Controversy mars Griffin Cup win
The Old Cranleighans retained the Griffin Cup at Esher on Sunday amongst scenes of controversy during the final at New Road. The returning champions had coasted into the decider with two comfortable victories over Sarasota and Esher II thanks to good all-round team performances.
The OCs were then asked to bat first in the final by the home team. Some clean hitting by James "Slim" Willoughby, some cultured strokeplay by Steve Bailey and useful contributions from Chetwode, Pile and Bond saw the OCs set Esher a daunting target of 77 to win off their five overs. That target didn't look quite so clever by the time the Esher no.3 had reached his mandatory retirement (20) off six balls. A steady stream of falling wickets meant that he could return mid-way through the fourth over, all other players having batted, with the target now 23 off 14 balls.
With 10 balls remaining, and the target now 13, Bailey, the sophisticated OC skipper, took a sharp caught and bowled after having deceived the batsman with his well flighted mystery ball (so called because it is a mystery where, or indeed if, it will land). The victorious OC team were leaving the field to celebrate when, for the second time in as many years, the Laws of game (note they are called Laws rather than guidelines or rules) were subject to reinterpretation by some of the members of Esher CC. In 2000, an attempt was made to introduce a new law whereby the team scoring fewer runs could be declared the winner. This time around, the patently silly "not out batsman bats on" idea was borrowed from under 9 cricket in a wacky races type attempt to alter the outcome of the contest. Common sense eventually prevailed with the Esher not out bat honourably tying the game.
"It's one more piece of silverware for the club," the victorious captain replied when asked for comments after lifting the cup for the third time in as many years of asking, an achievement even beyond the reach of the Brazilian football team. When asked if the third victory meant the Old Cranleighan Club got to keep the trophy, the eloquent Esher Chaiman, John McDermott, was heard to reply, "b*****ks."
Bailey refused to be drawn on rumours that he was struggling to fill sides for the cricket week which starts on Sunday, July 15th. "We have full sides on all days bar eight," he said, adding that he was sure several others, who he refused to identify, would 'cry on' in the coming few days. When asked whether the fact he managed to get on five OCs to the Esher Sixes he claimed that he "thought it was a five-a-side".
"How the hell was I supposed to know I needed six players?"
The OCs were then asked to bat first in the final by the home team. Some clean hitting by James "Slim" Willoughby, some cultured strokeplay by Steve Bailey and useful contributions from Chetwode, Pile and Bond saw the OCs set Esher a daunting target of 77 to win off their five overs. That target didn't look quite so clever by the time the Esher no.3 had reached his mandatory retirement (20) off six balls. A steady stream of falling wickets meant that he could return mid-way through the fourth over, all other players having batted, with the target now 23 off 14 balls.
With 10 balls remaining, and the target now 13, Bailey, the sophisticated OC skipper, took a sharp caught and bowled after having deceived the batsman with his well flighted mystery ball (so called because it is a mystery where, or indeed if, it will land). The victorious OC team were leaving the field to celebrate when, for the second time in as many years, the Laws of game (note they are called Laws rather than guidelines or rules) were subject to reinterpretation by some of the members of Esher CC. In 2000, an attempt was made to introduce a new law whereby the team scoring fewer runs could be declared the winner. This time around, the patently silly "not out batsman bats on" idea was borrowed from under 9 cricket in a wacky races type attempt to alter the outcome of the contest. Common sense eventually prevailed with the Esher not out bat honourably tying the game.
"It's one more piece of silverware for the club," the victorious captain replied when asked for comments after lifting the cup for the third time in as many years of asking, an achievement even beyond the reach of the Brazilian football team. When asked if the third victory meant the Old Cranleighan Club got to keep the trophy, the eloquent Esher Chaiman, John McDermott, was heard to reply, "b*****ks."
Bailey refused to be drawn on rumours that he was struggling to fill sides for the cricket week which starts on Sunday, July 15th. "We have full sides on all days bar eight," he said, adding that he was sure several others, who he refused to identify, would 'cry on' in the coming few days. When asked whether the fact he managed to get on five OCs to the Esher Sixes he claimed that he "thought it was a five-a-side".
"How the hell was I supposed to know I needed six players?"
Labels: John McDermott, Mike Chetwode, Steve Bailey
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