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'Graveney Snatch win at Warnham'
By
John O'Driscoll
Graveney 168 - 9
Warnham 164 - 9 (with 13 balls remaining, 10 men a side)
Graveney Win by 4 runs
Graveney`s only second visit to Warnham in West
Sussex ended in a storming finish with the `green caps` winning by 4
runs with 13
balls to go.
Graveney lost the toss and were asked to bat,
maybe surprisingly, on what looked a good batting track. Barry
`Scolari` (40) and
Bigger Tim (32) piled on the runs in a quick flowing opening
partnership of 70. On another day `Bigger` Tim might have
collected the Champagne Award-being run-out when backing-up at
the bowlers end, a deflection catching our new tres. out of his
crease. Poor Tim does not know his own speed!
Enter Howard, fresh from his trip to
Broadbridge Heath Cricket Club! to smack two fours, but his stay
was brief out for 9. Rod Smith on his debut, scored 1 as Graveney slumped to
93-4 wkts. Then a 59 run partnership for the 5th wicket between
the Chairman (31) and skipper Dave Moody (30) set up Graveney`s
10 men for a reasonable total.
Debut `poon star` Peter Rolik, a Slovakian,
dressed in very `all white` was out for 0. Smaller Tim made 7,
last man Jay Vibes scored 2 and Dave Price kept his record of
never being out for Graveney, making 1 not out.
Warnham`s reply got of to a good start
despite steady bowling from Dave Price 2-44 and Vibes 2-48. Then
Howard dropped the easiest of catches at silly mid-off and
Graveney looked to have missed out of getting out the big
hitting Ritchie for a low score. However, the Chairman pulled
off a head high gulley catch to dismiss the opener soon
afterwards. Warnham were always on course to reach Graveney`s
score at 5 an over seemed set for victory although only having
10 players. Up stepped Medium size Tim Bunn to bowl his new
found spin(!) and off a short run (old age showing) turned the
game round for the `green caps` taking 4-32 in just under 8
overs to give Graveney victory.
After a visit to the Warnham social club
Graveney returned to the Sussex Oaks to celebrate in style.
Howard tempting Barry and the rest of the team to his
favourite Wine Bar in Banstead all declined, perhaps not
trusting H.H. Sat-Nav!
Man of the match:
John
O'Driscoll.
Champagne moment:
John
O'Driscoll taking a high catch at Deep Gulley.
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