Sat May 31st A winning draw!
Players
Match report
A really muggy day saw a scratch team of 10(due to the last wekend of half term) stride out and lose the toss, great start. The invalids put us in to bat, where a swinging ball would have caused serious damage, although with the pitch a little 'spongey' there was never going to be a lot of pace off the wicket. Ed Warner, following his 59 earlier in the season, sparkled with a glorious ton (103), although sadly he didn't receive the standing ovation as the scorer (you know who you are!!) only realised the total when he was bowled out. Supported by a stong and determined, if not a little dihydrateed 60 from Will Finn the opening partnership nearly managed 150 (maybe a first for the Grannies??). A couple of hard hitting 20's after that saw the Grannies in on 208 for 4.
After a fabulously unhealthy tea supplied at short notice by Clare Scott, we srung onto the pitch as keen as could be. Then came the million dollar question....anyone want to bowl, 80% of the Grannies responded with "could I be 3rd change"...help!!! Ed Gardiner Hill and Ben Scott opened (a leftie and a rightie just to confuse the opening batsmen), using the infamous Stonegate slope to their benfit. After one smart change of field (Ed's idea), a leading edge into the covers was swallowed up by Ed Warner, then thanks to the slope rather than the individual this was followed by two more wickets for Ben, edged into the trusted David Seaman like hands of Will 'gloves' Finn.
An interesting spell of leg breakers from guest Richard Lewis resulted in a couple of balls not making the other crease where the batsmen was waiting patiently, but he did snatch the all in important wicket of the oppositions rampant number 5, caught and bowled, as the ball was smacked back with venom straight at him (whether it was self defense or pre meditated could be debated, but it didn't matter).
After a long and sweaty spell by Ed Gardiner Hill the well came a well deserved wicket, a fizzing ball caught in the covers by the returning Grannies legend, Richard Snowden, who was playing his first match for three years after two back operations. One final wicket for Ben saw the match end in a 'Winning draw' with the Invalids on 185 for 6. A special mention to Will Finn's parents for turning up and supporting us, chatting of fond memories of the original Grannies teams loving seeing masses of kids and lots of humour at the ground. The day was finsihed off with a pint of Harvey's at the Bull at Three Leg Cross and a toast to the long serving ex captain of this fixture Will Kennerley who was soarly missed and is now based in Cornwall with his family.
Match info
A great fun and relaxed game. With Will Kennerley now down in Cornwall we are attepting to continue his legendary unbeaten form. Drinks before (1pm) and after at the Bull Inn, Ticehurst.
Location
Stonegate,
Nr. Wadhurst,
TN5 7ED
How to get there
Paste this link into your browser to get directions - just out of Stonegate on the road to Ticehurst http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=&daddr=51.032664,0.380176&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=51.03292,0.38156&sspn=0.002537,0.009935&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17