Skip over navigation

Result - Old Spots

Sun Jun 2nd The Grannies win by 3 wickets

Photo gallery

< prev 1 of 5 next >

Players

(c) - candidate

Match report

Also playing Angus Hinton

Old Spots 172 for 10 (38.3 overs)
Grannies 173 for 7 (39.5 overs)

Finally, the summer of 2024 arrived on 2nd June at Old Spots. After the customary warm up of collecting the “guns” from the train and a visit to the Crown, a fine collection of Grannies assembled in glorious sunshine. As the skipper walked out for the toss he looked back to see at least have the team with pints in hand, he knew what needed doing. The grannies won the toss and duly inserted the opposition, (the youth struggle if they have more than one pint before playing these days)

With Billy being unable to bowl for once the captain was allowed to choose his new ball pair of Luke Rooke and Angus Hinton. Understandably for someone on Grannies debut Gus was a little nervous but after a couple of wides in his first over he removed both openers cheaply in a spell of 15-2 and with Luke (19-0) restricted the Old spots to 39-2 from the first 10. This however brought skipper Tom and brother/owner of the farm Guy to the wicket. Having your own ground in the family certainly helps, but an unusually slow scoring and tricky old spots wicket along with tight bowling from spin twins of Simmo and Archie Clarke meant the brothers were restricted and survived, to shepherd the old spots to 90 for 2 at drinks and the half way stage.

Grannies chat turned to keeping the oppo under 200 and the need to remove one of the brothers. Some would call it shopping others tempting the batsmen, but the introduction of Bertie (41-1) and Sam (28-1) both increased the run rate but more crucially removed the brothers. The Old spots middle and lower order tried to keep the acceleration going but the return of firstly Ollie & Archie and the opening bowlers allowed us to dismiss them inside 40 overs. Catches were held by most including an excellent display by the chairman behind the stumps (only 5 byes), left us with 172 to chase, below par for most visits to the farm but on this wicket only time would tell. All the bowlers picked up a wicket with the pick being debutant Gus.

A fine BBQ tea was enjoyed by all with a little light refreshment before Billy and Simon strode to the wicket purposefully to start the chase. What followed was a surprisingly measured and, some might say, sensible approach from two normally free scoring openers (maybe finally fatherhood had settled Billy down). The first 10 overs were passed without alarm (26-0), although scoring was tough keeping wickets in hand was important, Simon departed and Woody, then Pou Jnr supported Billy in taking us to 71-2 at 20 overs, a little behind but still in touch.

The steady progress continued with debutant Gus joining Billy but by the end of the 30 overs we were 113 for 3 some 35 runs behind where the old spots were. Needing a run a ball 60 from the last 10 overs, on a wicket giving up around 4 an over for the previous 70 looked a tall order. We still had hope though with Billy playing an uncharacteristic anchor role anything was possible. Veterans will we wondering if there was still time for a Grannies collapse.

Billy departed for and excellent 62 with 5 overs to go, allowing a couple of cameo’s from Luke (10 from 6 balls • 4 1 4 1 w) and Captain Scottie (11 from 6 balls • 4 • 1 6 w). Therefore, with the scores tied going to the last over and Gus on strike surely 3 wickets would be enough to win, however this is the Grannies…….. Gus therefore chose to build the tension and waited until the 5th ball to hit the winning runs, much to the relief of the Chairman sitting in his pads.

A excellent win and day all round, MoM certainly to Debutant Gus for his 36 not out to add to the 15 for 3, he will surely move from debutant to candidate to member within no time. Thank you as always to out generous Kiwi host, we will be back next year for further Beer, BBQ and a little cricket.

Match info



Location
Follies Farm,
High Street Green,
Chiddingfold,
GU8 4YB

How to get there
Follies Farm is a mile out of Chiddingfold on the road to Dunsfold. Chiddingfold is on the A283 about halfway between Milford (just off the A3) and Petworth. Heading south on the A283 at Chiddingfold turn left at the green (not the cricket pitch). Follow this road out of Chiddingfold for about a mile and take the first turning left. Follies Farm is on the right hand side. The ground is not visible from the road but is down a track perpendicular to the road running through the farm. Mind the pig!