Frindsbury travelled just down the road to play local rivals Elliotts with warnings from the third XI who had played there the day before and warned of demons in the pitch, but they knew that a win could help boost the chance of winning the league for the second time in four years. Frindsbury travelled in high hopes with two of the team playing their Sunday league debut for the season – colt George Burt and Matty Payne. Arriving to find the opposition down to ten men because Frindsbury’s own Robbie Elliott had got lost, left the skipper with a quandary as to whether to bowl or bat first when he inevitably won the toss. The FCC skipper lost the toss and was put into bat first by the home captain.
The regular two opened the batting for FCC (Burt and Evans) but for once their communication failed which left Burt being given run-out for 3 despite a dive from the 180lb whale- causing many of the spectators to spill their beer and fall off their chairs.
YES… NO… YES… NO… Oh wait I’m run out!!
Centurion Ian Budd strolled to the crease but fell early for just 8 and was quickly followed by Steve Lock who was bowled for just 4 (apparently it kept low). With the visitors on 37 from their first 17 overs, the FCC skipper promoted the hard hitting BUDDlight to try and boost the run rate. After smashing a few fours, Budd fell for just 18. George Burt worked hard with Evans to rebuild the innings, but a brilliant innings from Mike Evans came to an end when he managed to hit the ball off the square and straight down mid wickets throat (out for a well played 31). The skipper Sam Gracey and George Burt went on to smash a few boundaries (Gracey using the advice of BOWLER Matt Payne and picking the gaps rather than hitting it to fielders). Burt fell for a well played 31 (including a six) and was followed by Gracey for 30 (including two consecutive sixes)
Some more solid stroke pllay from Winchester and Peters saw FCC up to 166-8 off their 40 overs, a score which looked a long way off at the 20 over drinks break.
Frindsbury started the second innings well, dismissing ‘Frindsbury’s dangerman’ Rob Sait for just 2 caught off the gloves fending off a viscous bouncer by Matt Payne. A good partnership soon followed and Elliotts cruised in to 70-1 but the introduction of spin in the form of Ian Budd and Sam Gracey halted the run flow and saw the down fall of the top middle order, with some deceiving bowling and brilliant field placing from the skipper. The reintroduction of Pace-man Matt Payne saw a few more wickets tumble and a player having to retire hurt after being struck by a bouncer. Payne finished with superb figures of 9-26-3 (most of the runs coming off the edge of the bat).
The collapse of the middle order (with some brilliant fielding from Mike ‘GUNS’ Blown… to run out Adam Ling) saw the Home team slump to 113-8. The innings was wrapped up by some more brilliant spin bowing from Ian Budd as he had the last wicket caught in the covers. The home team all out for just 121!
Spin won the game for FCC with the BUDDweiser finishing with figures of 8-19-3 and Sam Gracey with 9-14-3. The only resistance from the Home team was by Opener Alan Ricketts who scored 46
(including a huge six hit off Paul Winchester on to the balcony).
Thanks don’t need to be made to any one as nothing was needed to be done for the game to go ahead, but thanks to Tom Burt for turning up!
More fielding practice has to commence at training, as FCC dropped 5 ‘half-chances’ in the field, and we also need to teach Tom Burt to close his legs whilst fielding!
Oh yeah and Mike Evans may have taken a catch… I can’t quite remember!
