Refreshers v Tilford

Sunday 18 June 2023

In the idyllic village green setting at Tilford the home team won the toss and batted on an outfield only slightly damaged by the travelling community who had set up nearby and enjoyed taking their horses for a stroll around the outfield before the start of play.  It’s fair to say we struggled to contain Tilford’s opening barrage of runs on the quirky, lopsided outfield, Tilford plundering runs at a rapid rate, with both their openers scoring 60s. After the final breakthrough by the debutant Haroon, well caught by Ahmad behind the stumps, the going remained hard, and a bit like England in the Edgbaston test, our fielding could have been sharper. Still, the change bowlers seemed to steady the ship in due course and Law finished as pick of them with 2-40. Tilford declared with a healthy 242-5.

Undaunted, Sachin and Stewart set off in pursuit, and raced to a fifty partnership, including three straight sixes from Sachin, one finding the stream by the temporary caravan site/stables at the church end. Sachin’s untimely demise, and then Willett’s wicket, saw further debutants Patrick Dunn-Walsh and Jonathan Prince come to the crease and quickly settled in. Both played well, Prince in particular playing some delightful and meaty strokes through the covers and over the top before he fell for 44. Further wickets fell, and the chase in the last 20 overs for the win became a battle to survive for the draw. Again Law shone, steady as a rock, and with Jory coming in at 11 saw out the last 5 overs. A hard-fought draw, rewarded with a lovely pint of Harvey’s in the Barley Mow afterwards, but the Tanner Cup remains with the hosts.