Refreshers at Tilford – Sunday 24 June 2018

On a beautiful summer’s afternoon that saw the England  football team beat Panama 6-1 to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup and the England one day cricket team complete their first 5-0 whitewash of Australia, the Refreshers also joined the sporting party , winning back the Tanner Cup with a 5 wicket victory over Tilford.

Having lost the toss and been put into field on a swelteringly hot day, the Refreshers bowled Tilford out for 146 inside 35 overs  using -perhaps uniquely – only 3 bowlers.

Chris Bell opened the bowling together with Richard Jory , the former taking 3-33 and the latter bowling unchanged from one end ( ie. too well to take off!) to take 5-61 (his second five-wicket haul for the Refreshers that week). Andy Gardiner was the only other bowler used taking 2 – 44 with his rather idiosyncratic left arm pies.

The Refreshers opening pair of Paul Stewart and Henry Law shared a comfortable first wicket stand of 50, with John Willet (having not played for 13 years during his stay in the US), top scoring at 3 with an elegant 26.

Tim Lord carried on the good work with a brisk 24 and the game was won in fine  fashion by Jack Bell scoring a sparkling  20* off 7 balls to take the Refreshers over the line with some 15 overs still remaining.

Champagne moments include: Paul Stewart’s fabulous  one handed catch at first slip off Chris Bell, Richard Jory bowling ‘through’,  for a very well deserved  ‘five- for’ and David Alexander’s fine juggling drop(s) at deep mid -on to  allow Tilford a few more runs to make a game of it.

A great all round team performance from the Refreshers  with everyone contributing to a comfortable win,  capping off a fine day for English sport in general!

Match Manager: Chris Bell.