The stage was set for the most anticipated game of the season… the new Saturday 3rds were pitched up against the Sunday 1st XI who have only lost twice all season (and won the Sunday league the week before). The game was limited to 43 overs after a long discussion between the skippers about whether to play 46 or 40 overs!!
The game started well with the sun shining and everyone turning up early to pitch in and help out getting things ready for the biggest game ever to grace Frogs Island.
The Sunday 1st team (making season debuts for Jon Reeves and Liam Seymour) won the toss and chose to bat in the midday heat. The opening partnership of Raj Bassi and Mike Blown got the Saturday team off to a good start dismissing the inform Tom Burt for 9 (aided by the finger of Umpire John Tadman). The other opener Mike Evans soon followed in similar fashion, plumb in front trying to sweep the mystery spin of Dave Gracey. The innings then started to fade away for the ‘Home’ team with them steadily losing wickets without really picking up big runs. The only two batsman in the top order who got starts were Steve Lock (23 ) and Sam Budd (34- including two big sixes) with 10 overs remaining, the Sunday xi were on just 120-8, but with skipper Sam Gracey and Saturday skipper Mark Gracey at the crease, they knew that a score of 150+ was still in clear view. Some good bowling from Ray ‘the Camel’ Burt and Nigel Blown, left the team struggling to pick up boundaries. The score finished score finished on 180 all out (with Jon Reeves batting brilliantly for a well deserved duck) and Mark Gracey ending 25 not out!
A huge tea greeted both teams (with cakes, sandwiches and much more), much to the delight of a few of the plumper players who graced the game with their presence! With spaghetti, chicken and stuffing sandwiches (What you say Nigel??)
The Sunday team knew that their score of 180 would be a good score on a dodgy wicket, but with the like of Sunny and Raj on the opposition they knew they would have to bowl well to keep the Visitors at bay! The Sunday xi started off with Jon Reeves and (newly made bowler) Sam Budd, got off to a good start dismissing the two opening batsman for just 2 runs off their first two overs! Some good batting from George Burt, Raj Bassi and Sunny Singh (all getting into the mid 20’s) got the 3rd’s back into the game and back up with the run rate. Sunny also helped the run chase by forcing Mike ‘Powderpuff’ Evans off the pitch with a possible ‘graze’ on his little wittle armey warmey! The score soon fell to 70-4 after sunny tried to slog a straight one and getting bowled started the batting collapse for the 3rds. The innings was quickly wrapped up with the score at 103 all out, leaving the 3rds 80odd short of what proved to be a great score on an Okish wicket!
I want to point out a few things:
-Steve lock dropped another catch
-Dave Gracey got a duck
-Laurence Claughton got a duck
-Tom Burt actually got a bowl (Elsdon-esc)
-Sunny hit Sam Budd for six (who hit a six himself so they equal each other out!)
-Mike Nock got a duck, trying to play defensively!!
-Tom Burt was definitely out LBW after trying to play a straight ball off his legs (it just gripped a bit more)
Thanks go to Angie Peters (for the tea – and who ever else helped her out), Anita Blown (for doing the bar), Emily Melville (for the cakes) and Dave Claughton (for being a well behaved supporter)!
