Dave Gracey, David Evans, and George Burt all made full Kent League debuts after last weeks washout, but unfortunately Frindsbury couldn't muster an Umpire, and we're asked to bat first on an interesting looking pitch.
At 27 for 3 Frindsbury second XI looked all at sea and in deep trouble away to promotion hopeful's Offham. David Evans fell third ball of the innings, and when Tom Burt skied one with his first ball, Frindsbury we're two for two off one. a 25 run partnership existed between Dave Gracey and Roger White, but when Gracey edged to gully, a decent total looked a long way off. Frindsbury's middle order dug in however, and Roger White along with Dave Peters produced, arguably, their best innings' for the club, in the face of some decent bowling from the home side. White, played the more aggressive role, with Peters, unusually, more reserved.
When White was given out caught behind for 39, Peters then looked to be more aggressive, with his big six over mid wicket a particular highlight. When he fell for 37, a flurry of wickets fell, as Shaz Raza, George Burt and Laurence Claughton all fell, with Raza the only making an impression, with 19. Then at 130 for 8, the hardwork of White and Peters looked to have fallen away. However, Winchester and Gracey produced a stand of over 70 for the 9th wicket. The fact that Gracey only provided 10 of those runs is irrelevant, as it''s partnerships that count. Winchester was brutal, however. Some say that as he walked out to bat he had the look of a hungry man, the kind of hungry look you have when you haven't eaten for a while.
In one particular over he defined ball one, smashed ball two for six, which was then changed to a four, after Offham's captain instructed the ball had hit a leaf on it's was over the hedge. Ball three went a little further, and was this time rightly signalled a six, ball four, ironically went for a four, and murmurs of a cheeky single were turned down, as ball five went for an even bigger six, then disappointingly, ball six was a dot. Winchester eventually lost his wicket for a superb 60, and Raza (6*) senior, and Gracey (14*) saw the innings to tea for a very respectable 215 for 9.
The Offham reply got off to a very slow start, with Winchester and Shahab Raza bowling extremely tight line and lengths, again, with some very useful ground fielding, albeit with the usual Frindsbury drops, but this time for people who usually have very safe hands - Roger White and Dave Gracey.
Winchester in particular was proving extremely difficult to play, he was so good, that the Offham batsmen struggled to simply get bat on ball, unfortunately when they did, the ball was dropped. Raza at the other end though, was taking wickets, and dismissed the top three Offham batsmen, with one very good catch from Dave Peters behind the stumps.
Neil Willis, Offham skipper was proving to a thorn in the side, and his 82 unbeaten was the only real worry for Frindsbury. Gracey bagged a couple of wickets, with Dave Gracey taking a good catch in the slips from a quicker ball, as he and Shahab Raza replaced the Shaz and Winchester. Raza senior went for just 16 off his 9 overs, picking up a wicket, and the tight lines Frindsbury bowled, meant that Offham never looked like getting near the target, and with 15 or so overs to go, the home side gave up, and shut up shop, giving Frindsbury a winning draw. A sterling performance from the visitors, with a contender for champagne moment, being Winchester's 2 and half sixes in the over.
Thanks to Dave Claughton for scoring, and congratulations.
Quote of the day, When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
