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Result - Castle Hill

Sun May 19th Match drawn

Match report

We were lucky with the weather for this early-season fixture against Castle Hill, who as usual were marvellous hosts at their beautiful ground in Kent.
The format was a timed game - 20 overs after 17:30.

Castle Hill won the toss and chose to bat. Tom Gibbs and Will Dunn bowled a tight opening spell, conceding around 50 runs after 12 overs. But only one wicket was taken - by Will in his final over. The next spell came from Tom Bell and Justus Van Lare. Tom's disciplined line and deceptively slow pace rewarded him with figures of 1 for 13 off 5. Van Lare - back from a stint of parental leave - will no doubt look to improve on his figures in the 2025 fixture. Harry Felgate and Anthony Dunn then came on, taking a wicket each but falling victim to some needlessly aggressive slogging from the home team's middle order. A final-over cameo from Alastair Deighton completed the innings, with Castle Hill declaring on 190 for 4.

There were teatime mutterings that Castle Hill may have been a bit greedy. They appeared not to have realised that the Grannies had produced an uncharacteristically bowler-heavy XI. And so it proved, with the Grannies reaching 155 for 5 at the end of play. Perhaps not a winning draw, but equally a loss was never on the cards. The star was Rob Finn, who opened the batting and was untroubled in his 67-run not-out stand. Will Dunn was the other highlight, scoring 32.

The Grannies look forward to next year's match with strong hopes of threatening a win.

Match info

Also playing: Rob Finn, Edward Steele

Location
Castle Hill Cricket Club ,
Crook Road,
Brenchley,
TN12 7BW

How to get there
From the North, follow the A21 South, past Tunbridge Wells and Pembury to the Kippings Cross Roundabout. Take the first left off the roundabout and follow the B2160 to Paddock Wood. When you get to the village of Matfield, pass the village pond and go right at the next crossroads, signposted to Brenchley. Enter the village of Brenchley and go left up the hill, opposite the church, signposted to Paddock Wood. At the junction at top of the hill go right onto Crook Road. Follow Crook Road for 1.1. miles. The ground is on your right just before the Castle Public House which is on your left.