Sun Jul 15th The Grannies lose by 79 runs
Match report
Having lost the toss and been asked to field, the Grannies began bowling with youth at one end, in the form of Matt Hayward (one of four Grannies' debutants) and the experience of Bob Robinson at the other. Both bowled well, but it was the older, wiser man who finished with the better figures (12 overs-5 maidens-21 runs-2 wickets including a stunning caught and bowled compared to Matt's 6-1-10-0), setting a trend that was only to be bucked by the outrageously talented Archie Clarke, who dominated the Brigands' batsmen despite standing a mere 4 ft, or so, tall. Simon Clarke's 11 year-old son bowled his off-spin with flight, guile and control that was all the more remarkable when one considers that he had never played with a full-size ball on a full-length wicket before. He returned figures of 3 wickets for 25 runs from his 6 overs to set the example for the other bowlers to follow.
James Knight picked up a couple of wickets with the sort of spell he dreams of producing in the back garden when big brother is batting, and both Knights executed run outs as the Brigands' innings fell away. Pete Jacob produced the coup de grace, bowling the last man middle stump after a succession of wides that took the total up to a nice round 150.
In reply, the first three Grannies' batsmen were undone by deliveries that shot along the deck, and then Matt Hayward got one that reared up from half-volley length and took the bat handle, lobbing up for the 60 year-old bowler to swallow in his waddle through, just at the stage when Matt looked like he could win the game on his own. Some said it was good bowling; the match manager started to empathise with all those Grannies who have said they will never play at Broadhalfpenny Down again.
Some of the lower order hung around for a bit, but from the positions of 40 for 4, 45 for 5, 46 for 6, 46 for 7, and then 49 for 8, getting over the line was always unlikely, and the last wicket fell just after the team had crawled past the 70 runs posted by the Grannies' team the day before. 71 all out. Where was the rain when it was needed?!
Match info
Paul Knight is now running the fixture as Nick Pettman has a family commitment on this day.
Apparently the site of the first ever cricket match, this fixture is played next to the Bat and Ball pub, which is full of cricketing memorabilia and serves great food. The bounce on the wicket is extremely low, but it is possible to score runs on, as James Philpott showed last year.
Location
Bat and Ball,
Broadhalfpenny Down,
Hambledon,
PO8 0UB
How to get there
The Bat & Ball is 4 miles west of the A3M, between Hambledon and Clanfield.