IN A FITTING tribute to members through the years a single bell toll echoed around Church Road as Farnham Royal CC players past and present bowed their heads in remembrance on Sunday.

There was a real family feel as Royals celebrated their 125th anniversary. Club president Neville Shave watched on from the sidelines as his sons Steve and Lawrence attempted to curb his grandchildren Chris and Matthew.

The match was a predictably friendly affair with two evenly matched teams of players past and present. Even though several had not picked up a bat or ball for years, the standard of cricket was still high.

The Movers were skippered by Farnham stalwart Ian Pulsford whilst current club captain Michael McDermott led The Shakers.

The latter set off at a cracking pace with Andy Jackson (42) and Ian Bucknell (27) hitting the ball to all parts in an opening stand of 70. This set the tone for the match as bowling looked to be a thankless task.

The Shakers used 10 different bowlers in the allotted 35 overs and, coupled with some average fielding, no-one succeeded with the ball. However, the willow was being wielded throughout and runs were flowing.

David Ive made a quickfire 47 and the ever youthful Nigel Ford played some glorious cover drives in a fluent 65. More late hitting by Mike Jenkins (27) helped the score to a very respectable 250-4.

The Movers’ reply started in much the same way as Steve Shave (21) and JP Sahdra moved the scoreboard to 80 before the first wicket fell.

Tommy Hanks (27) came to the crease knowing there had not been a duck all day, so an understandable celebration of a fortuitous single was somewhat justified.

More sweet hitting in a stand of 65 saw the total needed look within reach and, when Glenn Bucknell (40) got straight into the act, a really tight finish was in the offering.

It was at this point that McDermott turned to his trump card, Chris Shave (5-32). The only bowler on show curtailed the onslaught and, with the demise of Sahdra for an excellent 96 and Human van As (0), the momentum swung in Shakers’ favour.

This was not to be the case, though, as an extremely positive Simon Tyler entered the arena with three mightily impressive sixes.

Five of the required 14 runs were added in the penultimate over and an exciting finale was in store for the now engrossed audience.

However, two quick wickets including a golden duck for skipper Pulsford, left Tyler (26*) at the non-strikers end with a six needed off the last ball for the contest to end in a draw.

A sporting full toss was bowled at chairman Ben Nicholas who could only hit a single for a total of 245-9, and a win for The Shakers by five runs.

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