MATCH REPORTS FOR 2010

Sunday 4th July vs Hampshire Hags at Warnford. Match drawn.

With only 9 to field, the Queries were on the back foot going out to field first but a spell of great bowling from Piers Foster and Ru Bunday kept the scoring to an unbelievably low rate. After his first 6 overs, Piers had taken 1 for 10 and Ru had conceded just 9 runs. Ru then clean bowled the no 3 and the Hogs went in to lunch at 1.30pm, after 30 overs, with under a 100 runs on the board. Phil Wise bowled well conceding just 15 runs from 7 overs: Sam Palmer took 1 for 23 from 5 overs: Joe Wookey conceded 33 from 6: and Jake Bunday bowled an over. It was an amazing performance from just 9 fielders, increased to 10 after lunch by Nick Bunday who had been 'sent for' by his sons!  Hogs declared just before 4.00pm after 60.3 overs with 259 for 3 on the board.

Joe Wookey and Nick Bunday opened the batting and immediately set about the business of scoring runs. At tea, after 14 overs, there was 72 on the board. Nick got caught of a top edge for 22, passing the baton to Phil Wise and they made quick progress until Joe got suckered into playing a wide slow ball and was caught behind for 78. Phil went on the score 48 as Sam Blake was run out for 16 and guest Paul Watt was also run out for 14. Matt McCann tried to force the pace but lost Ru Bunday to the most unlucky of run outs as the bowler dropped a driven ball and it landed on the stumps with Ru out of his ground. Piers Foster, perhaps exhausted after bowling over 22 overs, only lasted a couple of balls and then Matt was clean bowled attempting to hook a ball that stayed low. This left Sam Palmer and Jake Bunday to survive the last 4 overs or so which they did without any major scares, and the match was drawn with the Queries having scored 208 for 8.

Not having a full side was a major faux pas and if Nick Bunday had not answered the call, things would have been worse. But there were some positives to take from the game: Piers Foster's early bowling session when the batsmen couldn't get a bat on the ball: Ru Bunday's bowling, up the hill and into the wind: Joe Wookey's innings, followed by Phil Wise's innings. We didn't come out of the game smelling of roses, but we did come away from it in reasonable shape.

Thursday 1st July vs Warminster School at Warminster CC. Won by 62 runs.

David Haywood had assembled an XI which looked really strong on paper but was followed was rather bizarre! The Queries won the toss for this afternoon declaration game and batted first. The pitch looked a belter and with Vaughn Williams and Tom Grant leading, confidence was high. The score board told a different story as first Vaughn was caught at deep backward point off a rising ball for 14: then Tom Grant popped one up to mid on for 19, followed by Neil Clark 8 minutes later to the same fielder. 28 for 1, 35 for 2 and 38 for 3!  This brought Joe Dorgan to the crease who, with a succession of partners, played confident strokes all around the ground for his 66 runs when he was caught at deep mid wicket.  Freddie Coupe stayed with Joe, looking more confident as the strokes began to flow, and scored 21 before getting caught and bowled: and Simon Campbell joined him for a 32 not out. After Joe's departure, Simon called for too many quick runs and Brian Thompson, who had scored 11 at this point, found his muscles didn't want to play any more.   David Haywood was clean bowled for 4 and Jeremy Wilkins had scored 8 when David Haywood called them in.  Queries declared after 36.4 overs for 191.

With Joe Dorgan opening the bowling, the slip cordon would not be a place for the faint-hearted!  Sadly Brian Thompson's muscles were not up to the bending and reaching and he had to leave the field, passing the wicket keeping responsibilities to Tom Grant.  Then a very fast top-edge chance ricocheted off Tom's gloves, dislocating a finger on the way, and very nearly took David Haywood's head off at 1st slip. So Tom left the field to be taken to hospital by Brian Thompson, and Neil Clark stepped up to take the gloves.  After this long-ish interruption, we got on with the game!  Joe took 3 wickets in a 4 over spell, with 2 maidens and conceding 12 runs. He later returned bowling slower to take one more wicket. Jeremy Wilkins struggled to find a good length and the openers and top order punished him. His 6 overs went for 38 runs for 1 wicket.  Vaughn Williams, bowling down the hill from the top end, conceded only 19 runs from his 5 overs, during which he took 3 wickets. Later he also took a good catch running in from mid off.  Ru Bunday did not have a good spell by his own standards and went for 26 from 5, and Sam Ramsey also went for 26 but managed 1 wicket in his 3 overs.

Throughout all this action, the opener Nick Bourne had been playing a competent and determined innings, whilst losing partner after partner. He was on 62 when Simon Campbell came on to bowl and bowled him 4th ball. Warminster School were all out for 129 and the Queries had won by 62. The School XI had shown lots of skills, determination and team spirit and the Queries enjoyed the match.  A very pleasant bar-b-que after the match provided lots of opportunity to chat and, perhaps, to try and persuade some of the boys to come and play Queries cricket.  Our thanks to Head Master Martin Priestley and Cricket Master Chris Knight for a very enjoyable afternoon's cricket.

Sunday 27th June vs The Rifles CC at St Cross, Winchester. Lost by 138 runs.

This had all the hallmarks of being a very difficult match. Despite all his huge efforts, Jeremy Wilkins struggled to name 11 players on the day before the match, and on the following morning 2 players dropped out.  Luckily one of Vaughn Williams' brothers dropped in - and the other was already playing - so we had 10.  Then one player failed to make it to the ground - so playing with 9 was always going to be an uphill struggle. Then Jeremy lost the toss and was put in the field, and The Rifles took every advantage of bowling which was often short of a length, and the gaps in the field. The Rifles raced away for 10 overs, then lost 3 quick wickets and eventually went in to lunch at 1.30pm 6 down for 157. After lunch they piled on the runs and declared at 268 for 8. Vaughn Williams was not on top form in his first spell, but returned to achieve figures of 4 for 66 from 12 overs. Will Hopton toiled away at the pavilion end for 10 overs and took 3 for 47; Jeremy Wilkins clean bowled one batsman; and Dom Moger and Matt McCann were wicketless.

The Query batting reply never really got off the ground.  Sure, the track was getting very unpredictable with length balls leaping up into visors and causing all sorts of problems, but handle the conditions, we didn't. James Melhorn top-scored with 38; Will Hopton and Matt McCann got 27 and 29 respectively; Alex Wilkins edged the ball for 17 - but we were always behind and it was little surprise that we lost 8 wickets for just 130 runs and lost the match by 138 runs.  Not a good day at the office and a particularly tough one for skipper Jeremy Wilkins who had toiled for hours trying to raise a side and , just as all seemed reasonably well, lost 2 players on the morning of the match.

On the brighter side, England beat the Australians at cricket and lost to the Germans at football, and who knows what happened at Glastonbury!

Thursday 24th June vs Dauntsey's School at West Lavington. Won by 1 wicket.

It has been a long time since the Queries won this fixture and this year skipper Simon Campbell was determined to  reverse the trend.  In the weeks leading up to the date he had 19 players volunteering to play but come the day before the match he had 9 and was left to scratch around to find an XI. Nevertheless he did, the School won the toss and decided to bat. For once Vaughn Williams was not on form with the new ball and his first 5 overs went for 40 runs. At the other end however Jeremy Wilkins was finding some inswing and secured the wicket of an opener on his 5th ball.  Query candidate Will Thomas and opener Nick Hargreaves then enjoyed a super stand of 93 runs before Tim Mynott found the edge and Hargreaves was well caught by Simon Campbell at slip. 30 runs later, at 131, Will was trapped lbw by a slow ball from Simon Wells and at 181 Tom Grant clean bowled the no 4 batsman. In the next 29 runs, the remaining 6 wickets would fall and the School was all out for 236 which included 8 extras.

Jeremy Wilkins had taken 1 for 24 from 6: Tim Mynott in his first match for the Queries took for for 28: Geoff Ramsey took 2 for 36 from 9: Tom Grant took 2 for 32 from 7: and Simon Wells, Ru Bunday and Hamish Horton took one apiece.

I think it is fair to say that the School always had the upper hand during the Queries innings right up to the 8th wicket. They bowled well for the first 10 overs, quite well for the next 10 overs and after that things began to slip away gently. Tom Grant was first out for 6, being well caught at square leg: and Tim Mynott was caught off the last ball of a 9 ball over and J Taylor sprayed it around. Paul Clark was trapped lbw for 12, but throughout all this Vaughn Williams was virtually faultless as he scored 50 runs from 49 balls - and was then bowled trying to pull a ball that stayed low. Queries were 101 for 4.

Their next 4 wickets fell for just 40 runs and the School was rightly confident. famish Horton was caught for 8: Geoff Ramsey was caught and bowled popping a lifting ball straight up: Simon Wells and Jeremy Wilkins were bowled. The constant threat to Dauntsey's throughout this spell was Simon Campbell who could not be budged. Freddie Coupe partnered him for a while before getting caught by an athletic and wonderful catch by Jack Mynott at gulley, and then he was joined by Ru Bunday whose job was to keep the ball out.  Simon pressed on with 15 fours until eventually the scores were level in the 48th over. sadly the match was decided by a wide and the Queries had won by 1 wicket.

Dauntsey's skipper James Duckworth had taken 4 for 36 from 12 overs, leading from the front, but perhaps he was not helped by some of his colleagues who leaked 37 extras.  It got quite tense in the closing overs and what was needed was a cool head, steady bowling and intelligent field placing. The Query batsmen also needed to stay calm and take their runs where they could - and luckily they managed to do this.

A good tense and competitive match, excellent hospitality, a good track and a great relief for the Queries to be back in the winers circle after so many years as underdogs.

Sunday 20th June vs Chilmark CC at Chilmark.  Match won by 19 runs.

Another inaugural match, this time at the very picturesque ground at Chilmark.  Matt McCann was skippering the Queries, won the toss and elected to bat. despite an early departure by Chris Sloane for 1, and Jim Langan being caught for 26 in the 5th over, Tom Grant and Joe Wookey then made hay and put on 146 before Joe was bowled. Tom followed soon after and apart from guest Adam Croutear and Hamish Horton adding 35, the tail end collapsed. In their allotted 35 overs the Queries scored 243 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.

What followed next will be remembered by many - tea.  Apparently it was "the best tea ever"!

The Query bowling attack of famish Horton and Stephen Underwood soon had Chilmark in trouble as 2 wickets fell for 8 runs. Then there were 2 massive stands, with the 3rd wicket falling at 92 runs and the 4th at 183 however after that it was a bit of a procession as the next 6 wickets fell for just 41 runs. Chilmark were bowled out for 224. famish Horton took 3 for 33 from 6 overs: Adam Croutear took 3 for 20 from 7: Josh B-D got 2 for 31 from 4 overs.  Stephen Underwood and Tom Grant chipped in with one apiece.

Saturday 19th June vs the Royal Household CC at Frogmore, Windsor.  Match drawn.

Again the Queries top order collapsed, in this inaugural fixture, as Will Hopton and Matt McCann were dismissed for 8 runs. Fellow regimental officers Jon Moore and Tom Palmer calmed things down and advanced the score to 48 when Jon was bowled and then 67 when Tom was bowled. David Haywood and Simon Campbell picked up the baton, but again only briefly as they fell for 11 and 17 respectively. It was left to Vaughn Williams to play a masterful unbeaten innings of 67 helped latterly by a 25 from Quentin Sears and the Queries skipper Jeremy Wilkins was able to make a reasonably confident declaration at 181 for 6.

It was noticeable how some balls never seemed to bounce and this caused problems, and this fact was exploited by the Household who bowled the opening bowler unchanged for 19 overs as he took 4 for 55.

An iffy track is of course iffy for both sides and the Household were quickly in trouble and remained so from the 6th to the 25th over, losing 7 wickets. Vaughn Williams took 3 for 32 from 10 overs: Quentin Sear took 2 for 35 from 14:  Ru Bunday took 3 for 26 from 9 overs; and skipper Jeremy Wilkins took 1 for 23 from 8. However the Queries could not dislodge the final pair and the Household ran out of overs and scraped the draw at 121 for 9 after 41 overs.

Sunday 13th June vs London New Zealand CC at Devizes. Match drawn

A Queries skipper should never underestimate the strength of a London NZ side.  Sometimes they might look like journeymen cricketers, but they are never without strength in all areas of the game.  Today was no exception.  With Joe Dorgan and Yasir Irshad opening the bowling, 46 runs were piled on quite quickly before Yasir bowled the opener. The 2nd and 3rd wickets fell to Ru Bunday, having the other opener caught and bowling number 4. Tom Grant was the other effective bowler, taking 2 for 27 from 11 overs as the Kiwis climbed steadily to a declaration of 227 for 5 after 44 overs. Joe had bowled 5 overs for 28: Yasir 8 overs, 1 for 55: Ru took 2 for 43 from 8: Rupert Bagnall bowled 7 for an economic 17: Tom bowled 11 overs for 27 runs and took 2 wickets and Jake Bunday conceded 42 runs from his 5 overs.

The Queries reply with the bat did not get off to a good start. 20 for 1, 20 for 2 and 21 for 3 and the top order (Will Hopton 11, Nick Bunday 7 and Joe Dorgan 0) were back in the hutch. The middle order faired a little better as David Haywood made 13 and Hamish Horton 31, and it seemed that Tom Grant would have it all to do. He went to a lovely half century and then was out next ball! Ru Bunday did very well for 34 runs and was then bowled, partnering his brother Jake for a longish spell - and eventually it was left to the skipper Rupert Bagnall and Jake Bunday to cling on for a draw.  Queries ended at 204 for 9.

Friday 11th June vs Erlestoke CC at Erlestoke.  A T/20 match. Won by 7 runs

This was a fixture arranged by Freddie Coupe and we thought it would be interesting to play a T20 in the walled garden that is the Erlestoke CC ground. Queries batted first and 17 runs in the first over by Will Hopton (38) and Jim Langan (33) set the tone! After they were out caught and bowled respectively, guest Neil Clark held up one end whilst Tom Grant (lbw 1), David Haywood (17 retired out) and Simon Campbell (6*) kept him company. The local rule is "6 and Out" if the ball is hit over the garden wall, and this is how David H concluded his innings. Queries finished with a total of 165 for 4.

The Erlestoke reply opened with Joe Dorgan who threatened to make a big score but foolishly hit one over the wall and was 'out' for 34!  It was his brother and long-time Query candidate Toby (58) who scored well and kept Erlestoke in the game but despite all his efforts they fell short by 7 runs thanks to some good bowling by Neil Clark (3 overs, 1 for 14) and Simon Campbell (4 overs, 2 for 21) and Tom Grant (4 overs for 22).

After the match everyone repaired to the pub at the bottom of the hill where the Erlestoke side were generous and hospitable.

Sunday 6th June vs the Stragglers of Asia CC at Devizes.  Won by 4 wickets.

This fixture is as old as the hills and is always a popular contest between the two clubs. In recent years, the Queries have held sway and skipper Simon Campbell was keen to do so again this time. The track was firm, the sun was out and everything was set for a good contest. The Stragglers lost the toss and were inserted, and Simon opened with Tom Grant and Wayne Egglestone - but this was not to be a seamer's day. Both were wicketless in their two spells, Tom conceding 40 runs and Wayne 39. The major damage was done by Quentin Sear's leg spin and Jonathan Chitty's off spin, with Josh B-D helping to clear up the tail.  Quentin bowled 15 overs, taking 6 for 70: he clean bowled 3, had two caught and one stumped. Jonathan took just one wicket, but did so very economically conceding only 22 runs in his 8 overs. Josh took 2 for 31 from 7 overs, and Simon Campbell took 1 for 9 from 3 overs. The Stragglers had been 58 for 1, proceeded to lose 4 wickets for their next 100 runs, and then lost 5 wickets for their next 60 runs. They were all out for 220 in 52 overs.

The Queries opened with Will Hopton, fresh from university finals and eager for a decent innings, and Club President David Haywood. The Stragglers opened with Royal Navy opening bowler Jonathan Parker. The Queries first objective was to get to tea without losing a wicket, and this they did handsomely. Then the Stragglers brought on their secret weapon, Query Ru Bunday, who had been loaned to them for the match. He clean bowled David for 41 with the score at 76, and went on to get 2 more scalps! However the second wicket stand between Will Hopton and Tom Grant was as confident as it was skillful, and they put on 89 runs before Tom had a swish at a ball from Ru, and was bowled. 165 for 2. What had felt like an imminent 9 wicket victory, became an acceptable 8 wicket win - but then the wheels began to wobble as Will, Wayne Egglestone and Josh B-D, all holed out and the Queries slumped to 204 for 5. Will had scored a season's best 72, Tom Grant 42. Then guest Simon Newson was clean bowled and we were 204 for 6.

It was left to the skipper and Jonathan Chitty to stay calm and knock off the remaining few runs, which they did with three overs to spare. Queries finished in the 48th over with 221 for 6 and had won by 4 wickets. Ru Bunday finished with figures of 18 overs, 3 for 87 and hopefully is bowling himself into form for the next Queries match!

It was a good and enjoyable match with some memorable moments created by Tom Grant and Will Hopton with the bat: Jonathan Parker's pacey bowling, Quentin Sear's ripping turn and Jonathan Chitty's off spin.

Monday 31st May vs Devizes CC. Won by 9 wickets.

Brian Thompson lead the Queries to a fairly clinical victory over Devizes CC this afternoon. He lost the toss and was put in the field, opening up with Yasir Irshad and Tom Grant. Tom bowled the opener in the 3rd over and Yasir had No 3 caught behind in the 11th. DCC was 32 for 2, and 6 runs later Richard Thompson caught a superb diving catch to dismiss the other opener.. Jonathan Chitty was very economic and turned the ball well: he bowled a super 8 overs with 4 maidens and took 3 for 18. Jake Bunday took one for 23 from 4, and candidate Will Thomas conceded 39 runs from 3. DCC was all out for 161 runs, including 19 extras.

DCC's secret weapon was a borrowed opening bowler from Chippenham! he had Nick Bunday caught behind from a steeply rising ball in the  first over of Queries' innings. However guest John Waters and Matt Jamieson got their heads down, settled in and began to score freely. Their stand lasted 137 runs before both "retired hurt", persuaded by the skipper to let someone else have a go!  Will Thomas and Richard Thompson were passed the baton, and saw the Queries home in fine style just after 6.00pm.  Will stroked a couple of lovely cover drives in his short spell and we shall look forward to seeing more of him: and Richard was beginning to remember how much he loved this game. He particularly excelled in the field where he has good hands and is very agile. The victory had taken the Queries just 24.3 overs.

Our thanks to DCC for hosting the match and to Andy langan for organising an enjoyable bar-b-que after the match.

Sunday 30th May vs Old Wellingtonians CC.  Lost by 108 runs

At 8.00 o'clock in the morning, the Wellington College groundsman wanted to cancel this match as so much rain had fallen overnight. With Chris Potter's powers of persuasion, he relented with the advice that the start time should be delayed to allow the track time to dry. Queries skipper Hugo Tilney won the toss and inserted the OWs and from the 12.15pm start it looked like the right decision. An excellent slip catch by Hugo himself, off the 3rd ball of the first over bowled by Wayne Egglestone, and then another catch from Vaughn Williams' bowling in the 6th over had the Queries on a high and the OWs 19 for 2. However the OWs 3rd batsman Hugo Shepard was looking ominous, and partnered by Ollie Tilney, 61 runs was added before the third wicket fell to a ball from Tom Grant. This brought the Shepard brothers together at the crease, on a drying track, and they helped themselves to runs assisted by a number of dropped catches. Hugo Shepard ended unbeaten on 150 and his brother was bowled by Simon Campbell for 52. OWs declared, a little late some felt though that was not to be a factor, on 258 for 4 at 5 minutes to 4.00pm.  Either they imagined that their bowling was weak or that the Queries batting was strong, or both!

The Queries openers, Matt Jamieson and candidate Phil Wise, set off at an electrifying pace with quick singles and strong boundaries. However the ball did beat the bat enough times to remind them to get in line and play straight. It was a snorter of a delivery that reared up on Phil that brought the first wicket, caught behind, and the Queries were 47 for 1 in the 8th over. There then followed 5 wickets in 6 overs and the Queries were done for. Fishing outside off stump, dabbling at swinging balls, and one run out and the Queries were 79 for 6. Simon Campbell kept his head but ran out of partners, and eventually he too was caught behind - and the Queries were all out for 150, a total which included 11 extras, and against a side that only fielded 10 players.  It was not a good day at the office!

On a brighter note, it was good the see Quentin Sears playing cricket for the Queries again and it was lucky that he had brought his friend Henry to the match as one Query failed to show, and Henry donned the whites. There were many Queries at the match - Hugo Tilney skippered the Queries, brother Ollie played for the OWs, and parents came to watch.  Will Jelf skippered the OWs, with brother Richard keeping, and parents came to watch. Peter Dacombe and Ollie Tilney were playing for the OWs and we really hope they will both come back to Query cricket when they move to Bristol later this year. Phil Wise looked an accomplished opening bat and we hope to see more of him - his next match is the Oxford Downs match at Standlake. And we also must thank Chris Williams, a master at Dauntsey's School, who stepped up to the plate when we were looking for a keeper, and we hope he will consider playing more Query cricket in the future.

Sunday 23rd May vs Somerset Stragglers CC. Lost by 121 runs.

In many ways this match was doomed from the start. Communications with the match manager had been very difficult, if not impossible, and come the day we did not know if we had a side. 9 Queries turned up at the ground - all competent cricketers - but the Stragglers had 10! This was more of a pity because we were playing at Dauntsey's School and using the new pavilion, and it was the best day of the season weather-wise thus far. The Queries were put in the field with one borrowed player.  After a thrilling initial breakthrough in the first over, when Vaughn Williams had the opener brilliantly caught at slip by Ollie Sloane, and another breakthrough in the 3rd over when Vaughn struck again this time with a catch to keeper Oli Williams, the game then swung to the Stragglers who piled on the runs. Yasir Irshad was expensive and conceded 67 runs in only 6 overs, and Ollie Sloane, Matt McCann, Iain Kiy, Tom Grant and Jim Langan all went in excess of 7 an over. Although Jim and Iain both took a wicket, Vaughn Williams was the pick of the bowlers with his 13 overs, 2 maidens 4 for 44.  The Stragglers declared after 46 overs at 303. With only one leg bye, Oli Williams had used his pink keeping gloves to good effect and kept tidily, but a number of catches were dropped in the field.

The Queries reply started quite well, but the first objective of not losing a wicket before tea was not achieved when Jim Langan (29) gave a catch. Tom Grant was caught behind for a duck, Iain Kiy (13) was bowled by a slow-ish yorker, Joe Wookey (24) popped up a catch and Ollie Sloane gave a fielder some simple catching practice.  Vaughn Williams (24) was looking in good touch when he was unlucky to be run out when  very poor throw in ricocheted off the keepers pads and broke the wicket. Oli Williams was meanwhile persevering and having lost Yasir Irshad who was run out, and knowing that Matt McCann was injured and would not be batting, found himself partnering David Haywood and facing a huge challenge!  Sadly the score book is incomplete and details of the last wicket stand are not known, but the pair set themselves the objective of surviving till 5.45pm, and succeeded. The next objective was 6.00pm and the start of the last 20 overs - but sadly David was bowled by a ball that kept low and clipped his off stump.  Queries - all 9 of them - were all out for 182 and had lost the match by a huge margin.  But for 4 ill-conceived shots when the catch was held, we could have posted a much more competitive score.

We were grateful to Dauntsey's School for allowing us to use their 1st XI pitch, and the impressive new pavilion, which is very smart!  Next season the Stragglers would like to play us in Taunton so we have that to look forward to. They are a wandering club very much in the same mould as the Queries.

Sunday 16th May vs Babington House CC.  Match cancelled: rain

Sunday 9th May: vs Avebury CC

This was the inaugural match against Avebury and a strong-ish Queries set off to find a very smart looking ground nestling in the village. Skipper Simon Campbell won the toss and inserted the home side and the breakthrough came in the 4th over when Geoff Ramsey teased a catch to backward gulley from the No 2 batsman. Four overs later he took 2 wickets in two balls, and Avebury were struggling at 24 for 3. Sam Ramsey did well to get a hand to a very sharp caught and bowled chance, hurt himself in the process and had to leave the field. Josh Ballantine Dykes took his place and almost as quickly took a wicket. Sam Ramsey returned to get a couple of wickets and Yasir Irshad helped to clean up the tail with two in two. Avebury were all out for 116. It would have been less but for a couple of dropped catches, however there was plenty of time left for the Queries to stamp their authority on this match.

James Illingworth opened with Frank Whiting and soon established their determination to score runs. Although Frank found some difficulty in 'seeing the ball' he was able to give lots of the strike to James who made the most of it, scoring 53 from 43 balls before he was bowled. Rob Singleton came out to join Frank and together they took the score to 105 when Frank went for the big one and was caught for 37. The remaining runs were knocked off quickly by Josh B-D and Rob Singleton and the Queries reached a comfortable victory by 8 wickets.

Simon Campbell presented the Club with a Queries shield after the game, and praised their side for an enjoyable afternoon's cricket - especially marking the fine bowling of Matt Francis and Ben Gregdix, both of whom were invited to play some Queries cricket this season.

For the Queries the bowling figures were: Yasir : 7 - 0 - 26 - 2.  Geoff Ramsey 5 - 0 - 14 - 3: Simon Campbell 0 for 15 from 5: Sam Ramsey 2 for 14 from 4: Josh B-D 1 for 6 from 5 overs; Paul Kelly 2 for 19 from 5: and Ollie Sloane none for 14 from 3.

Thursday 6th May: vs Monkton Combe School.

The start of this match will be remembered by those that played in the match for a very long time! On an overcast day, with quite a green and slow-ish track, the Queries lost the toss and were put in to bat. Will Hopton and guest John Waters opened, with Will taking strike. He shouldered arms to the first ball and was bowled by a ball that jagged back from well outside his off stump. Hamish Horton survived his first ball and then played the next one onto his stumps.  Then Charlie O'Kelly dangled his bat outside off stump and was caught behind. 4 balls of the match bowled, and the Queries were three down for no runs!

Richard Buxton, coming in at number 5 with 2 balls of the first over still to be bowled,  managed two runs before he too was caught behind. Queries were 2 for 4. However, John Waters and new batsman Geoff Ramsey then took a grip on the game and advanced the score to 127 before Geoff was stumped trying to force the pace. He had scored 71, including 8 fours and 2 sixes. Meanwhile John was making steady progress for his 57 before he was bowled. In the final moments before tea, Ollie Sloane and Simon Campbell managed only 6 more runs and the innings was declared at 161 for 7 after 40 overs.

The thing about the MCS line-up is that it contains Toby Davies - the scourge of the Queries who had scored 80 in the first match and over 100 in the second, and whom the Queries had never got out! In he came to open the MCS innings, only this time to find that opening bowlers Rupert Bagnall and Simon Cottle were on form. Rupert trapped the number 2 batsman lbw in the 5th over, and Simon had Toby caught behind in the 6th. MCS was 22 for 2. Spinner Ollie Sloane took the 3rd wicket in his first over, whilst the other spinner, Charlie O'Kelly bowled well but wicketless from the other end. Geoff Ramsey introduced some medium pace into the attack but skipper Brian Thompson felt the game was getting bogged down a bit and wanted to get the batsmen to open their shoulders - so he brought on Simon Campbell to bowl  2 overs and the batsmen helped themselves to 20 runs!

2 runouts helped the Query cause and the MCS batsmen were desperately trying to force runs off the closing overs only to need 6 off the final ball of the match. In front of a noisy and cheering pavilion, they just failed, and ran out of time at 159 for 6 and the match was drawn.

We are told that the MCS XI always look forward to this fixture: we can tell them that the Queries also look forward to it very keenly. In the three matches played, we have been hosted very well, enjoyed good sportsmanlike cricket and been looked after very well. Our thanks go to all those at MCS who make this so.

Sunday 2nd May - match cancelled.

Queries were unable to raise a side, and in any case the pitch was waterlogged.

Sunday 25th April: vs King's School, Bruton.  Report by skipper Nick Bunday

After several weeks of almost unbroken sunshine it was entirely predictable that the curtain raiser to the Queries season should be rain affected!  The day dawned somewhat overcast and playing on top of a hill meant that the Queries, who found themselves fielding first, resorted to more traditional April attire of at least one jumper.

The opening attack consisted of the seasoned Query Piers Foster bowling with some pace and venom down the hill and candidate Yasir Irshad earning his spurs working hard up the hill.  It was ‘Yas’ who took the first wicket with a well concealed slower ball.  Piers then had the School Captain of Cricket caught behind.  The School continued to haemorrhage wickets, Simon Campbell bowling the two stroke makers whilst another candidate Paul Kelly took his first Queries wicket with a beautifully flighted delivery.  At lunch the School were 96 for 5 and in a little bit of disarray.  After a superb lunch and with a little light lubrication on board, the Queries, through the ever–green Simon Campbell, picked up another wicket to leave the School reeling at 96 for 6.  Yas picked up his second wicket with a very sharp caught and bowled and Mark Cadbury accounted for the tail with the score on 128. 

The total never looked to be sufficient until nature took a hand in the proceedings as the Queries innings was punctuated with rain, some of it monsoon like.  This certainly affected the nature of the game as the ball slowed quickly across the turf.  About an hour and a half in total was lost to the rain and thus the Queries were left trying to get the remaining 114 runs in the last 15 minutes and subsequent twenty overs.  The School captain sensibly used his slower bowlers who took the speed off the ball and invited the Queries to try to hit the runs.  It was exactly the right tactic and with a combination of tight bowling and sharp fielding it worked very well.  The Queries found it difficult to score: Will Dawe and Freddie Coupe tried to ‘go for it’, Yas tried to free his arms and Matt Jamieson tried not to use his bat in preference to his pads – the Queries were suddenly 39 for 4.  Paul Kelly was bowled cheaply trying to get on with it, but The President David Haywood and Mark Cadbury brought a little decorum to the proceedings and moved the score onto 79 before Cadbury was out to a fantastic catch in the deep and The President was forced to retire.  Joe Wookey responding the call of ‘cometh the hour cometh the man,’ promptly tripped over the picket fence but having regained his composure hit a lively 22 not out.  Piers Foster was bowled in the penultimate over but the requirement of 21 off the last over was too much even for Simon Campbell’s eye.  The Queries finished 12 runs short with 3 wickets in hand.

 Whilst there is little doubt that the rain had denied the Queries a win, no one could fault the commitment and dogged determination of King’s Bruton who, with a little help from the rain, defended a modest total.  After a great game of cricket which ended up being far more exciting than it at one stage looked, the Queries were left ruminating on what a ‘funny old game’ cricket can be.  King’s Bruton are thanked for their splendid hospitality and for another exciting game. (There are some photos on the 2010 Photos page).