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Frindsbury Second XI won a fiesty affair at Farningham Cricket Club on Saturday. The visitors, handed the toss, chose to bowl first on a drying wicket, and with last weeks bowling hero Raza, opening the bowling with the ever improving Connor Ashenden, things started brightly for the young Frindsbury XI.

Ashenden struck first, with Blackman holding a good, low, tumbling catch, to send Alan Freedman back cheaply. Luck followed shortly after, again at the hands of Ashenden, as he had his timbers sprayed by the young pacey opener. Graham Freedman and Kieren Rocke became victims of Raza (15-39-2), to leave the hosts in trouble at 43 for 4.

Wardle and Trailor restored some parity for Farningham, with some attacking stroke play, but skipper Gracey, lured Trailor down the tack to leave Blackman with the less than arduous task of remvoing the bails. Wardle continued in his attacking vain, but after a few words from Blackman, "send down the quicker one", Gracey surprised Wardle and trapped him in front for a top score of 27. Les England played some nice strokes for 22, but when he fell, so did the rest of the tail, as Pullen (6-26-2) bagged a couple, and Gracey (11-18-3).

Ashenden (7-20-3) returned for a final blow, and struck with his last ball of his seventh over with a very cleverly disguised slower ball, to leave the hosts all at sea for 123. Frindsbury, content and confident, also felt that the total may have been a bit generous, as they dropped a couple of chances once again during their time in the field.

The response, in usual Frindsbury fashion, didn't start well, losing Blackman for 3. But Mike Evans and Nigel Pullen consolidated for a while, and despite several desperate, loud appeals from the Farningham fielders, batted very well. Pullen was adjudged leg before, much to the joy of the hosts, and wasted no time in letting him know their joy at the wicket.

Roger White, then joined Evans, as players looked to play around the young opening bat. White played some very useful attacking shots, and removed a lot of the pressure for the Frindsbury order, and allowed Evans to play his natural game. But when Evans fell, for 25 and White 21, Farningham, once again, felt they had a chance. Evans showed huge mental strength in his innings, and batted with real maturity to stabilise the Frindsbury innings, in the face of some very over the top appealing from the hosts. Claughton came and went, but Dave Evans (21*) and Asad (12*) saw Frindsbury home, with Dave Peters playing one of his best innings for the club, for a vital and mature 21.  

Frindsbury's young side showed real strength of character and refused to let themselves be bullied during their run chase, as they knocked off the winning runs with over 20 overs and 5 wickets to spare.

Thanks to dave Claughton for scoring, Alf Pullen for umpiring, and Farningham for some very tasty tea's.

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