Match Report (The Chair)
The first
game of the season and eagerly anticipated.
The groundsman, however, was much concerned, as, due to a communication
fuck up (moi? ed.), the previous autumn’s scarify/reseed had been
neglected. Fears were unfounded, as the
strip proved admirally up for the job.
Sadly the
Grannies could only muster 8 players and were thus granted the services of
young Kit Ross: a decision we were later to regret. Neilo won the toss and opted for the
regulation chase. My memory not being
what is was (it then being pretty poor then) I am relying on the score book,
which was kindly filled in for me (The Grannies’ innings) by the generous Ed
Gradiner-Hill. The match was reduced to
30 overs due to rain and the Grannies posted a creditable 191 in that time,
with both Will Finn and Ed G-H making over 50 (Finn 71).
The most
efficient of our bowlers was PK who, although not the higest wicket taker with
one, was extraodinarily inexpensive, having only 16 hit of his 7 overs, which
included two maidens. A total of 33
extras, including 18 wides, did not help the cause.
Our innings
was not blessed with an over-auspicious start.
We lost Teddy in the third over and it was not really until the
introduction of Joe Osbourne (chum of Keeling J.), batting at 6, that we looked
like competing. Joe’s fine 61 (eight 4s
and three 6s), with masterful backing-up by Tobes (23 runs) set up an exciting
finale. However, with a maiden over (Chairman on strike !!), three from the
end, and despite a mighty 6 from Fred Keeling batting at No 11, exceeding The
Grannies’ total became a forlorn hope.
Our overs ran out with the score at 179, 13 short of victory.
A good
day’s cricket on a fine strip, with 370 runs on the board, but ‘Oh! The
extras!’.
