Latest News and Match ReportsFrindsbury II's v RACS (September 08, 2009)Frindsbury 2nd XI wound up their Kent League season with a tricky home fixture against promotion chasing RACS. with an almost unchanged side, just Dave Peters being called into the 1st team, Mike Nock came into the side.
Winning the toss, RACS decided that their best chance to go up was to bat first, in the hope of gaining maximum points. Frindsbury were immediately in the driving seat however, when Connor Ashenden produced arguably his best ball of the season, with his first ball, and the first ball of the second over to split the stumps of RACS opener O'Connell. Bassi then handed even more control to the home side, when he drew S Gibbons into a false shot, handing a simple catch to Nock, to leave the visitors reeling at 31 for 2.
Frindsbury failed to make to the most of their opening however, as Lane and Patel began to rebuild the innings and take a firm hold of the bowlers. Winchester, Ashenden Bassi, Claughton and Gracey were all tried, but none to get the vital breakthrough, as chances fell just short, or just over fielders heads, with Gracey, Ashenden and Evans all putting down half chances.
As Frindsbury began to think that lady luck wasn't on their side today, when Lane and Patel put on over 100 for the third wicket, the ball was thrown to Raza. the bowling change immediately paid dividens for Frindsbury, as Patel hit Raza's first ball straight to Claughton at mid wicket for a brutal 80.
Raza then began to get stuck into the visitors, removing Nwanazia for a second ball duck, with White, amazingly, taking a catch in gully. One week too late for a nomination into the Champagne moment though!
Gracey then got in on the act, bowling Lee for a duck, then having skipper Brown caught for 19. Raza destroyed the tail, as the visitors wound up on 170.
The feeling at tea was a confident one, as, arguably, all of the Frindsbury batsmen could hold down a place in the top 6.
Tom Burt began in usual Tom Burt style, punishing anything loose from the RACS attack, and when he was first man out for 14, Mike Nock and Sam Gracey continued where he had left off, and let loose with a flurry of attacking shots, sending the RACS fielders to all parts of Frogs Island. the run rate, at over 7 an over at one stage, was soul destroying for the visitors, in desperate need for wickets to ensure their win.
Things were flying for the home side, but when they needlessly lost Sam Gracey (14) and Mike Nock (25) in successive balls, RACS fancied their chances of a collapse, as the home side slumped to 66 for 4.
White and Bassi then met at the crease, astonishingly , in just the 10th over. the two batted with extreme concentration, confidence and class to ease any thoughts of a collapse. A vital stand of 70, which saw, perhaps White's best innings for the club, albeit for only 33, was ended when he 'claimed' to have hit the ball twice, which resulted in simple catch to mid-off. The supporters at the pavilion were sure he just mistimed it! Bassi soon followed White back to the pavilion, and RACS began to believe again, as the home side still needed 40 with just 4 wickets remaining.
Raza and Claughton, both seemed to have points to prove, as they scored at a rate the top 4 would've been proud off, but with just 6 for victory, Raza tried to hit over the top, middled it, and was caught at Cover.
Winchester met with Claughton at the crease, reportedly gave his words of wisdom of "nothing silly, keep your head, and keep the singles to a minimum". Claughton obliged, waking Winchester up first ball with a two, then pulling his second ball to the square leg fence for a match winning four.
Handshakes all round, as Frindsbury 2nd XI wound up a very promising season with an even promising win, to leave them 4th in the table.
Thanks to Emily for doing the teas throughout the season, with extended thanks to Laura and Carole their help with them. Well done to Nigel and Anita for their efforts behind the bar. Thanks to Dave Claughton for scoring every game bar one. And thanks also to our umpires throughout the season, Dave Gracey and Dave Evans. Finally, thanks to all the players for their hard work and dedication to the cause this year. It's been a difficult transition at times, but we've got a great bunch of lads at the club, who have all put in match winning performances at one stage this season. |
2009 Club Honours
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