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Result - The Flashmen

Sat Aug 8th Grannies lose by 84 runs

Match report

35 degrees, clean whites, 2 slip catches, a pace attack averaging above 65mph – doesn’t sound very Grannies to me… Read on to find out just what happened.

Culham Court 2.0 against the Flashmen was different this year, many thanks Covid19. The main thing that was missing was the slap-up 3 course meal for tea which I’m sure was our undoing at Culham Court 1.0 in 2019, the wheels really came off after that (i.e. when we went out to bat). So it was then, that 11 Grannies showed up in whites to the picture-perfect ground on the Thames on time, and even rumours of precautionary early nights taken by some team members (I know, I thought so too right?). The side was principally made up of young Grannies from the Schutz/Bethwaite power axis, with statesman Hugo Llewelyn there as the responsible adult in case things went south.

We lost the toss, and were instructed to field in the heat – and 40 overs of keeping later my views on early nights had markedly changed, it was basically like playing in Colombo. O Butler and X Drury luckily were fresh as anything and opened up with some seriously testing lines, swing, and intent. By the 3rd over Butler had a feel for the slow pitch and ingeniously banged in a rank half-tracker which had the batsmen cutting far too early and straight to Woodcock at cover. 10 very strong overs from them both were well complimented by some serious fielding, led by Llewellyn prowling at point. The ball was still hooping around (maybe the copious amounts of sweat on it rather than saliva really is the answer), and a double first change brought in the left-hand seam and swing combo of J Buck and MX Schutz. Buck soon had his man with a nasty inswinger to the right-hander – from behind the stumps I had the best seat in the house. MX Schutz came to the party too with a beguiling half-volley that was smacked flat to Drury taking a solid catch just outside the ring, and with the Flashmen 60-4 after 12 it looked pretty rosy.

Rosy it looked, but Roxane it became. 2hrs later the Flashmen were 200-4 with a father-and-son combo that battled hard initially, and then slowly grew into a serious partnership. We reckon the 17yr old son was a better batsman but the Dad clearly recognised that his home schooling structure and domestic credibility were really in the balance if he got out whilst his boy was at the crease. He’s a school master living onsite with family, and we suspect a fairly lax approach to the lockdown 1hr rule for exercise. That said though, I’m not sure even the Daily Express could make a compelling case against them both to the authorities by leveraging an exquisite cover-drive as evidence.

T Lloyd, R Bethwaite, and J Woodcock all toiled away at the family combo, and I’ll admit that we had a couple of catches that went down in the field that probably didn’t help matters. Woodcock still had a trump up his sleeve and removed Son for 61 with an off-spinners dream delivery, through the gate and clipping the off-peg. In came a pinch-hitter and Bethwaite soon had him worked out with some juicy out-swingers passing the bat, and soon enough had knocked the off-stump back. Father and Son had knocked the double-slip and gully attack out into the open field, but with Bethwaite swinging it nicely we pulled W Hooker back in to first slip for the next delivery. As sure as life, death, taxes, and face masks – he snicked off first ball and Hooker had bagged a lovely catch. Elation was relatively short-lived though, as the Flashmen took their chance in the remaining overs and despite our best efforts to convince the Dad to bring up his century with a scoop, he sagely batted for his average and finished on 96* with the Flashmen at 276-7 after 40.

Sadly no 3-course tea as mentioned (the team had to suffer a PSW-prepared sandwich lucky-dip), and soon we were back out with Hooker and MX Schutz opening our score-card. Another thing almost as certain as death, taxes, and Covid19, is that Hooker will bang out a fifty. He did indeed, batting very nicely whilst Schutzers MX and K came and went. Llewelyn steadied the ship with a steady 18 and the Grannies after 16 overs were 80-3, not so bad after all. Llewellyn fell driving, soon after and yours truly took up the torch. With a strong example at the other end, I managed to reduce my slogs to one per over but Hooker then departed for 53 to leave the Grannies slightly rudder-less but still sea-worthy at 140-4. Bethwaite came in but after a brisk 11 was out caught in the covers. Soon after I also departed (1 slog too many), leaving a rebuilding job for Drury and Woodcock. Both clearly skipped that class at school though, and with an LBW and run-out (wouldn’t be a Grannies game without a run-out), we had Buck in to bat to hold the fort with some serious batting (note to self for next year). Hold the fort he did, but Butler (true to name and role) was expertly discreet and back in hut before you could say “Jeeves”. Soon after Lloyd was back with a beer in hand too, leaving the Grannies 192 all out, with Buck not-out on 25.

So, we lost – no escaping that one, but it was a better game than the scorecard would suggest. We probably let them have 40 runs too many in the end but batting is where we lost it. We had a solid, competitive game though, with a back-and-forth of attrition and fluid stroke play reminiscent of the Covid19 regulations. After the game both teams jumped into the Thames from the private jetty at the House for a fresh dip after the days’ toil. We’ve found ourselves a solid new opponent, all good blokes, and keen to keep this fixture running. Great work team, 3rd time lucky - or you’re sacked...

Match info

Also played: Tom Lloyd

Location
Culham Court,
Aston,
Henley on Thames,
RG9 3DL

How to get there
NB. If using SatNav, the above postcode is incorrect for directions to the cricket ground, so take the road to Aston village...

FROM THE M4: Leave at Junction 8/9 heading north on the A404 (M) for approximately 2.4 miles, continue onto the A404 for 0.9 miles and take the exit for the A4130 towards Hurley/Henley/Burchetts Green.
Continue straight on the A4130 Henley Road. After about 4 miles turn right down Aston Lane towards Aston and then follow signs on the right hand side to Culham Court Cricket Ground. [If you reach the Flower Pot pub and car park you have gone too far.]

FROM THE M40: Leave at Junction 4 onto the A404, the Marlow by-pass, and after 3.5 miles go straight over the first roundabout and stay on the A404. Take the slip road for the A4130 to Hurley/Henley/Burchetts Green, taking third exit at the roundabout. Continue straight on the A4130 Henley Road. After about 4 miles turn right down Aston Lane towards Aston and then follow signs on the right hand side to Culham Court Cricket Ground. [If you reach the Flower Pot pub and car park you have gone too far.]