Cricket - Chattertons v Duncan & Toplis at Grantham Cricket Club

Chattertons lost their grip on the Duncan & Toplis trophy in a match played at Gorse Lane, Grantham on the evening of 13 May.

A delayed start due to rain saw the match format change from a 20-20 format to each side bowling 12 eight ball overs.

Having won the toss, Captain Andrew Dawson elected to bat, and our opening partnership of Andrew Dawson and Tom Sergeant quickly set about the Duncan & Toplis bowling both players retiring unbeaten on 27 and 26 runs respectively, the scoreboard showing a healthy 59 runs off the first 4 overs.

Andrew’s retirement brought to the wicket our guest player, India Freeman (daughter of Roly), who kept the scoreboard ticking over with an array of authentic cricket shots, ably assisted firstly by Liam Osborne who hit the ball to all parts of the ground, and then by Paul Smith whose elegant stroke play should prove to be a real shot in the arm for the Chattertons batting line up.

At the end of the 12 overs, Chattertons had amassed a more than respectable score of 132 without losing any wickets at all, having seen Andrew, Tom and Liam having to retire having achieved the maximum number of runs permitted in this form of the game.

Paul remained unbeaten on 24 and India on 18.

Chattertons then took to the field hoping to defend their score.

Opening the bowling from the caravan site end Andrew bowled a tidy first over, ably supported by Richard Ludlow who opened the bowling from the pavilion end. More good bowling followed from Peter Stokes and Jonathan Blythe, leaving Duncan & Toplis behind the required rate.

Chattertons fielding was hampered by the damp ground conditions, the ball being as slippery as a bar of wet soap, leading to a number of dropped catches.

Duncan & Toplis seized the initiative and built up some momentum, taking 22 runs off one over towards the end, and eased to victory with just over 1 over to spare.

Special mention should be made of Alistair Thomson, who ran out the only batsman to lose his wicket in the entire match, Steve Simpson for a wholehearted performance at cover and Emily Baker-Gaunt, who can be proud of her debut performance.

It remained only for the players to retire to the pavilion to enjoy a very nice buffet and a well earned drink or two, and to present the trophy to Mark Foster, Captain of the victorious Duncan & Toplis team.