforth, Jonathan
Match report
It was a dark, dreary and ultimately very wet day, but we were glad to get in a (35-over) match, though we lost.
The Household won the toss, batted and struggled. Billy Maisey was both electric and on the spot and reeled off 3 maidens, while cleaning up one of the openers. His step-father was less electric but both contained and did a bit, and after 10 overs the home side were only 30 for 1. Thereafter Tom Bell and James Battersby were tight, and Scottie did a more than respectable job with his little left-armers.
At the other end though two set batsmen got the measure of the bowling and the last 6 overs went for 50, the last 2 for 25, taking them, with a little help from extras (32!) to 198 for 5. A very commendable performance in the field but a difficult target set.
It then rained over tea and never really stopped and there was half a chance the Household would come off and settle for a draw. However, with the Grannies 33 for 5, there was incentive enough for them to stay on.
It was then, though, that Ben Pullan (of Fletching and the Griffin fame, on debut) began really to assert himself and to show his undoubted class. In partnership with an increasingly confident fellow debutant, Darren Almeida, 74 runs were added in 11 1/2 overs...until murder was committed - or, more fairly, excusable homicide, as no-one could see a damned thing by then - and Ben was run out for 63, having shortly before gone to his 50 with a sumptuous six over the distant extra cover boundary.
Darren, without a stain on his character, fell for 30, after which the innings subsided without anyone else managing double figures, and we were all out for 133 in the 33rd over.
Nearly a stunning reversal of fortunes, but not quite.
Our thanks as ever to the Household for their wonderful hospitality and for withstanding the weather (albeit out of enlightened self-interest!)
Match info
Also playing Ben Pullan and Darren Almeida
Location
Frogmore, Windsor Castle