Greys Green 30 May 2015

“11 year old defies Government Minister!”

The Greys game now over 65 years old is played with such great spirit and camaraderie and this one was no different. Same faces, same smiles and same great tea. There is always something special that comes out of these games and this one was at the end but I’ll tell you a little more of the game first.
The captain lost the toss again having been given instructions by Saunders to bowl first … we set about batting. We were only 10 players this year.
Young bucks Harry Nosworthy (sporting a broken finger) and Michael Edwards strode out to the crease and started very nicely indeed. M steady, H lusty… just as we like it. Until a sudden rush of blood saw Harry send Michael on a run to a crease that only the ball was going to win! Hence HN’s new moniker, “the Swiss Doctor” having guaranteed a sudden, premature and not so voluntary death. 7 for Michael but Harry then made reparations with a very solid knock of 45 in short time, only to hole out in the deep with a big blow into their safest of hands.
Never fear, Faulks was here; Ed not Seb, and he had a very good day with bat and ball. Not expecting 3rd berth, he batted very well for 38. Saunders next, started well with a 6 and 2 fours but a rush of hair from his beard saw him caught for 16. Rachel Godschalk then opened her account for RCC in a very impressive 17, straight bat, good running and a long arm, she was a pleasure to have in the team.
Uncharacteristically, the President then took a duck, bowled. Enough said. Classic tail performance of the RCC then put on 35 between the 4 of them. Captain held his bat for unimpressive 7.
We were 181 all done which on this ground was competitive.
Fair to say that Greys were not sporting some of their usual openers but that should take nothing away from the bowling from RCC. James Finch (or “Flinchy” after his short third man performance!) bowled very well indeed all day and finished 3 for 10 off 9 overs with 4 maidens. Richard S bowled well too with 4 for 27 off 11 overs. Andy Gardner was on form but unrewarded; it was man of the match Ed Faulks who took 3 for 14 off 7.3 overs, crucially removing the two tail-enders who had parked themselves in front of the wickets. A RCC win with 2 overs remaining.
Interestingly for RCC the first 7 wickets came from catches, the best of which was a super effort from Andy Gardener.
Now back to the 11 year old. One of the GG players had his son of 11 scampering the field earlier in the day only to be replaced by a late arrival player. We were asked whether he could face the last 2 overs as a Greys player and we of course agreed, his Nan and grand dad watching on. Ed bowled a further over to him and the youngster did himself proud, striking straight and confident, a future GG player no doubt. It completed a happy day for all and one I suspect our 11 year will remember.
CHQC