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Result - The Griffin

Sun Jun 26th Grannies lose by 82 runs

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(c) - candidate

Match report

The Griffin 207-7 (35 overs)
Grannies 125-9 (35 overs)

Cricket has seen many far-reaching innovations in recent years - the doosra, the Dilscoop and spot-fixing to name but three. How splendid it is to report, then, that this noble sport is not all about the shock of the new: it was not only the cheery (if annoying) toot-toot of a steam traction engine at the bucolic Fletching ground which set a vintage tone - The Griffin have rediscovered one of cricket's most neglected arts: for what could be more traditional in the village game than the ball which falls from the clouds to bamboozle the batsman? Donkey drops, Spedegue's droppers, very slow full tosses - call them what you will - we thought we would never see the like again. We had reckoned without Hollings of The Griffin. Forget Murali; ignore Warne - Hollings is a true master of his ancient craft and we doff our caps to him. After his extraordinary 7-over spell he had three wickets - two stumped, one clean bowled - had conceded only 17 runs and broken Grannies' hearts. It's easy to say: 'Get to the pitch and smash the bloody thing' (indeed, from the safety of the pavilion, many people did) but it is more difficult in practice. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. This ThirtyFive35 match had started conventionally enough: invited to bat having been coaxed from the pub, The Griffin made heavy weather against a tight opening attack with Justus van Lare and Alex Stone (2-22) keeping them honest. Once McClane (60) came in, the rate of scoring increased and when he was joined by Toby Pullan (63) the innings really started to motor. Will Siebert was excellent, ripping his leg breaks and taking two good wickets while seeing two catches go down in consecutive balls. He will have more luck another day. Crocked father Siebs - non-playing match manager for this game - looked on proudly. Will Snowden toiled hard and could have easily taken more than one wicket; the same applies to Dave Amato who had the misfortune to be on at the death and saw some good balls unjustly punished. The Griffin's final score of 207 was probably 30 or so above par - and most of those 30 came in a few blows from Pullan, who proved himself to be no respecter of the terracotta tiles covering a tithe barn over the boundary at long on. After a fine tea, Nick May (16) began carefully but found it difficult to score with freedom. At the other end, after fielding with gusto, James Snowden opened impishly. His dismissal brought in James Grant (19). Usually resident in Paris, Granters brought some Gallic grace and post-Brexit English good sense to the chase, stroking three 4s and a 6. It was a surprise when he was bowled and things might have been closer had he stayed. Chris Findlay, complete with what appeared to be a toy bat, tried to dig in and move things along but by then Hollings was weaving his web of fear and stealthily strangling the Grannies innings. Will Snowden (21) batted with real gumption to top score and, cometh the hour, cometh Nick Yeates (16) who played nicely before succumbing. Hillers and Siebs minor enjoyed themselves with the bat at the end but, as things turned out the run-rate was oppressive from the start and the Grannies were never really in the hunt. However, this is a long-standing fixture played in a delightful, friendly spirit and as Griff captain David Pullan gracefully said: 'The Grannies will be back.' Of course we will. But forget the dry numbers of the game. Long after the parchment of the scorecard has crumbled to dust, this will be remembered as 'Hollings' match'.


Match info



Location
Fletching CC,
TN22 3SS