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Result - Eton Ramblers

Sun Jul 25th The Grannies win by 37 runs

Match report

Grannies: 208 for 5 off 30 overs
P Sheridan 48(21) J Roy 4-0-20-1
T Pedel 43(52) J Warburton 6-0-36-1
A Jennings 32(41) M Dundass 5-0-33-1

Eton: 171 for 8 off 30 overs
R MacDonagh 49(46) W Maisey 5-1-14-3
J Roy 44(40) J Rose 6-0-27-2
J Watt 29(30) A Smith 5-0-24-1

For a game that was in significant doubt due to multiple festival-goers and Covid isolationists, the Grannies pulled together - triumphant in a highly enjoyable and competitive game of cricket, where a number of talented new additions were welcomed to the Grannies fold.
Having managed to get a side together, the second hurdle was the impending thunderstorms that saw a number of other games called off (any lawyers out there?). The two captains decided a shorter format match would be most prudent to wrap up the game prior to the forecasted downpour. A gentleman’s agreement followed in lieu of a toss, with Eton wishing to bowl and the Grannies preference to bat (I mean, who bowls first on a Sunday?).
Seasoned Grannies opener Maisey partnered with new addition and former Exeter University chum Pedel to face the tennis ball bounce of the Etonian turf. This suited Maisey due to him playing a significant amount more tennis than cricket this year, picking up the short ball well short. Dealing more-or-less only in boundaries Maisey took the attack to the Eton openers, depositing his opposing number over the sightscreen, before falling to a line and length delivery, caught behind for a pacey 28 with the Grannies 51-1 in the 7th over.
Pedel took a more cautious approach, accumulating well, providing good anchorage to the innings. Joined by Scott, the pair reset and rebuilt momentum, putting on another 50-run partnership for the second wicket. Once into the swing of things, Scott’s pull shot started to flourish and he put on (just over) a run-a-ball 31, before being bowled. With a little under half the innings yet to play, Jennings and Pedel kept the scoreboard ticking over before Pedel sent a return catch to Dundass for a well-constructed 43.
Having been smoking it in the nets, Cavet successfully broke Tritton’s bat as he was meant to walk out to the middle, which meant Sheridan stepped in whilst Cavet searched for a new blade. One could claim this to be a strategic masterstroke, as Sheridan went on the offensive in a blistering innings of 48 (21) including 4 monstrous sixes to all the biggest parts of the ground – falling out caught with the score on 187-5 in the 25th over.
Late drama unfolded in the innings, with Eton’s mid-on fielder striving for a run out, but rather than hitting the stumps, the ball thumped into the right leg of the Grannies stalwart umpire. It soon became apparent that the impact had successfully gouged a significant part of Douglas’ shin, prompting a significant amount of blood and interruption of play to treat the wound. The Eton captain’s significant other happened to be medically trained in the veterinary arts, who professionally bandaged the limb. It was decided Douglas should visit the local medical establishment to ensure the wound remained closed and we proceeded with one formal umpire.
Ahmad and Jennings did well to resume with focus, guiding the Grannies to a solid total of 208-5 off the allotted 30 overs.
Following a 30-minute interval with the ever-scrumptious Etonian tea (this time deconstructed fajitas followed by Banoffee Pie!), the Grannies took to the field.
The game plan was simple, restrict the Etonians early with tight seam bowling, leaving them as big a target off 20 overs. The game plan was well executed by Sheridan and Maisey, the latter producing a number of unplayable swinging deliveries, claiming 3 wickets at less than 3-runs an over. It was also noted by the scorer, that the first over of the innings, bowled by Maisey, was also the only maiden over of the match.
Whilst the run-rate was higher than desired in those first 10-overs, a huge amount of pressure was placed on the Etonian middle order, with the Grannies picking up 4 wickets. Sheridan was unlucky not to pick up a second wicket in his spell, as his bowling produced a tough, but dropped high catch at long on. In the next over from that end, the offending party produced a near-identical situation, which Sheridan held on to, so clearly no hard feelings there!
The middle overs were marshalled by Rose and Smith, who bowled consistently and with patience. Both bowlers caused a number of problems for the Etonian middle order, picking up 3 wickets between them, at less than 5 runs per over, pushing the required rate up and up. This allowed breathing space for the Grannies master spinner Fernie to strike the fear of God into Eton’s captain, who no-doubt recalled the result of their previous battle 2 years ago! The Etonian may have got the best of this encounter, but not without a few quakes of the knee!
Jennings, having provided a stabilising role with the bat, replicated the performance with the ball, bowling a couple of tidy stump-to-stump line and length overs at the death, that were impossible to hit to the fence – leaving Pedel, to close the game out, entertaining the crowd with his leg-spin.
In summary, this was a game played in great spirit and a fantastic team performance, with all members of the Grannies XI providing valuable contributions. A special mention to Pat Sheridan for a fantastic innings and crucial catches with his bucket hands and a tremendous thanks to the new Grannies additions that stepped up at short notice - it felt like they had always been a part of the Grannies and I would dearly love to see them playing again in the future!

Match info

Also playing: Tom Pedel, Arthur Jennings, Ashley Smith,Raunaq Cavet

Location
Eton College,
Windsor,
SL4 6HD