We win against Dauntsey’s
Wiltshire Queries vs Dauntsey’s School 1st XI – Thursday 26th June 2025
Result: Queries won by 34 runs.
After a little bit of selection issues we assembled what looked to be a strong team on paper for this match. The school kindly invited us for lunch beforehand which went down very well. 40 over game starting at 2pm the school skipper was very accommodating in allowing us to bat first on a sunny afternoon in Lavington, due to a couple of late Queries arrivals. Opening the batting PC Dan Gill looked in imperious form striking a quick 40 to all parts of the ground partnered with the ever green Nick Jephson who was carving the ball beautifully through the point region. Dan’s wicket brought former school skipper Tom Morton to the crease and he was looking in great touch having not picked up a bat in earnest for a year. A run a ball 36 and the Queries were 120-1 before both fell in quick succession. Tom Beard came in at 4 striking the ball to all parts including two big sixes before being caught for 32: Jonny Sadler soon fell after him and we were 159-5. Savin Banumugama, attempting to prove his worth to the school coaches, fell for 2, and then Seb Woodford displayed some interesting scoops to score a quick fire 22.
Slightly concerned that on a rapid outfield we may be a little short of runs. Pete Mounstephen and Zack Collister took control and struck a quick 30 from 19 balls between them to take the Queries to 229-8. Par for the quick outfield we felt.
Opening the bowling for the Queries Zack Collister whom the skipper had never seen play before looked to be a real prospect before disaster struck on his third ball when he injured his Achilles. Get well soon Zack. Thankfully Queries stalwart Jack Bramwell had skipped work to watch the action and was roped into fielding wearing our Secretary’s whites, which can only be described as sail-like. Jack proved to be a very useful fielder and lieutenant on the field. Tom Morton took over the first over after Zack retired, and showed his class dismissing the opener with a fine caught behind by Pete Mounstephen. The other opener and number 3 then steadied the ship for the school putting on 50 runs, so the skipper turned to the mystery spin of Woodford and Banumugama and we dismissed the number 3 with a fine Mounstephen stumping. Enter the school skipper, the youngest of a long line of Campbell’s. Running between the wickets and hitting boundaries at crucial moments seemed easy and his partnership with the other school batter swung the game back towards the school, until one of Johnny Sadler’s skiddy seamers got one through the opening. A couple more wickets in George Lishman’s fiery second spell brought us back into the game. But skipper Campbell was still there – until Banumugama showed the school what they were missing – with a fine caught and bowled to remove him and the game was turned.
A second spell from Seb Woodford brought further wickets and victory was in sight, and after some stubborn tail-ending the run rate climbed, and a direct hit for a run out by Savin B, the school finished short on 195. Seb Woodford 3-38 (
and Tom Morton 1-18 (6.3) pick of the bowlers.
School offered beers afterwards, which always goes down well with Queries. And the trophy for Man of the Match went to Dauntsey’s Skipper Tom Campbell.
Thanks to the school for putting on a great afternoons cricket and to Barry Aitken and Andy Palmer for umpiring.
