Sun Jul 23rd The Grannies lose by 5 wickets
Match report
Grannies (216-8 Dec, 52 overs)
B Maisey 75(88)
M Withers 57(70)
L Hancock 20(34)
T Hilditch 9-1-22-2
H Hardman 11-0-45-2
W Steel 6-2-9-1
Eton Ramblers (218-5, 36.4 overs)
H Middle 105(112)
N Harrington 72(58)
N MacDonagh 11(20)
J Scott 6-0-37-2
M Withers 9-1-57-2
T Penton 4-0-15-1
This year's Eton fixture was cast in some doubt due to heavy rain preceding, however despite the best efforts of the English summer - the ground staff worked some magic and the game went ahead.
Winning the toss and electing to bat (despite the conditions) may have been an oversight and the Grannies found themselves 7 for 2 within 6 overs. Credit to the Eton opening bowlers, they bowled tight lines at a decent pace, on a wicket that didn't offer much for timing. Maisey and Hancock initiated some form of recovery, before Hancock was caught driving, off a thick, looping edge. With the young openers finishing their spells, Maisey looked to accelerate the scoring, seeing the Grannies through to lunch with Penton on 127-3.
Having brought the Grannies to a respectable position at lunch, Maisey was unable to continue the good work, bowled off an inside edge first ball after the break. Penton followed soon after and it rested on Matt Withers to bring the Grannies to a half-defendable score. Matt's innings demonstrated real class, cleverly accumulating and timing lovely drives on the way to a well made 50, before the Grannies finally declared after 52 overs (to the relief of some disgruntled Etonians).
Having watched the Etonian openers make the wicket look like a bowlers dream, the Grannies were unable to replicate the feat and lacked penetration. Eton eased to 130-0 after 20 overs, until star man Matt Withers finally got deserved reward for decent pace, line and length, snicking off opener Harrington for a quick 72. Withers picked up his second not long after, but other opener Middle never looked in any doubt that he would chase down the Grannies total single handedly from there. Sportingly he got out after reaching his hundred with 4 required to win, opening the tiniest of cracks for the Grannies to try and squeeze through (5 wickets vs 4 runs?), but alas Eton cruised to the win and the Grannies were soundly beaten.
In a match that's typically a close contest, this year saw the Grannies outplayed in all departments by a spritely Eton side.
Match info
Also played: L Hancock
Location
Eton College,
Windsor,
SL4 6HD