Refreshers v Tilford – 23 June 2019

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After the travails of England losing their second world cup ODI match against Sri-Lanka earlier in the week, it was time for the Refreshers to put a smile on cricket fans’ faces on a humid and rather overcast, albeit ultimately dry, day on Sunday June 23rd  in defence of the elegant (if slightly in need of a polish) Tanner Cup.

Losing the toss, Tilford put us into bat with James Skelton and Tim Lord sharing a fine 50 opening partnership before Skelton fell on 28 bringing in James Lord for the first of two father and son partnerships on the day. With James to fall first, Tim Lord made a sparklingly 54, latterly in partnership with Sam Burrett who went on to top score with a fine 62. Edward Faulks rolled back the years (indeed, playing against one of his school friends in the Tilford XI) scoring an effortless 22 before the second father and son partnership of Richard and Max Jory took us to a declaration on 221 for 6 from 46 overs at 4:45pm.

Having started well with his first three overs only going for 3 runs and taking the first wicket, Richard Saunders – celebrating his birthday – then rather lost his radar with his next 3 overs going for 27 runs. With Richard Jory and Sam Burrett also going for a few more than they normally would at the other end, it fell to Andrew Gardner and Chris Bell to slow the run rate and finally get amongst the wickets with Gardner taking 2 for 40 off 10 overs, and Bell 6 for 40 off 16 in his first game back since breaking 5 ribs and puncturing a lung in late March.

With all results possible going into the final few overs, inexplicably and needing a win to regain the Tanner Cup, Tilford rather shut up shop, closing on 203 for 9 in the 44 overs bowled.

After a lovely day’s cricket with some excellent batting and bowling performances and, uniquely perhaps for the Refreshers, no catches dropped, we managed to retain the Tanner Cup for another year.

Chris Bell

Match Manager