Refreshers v Tilford
21 June 2026
It was a very hot mid-summer’s day in the bucolic surroundings of Tilford green and the oldest fixture on the calendar was again keenly contested. The Refreshers won the toss and decided, for a change, to insert the opposition and try and chase down their total. N Weekes and T Pleming provided the opening bowling combination of pace and spin with Weekes striking in the second over after taking some early punishment.
On a notoriously small ground with its precipitous outfield boundaries came thick and fast. The bowling change to D Cumberbatch and Chloe, another Rachel ringer – 18 and fresh out of A Levels – drew early results. Cumberbatch, bowling variously right arm off spin, pace and left arm cutters, struck early while Chloe provided the left arm off spin stability using the slope to her advantage. One highlight in her 10 ½ overs and four wickets was a ball pitching outside leg and taking the bail off the top of off stump. Prince and Jory then took the final wickets to leave Tilford all out for 221, which always looked gettable. Of note in Tilford’s innings was a confident 56 from their teenage opener Ben Stearn.
The experienced pair of Stewart and Waddington strode out for the Refreshers in pursuit. Stewart went early, and Waddington smote a couple of glorious shots before departing himself. Our Australian visitor Monisse looked to score quickly but also went cheaply, before Cumberbatch and Prince came together and found the boundary on a regular basis, with several shots clearing the boundary comfortably, one vehicle sustaining panel damage before being moved and nearly struck again, and several revellers by the river playing Russian roulette by ignoring the grenades being fired from the middle. Prince made 50 before his demise, and Weekes strode in to join Cumberbatch who struck a final magnificent 6 for his 100 before being promptly retired. Chloe joined Weekes to score the final runs and ensure a Refreshers victory by 4 wickets.
As always the teams retired to the Barley Mow for a welcome pint or two on what had become a glorious summer evening. There were murmurings from the home team on Cumberbatch’s inclusion and performance, no doubt reflecting their competitiveness and disappointment, but after a five-year winless streak in this fixture the Refreshers had finally secured the return of the Tanner Cup.
RJKC