Telling Tails — Ravens vs East Garston [A]

Going into this game we'd beaten East Garston twice (2024 and also earlier this season at home). We'd also tasted a win in every game (with 1 abandoned) since we established the Ravens. At some point that incredible winning streak of 8 games was likely to break. And break it now has... here's how...

We arrived in a somewhat overcast / sunny / rain threatened muggy evening in the perfectly village surroundings of East Garston. The pitch a few metres away from the beautiful Queens Arms pub (well worth a visit if you've not frequented before).

The pitch has a dedicated, and pretty fresh astro strip and a slope similar to that of Lords. The stands however have been replaced by trees and rolling hills, a road, hidden stream and meadows, gorgeous alternative to the home of cricket.

Once Warwick and Pol had finished extending their journey in the Mustang (I don't believe they were lost, just enjoying the ride), we got underway. Having lost the toss, we were tasked with fielding up top. Laurence aka Top Cat started strongly. The wicket providing a mountain of bounce off a length ball. Then the openers got their eye in. They punished us, and Laurence and my own efforts couldn't hold them down. East Garston got off to a flyer. Both openers retired quickly.

As we pushed on Charlie brought some filth. But the kind of filth that gets wickets. The catching chances came thick and fast and with some brilliant chasing around the field, we made non-chances into half chances. Then one stuck as Charlie chucked in a dirty delivery which was smacked with strength to Sean at mid-on. Safe hands Seano grabbed it, bringing the most punishing of East Garston's batters to the wicket. Pre-game, Freddie (EGs captain) said 'we'll lose a lot of balls, cos this guy loses them in the river'. Now we're facing him.

Rinse and repeat? Yes please. Charlie chucks in more dirt and Seano picks out the pink ball as to flies straight back to him. Winner, a turn in the tide for the game.

From here we got hold of the innings. Having settled into the fielding positions best suited for taking catches and stopping runs, we brought the run rate down to a more comfortable level. We learn quick these days and T20s ensure you don't hang around for long if something isn't working.

Harry doubled up with Charlie and managed to keep himself awake, although his legs did try to enforce a mid-over nap.

Warwick and Pol, a beautiful pairing then faced up to really help keep things tight in the middle order. Warwick bowled beautifully with the batters only able to snatch singles off the majority of his two overs. He's becoming a vital and economical bowler in this format!

Naushad, in at the last minute had a welcome return to our T20 team, bowled some truly dangerous stuff and pinned down the opposition at the perfect time. His paced, combined with Ian's natural variation was the variety that East Garston’s batters didn't want. It showed too, as Ian took his first wicket for Ramsbury! In fact his first wicket ever in cricket, and a beautiful way to do it too, trapping the batter at the crease, a plum LBW which the umpire rightly and willingly gave.

Eager not to stop there, Ian wanted one better. Throwing down a bit of filth like Charlie to put the batter off, he followed up with a beauty to bowl the batsman right down the middle. 2-fer in a T20 is a wonderful achievement, be proud Mr Beamish!

Jamie and Sean combined at the death. The catches came and the catches were held, in a welcome change to last week. We also cleaned up in the field with some truly sensation run outs. Naushad's arm being the envy of 20+ onlookers. With wickets falling and all 4-5 of the retiring batsman returning to the crease, we got the home team 9 down with a few balls to go. The chances kept coming, but we reached the full 20 overs. After being 70/0 off 5 overs, we held East Garston to 160 something for 9 off 20. A really valiant effort on a ground we hadn't played on before.

Next up batting. We new what was needed, keep the ball down, don't go over the top unless you know you're going to and use the fast outfield. Run those quick singles and push were we can push. Turned out, that team chat was far easier said than done.

We started strongly, Jamie and Sean going well to get us going. With a smash that would have taken Jamie to retirement with a 6 over deep mid wicket, it was somewhat fitting that he was taken with a simple take once more. It's been the unfortunate story for Jamie this season, with 4 catches in the deep to lose his wicket close to retirement, but a vital 19 on the board to get us going. And still time for that average to improve. Sean sadly top edged to walk back to the boundary not long after, but was seeing things beautifully. Ian and Pol got some well deserved time in the middle and the opportunity to steal a few quick singles were they could. Ian's new bat go off the mark and as I walked out the crease, we needed some big runs quickly to try and catch up the required run rate.

Whilst I managed 18 off 10 balls to get us going again, I pushed one out well above the bowlers head into what I thought was a safe space, only to discover a fielder was hiding behind the bowler to take a comfortable catch. Damn it.

No bother though, Charlie was seeing things well and Harry was walking out. Before I've had a moment to take off a pad, an just 1 ball later, Harry's walking back with a Golden. Off sets Naushad and as I've removed one pad, he two returns with a Golden. Balls! Two hat-trick chances (1-per-team) in one game... unusual. Fortunately Warwick blocked pefectly to see the third delivery out.

Looking to score were they could and see out the game, the super fresh pairing of Laurence and Warwick established some positivity to the innings. Unfortunate it was short lived, and with Nick at the creaseand looking bright with Laurence, an absolutely pearler cleaned up the innings as Laurence's stumps went flying (as would anyone else's if they'd faced up to a truly outstanding delivery like that.

Sadly all out for 81. The plan of keeping it down didn't really work, that wicket was tricky to score on without going aerial... mainly as many aerials shots were unintentional. But losing 8 wickets to catches tells some of the story. A sorry result on paper, but only on paper. It was a result which saw East Garston very happy indeed. Knowing we'd helped to bring such joy to the oppo by heading to their unique ground and giving them a game felt wholesome. And losing to opposition as class as them is never going to be that bad. Their hospitality was awesome, I'm sure we'd all agree. They provided beers on the pitchside, they bought us beers in the pub, joined in with conversations and ensured we had plenty of space to enjoy post-game burgers (ordered pre-game) in a lovely room where both teams joined to watch the England v Sweden game... including the penalties.

Its 1-1 in the 2025 series and East Garston want a decider this year. I'll try to put something together, but it might need to be a weekend and might need to be back at their gaff, will let you know if we get something sorted.

In the meantime, we look to Hungerford next week at home. And before that, The Screaming Eagles play their first softball games this Sunday at Marlborough Cricket Club (3 games in the festival there between 10am and 1.30pm). Lets head down and cheer our ladies on!

Go well team. Cheers!