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Result - The Dotties

Sat Sep 12th Grannies win by 10 wickets

Match report

At a very very late hour the famed Dotties C.C. - 'dear old things' to the incognoscenti - reinforced by a couple of stalwarts from our old friends the Stragglers of Asia, nobly stepped into a breach created by our intended opponents, who couldn't make it, and an excellent day was had at Temple Grove, our adopted home for the shortened season.
The combination side found the Grannies almost preternaturally strong in the bowling department, and having won the toss and elected to bat, ran into a wall of accurate and challenging medium to medium-quicks, in the shape of Sam Packer, Will Dunn, Deni Mathews (up specially from the deep south-west and freshly muscle-toned from ocean rowing), Billy Maisey, Pat Sheridan, and Stanners - with interesting leavening from the fast off-breaks of Gus Gayford. Despite the relentlessness of the attack the Dotties advanced skilfully and without major alarm to 50 for 1 - but then the sky fell in and they were skittled for 132. The debutants Sam, Pat and Gus, all made strong impressions, snaring 1, 3 and 3 wickets respectively, and we look forward to seeing plenty of them in the years to come. Deni got one and could have had another with a lither keeper. And Stanners picked up a couple including the Dotties' top scorer, caught, remarkably, in the deep by Sam while, most unfortunately, colliding heavily with James Caldwell, who took a blow to the head and whose day was sadly done as a result, although happily he confirmed later all was well.
To pursue the target that had been set, opening spots were offered to Tom Hoskyns and Sam, both of whom however thought first or second wicket might be marginally preferable. Neither though was to make it to the crease, as Scottie and Billy Maisey dominated the Dotties' bowlers (including Pat who volunteered to field, and bowl, for them too - and seemed to find an extra yard of pace - it could have been Jofra in the nets to the England upper order...), taking us to victory in 14.2 overs, with Scottie on a measured 30* and Billy a murderous 87* (a prelude to his 192*[sic] next day against the Turks).
An early, and socially distant, drink followed at - where else? - the Griffin, where the toast with one voice was to the Dotties and pied piper, David Hollings, together with Granny, David Pullan, who made the introduction, coupled with Ian Perry (convenor) and Tom Whyte and Sunny Bowry (players) of the Stragglers, for enabling us to salvage a memorable outing from what threatened to be a total dies non.

Match info

Also playing: Deni Mathews and Gus Gayford

This match will be played at Temple Grove Cricket Ground in East Sussex.

Location
Temple Grove Cricket Ground,
Heron's Ghyll,
Uckfield,
TN22 4BX

How to get there
Off A26 main road between Uckfield & Crowborough:
From Uckfield, heading north – once at Heron’s Ghyll, look out for Catholic Church on right hand side. Sign : ‘Temple Grove House’ - Turn right into entrance of Temple Grove House, approx 50 yards past church – sign : ‘Newick Cricket Club’..
From Crowborough, heading south – after 4 miles, look out for Barns Gate Manor on right hand side. Continue on through the next couple of bends for another 500 yards. Turn left into the entrance of Temple Grove. Sign : ‘Temple Grove House’ and ‘Newick Cricket Club’