“Can you bring the family?” the Headmaster asked. “How many?” I replied. We settled on five. My cousin David Griffiths who was Head of PE and is now Head of Sixth Form at Kings School in Gloucester, couldn’t make it because of speech day. However, his four sons Jonny, Peter, Ian and Ben were up for it. John Shaw, a cricket fanatic and close friend of the family made up the five.
The school team obviously hadn’t read the script and scored 148 from 25 overs, with Michael Wells making a very impressive 66.
‘The family’ did not live up to the reputation I had awarded them and Abbotsholme bowled out both openers before the scorer had opened the book. Our own Dan Bould who had prepared the wicket, came in at number 3 and soon departed with our score on 3. Things did not look good.
Luckily the Head had a joker up his sleeve and Ata hit 68 in no time at all, with four’s and a six dispatched to all corners of the ground. Not surprising really considering he played for Pakistan from 1992-1997, taking scalps such as Alex Stewart, Alan Lamb and Mark Ramprakash along the way. Much to his brothers frustration Iain Griffiths managed to see most of it at first hand, putting a partnership of 80 on with Ata, and scoring 31 himself.
Alex Marren bowled exceptionally well taking a five wicket haul, the icing on the cake had to be clean bowling Ata.
Congratulations to the 1st XI on a superb performance. Another great day at Abbotsholme, even though they gave us a real good hiding.
Alan Witcomb