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Frindsbury Cricket Club ended their 124th year of existence with the third annual Test Match between the Seniors and the 18 and unders. Making their final appearances for the youth team we're Mike Blown, Peter Ashenden, Richard Gibbons, Dave Evans and Mo Raza, and making up the 11 were Mike Evans, Dave Peters, Connor Ashenden, Sam Budd, George Burt and Sam Collis, which was arguably the strongest XI put out by the youth team in one of these fixtures.

The very nervy senior XI was made up of the experience and maturity of Dave Gracey, Nigel Blown, Rob Peters, Paul Winchester, Shaz Raza and Shahab Raza, and the energy and expertise of the clubs younger seniors; Mark and Sam Gracey, Tom and Ray Burt, Matt Payne (one day only) and Raj Bassi.

A day of bright sunshine greeted the players as they arrived at the idyllic Frogs Island ground in readiness for the 11am start. Having won the previous two Test's, the seniors were, rightly, fairly confident, but wary of the number of potential match winners packed in the very promising youth team.

Knowing that a draw would retain the honour of Test Match winners for the season, Test Match Skipper Raj Bassi, elected to bat first on a pitch that many thought would be little more than a dust bowl come the end of day two. After the early loss of Dave Gracey, the seniors XI rebuilt their innings, with Tom Burt (41) being particularly watchful, alongside the ever solid Bassi (18), as they progressed the score to 75. Wickets, however, fell at fairly regular intervals, mainly at the hands of some decimating bowling spells from Blown.

All the youth team bowlers bowled with superb control, and well marshalled in the field and led by Blown, they restricted the senior XI to 207 all out, from 60 overs. Paul Winchester (42) and Gracey (50) both making significant contributions in a brutal first innings onslaught, punishing anything loose from the young bowling attack.

The overs lost during the innings change around meant that the youth XI would have approximately 25 overs to face before the close of play. The senior XI were soon among the wickets, Mike Evans, Sam Collis and Dave Evans all losing their wickets after observant  starts.  

George Burt and Sam Budd then faced a tricky period before the close of play, with both batsmen withdrawing from their natural attacking strokeplay to get their team to stumps with 7 first innings wickets still in tact. They survived.

Burt, after an eventful night on the karaoke, managed to add just a handful of runs, just like all the people, so many people, before he had his furniture rearranged by the ever dependable Winchester. Budd at the other end had decided that the had completed his fair share of blocking the previous evening, and descended upon a brutal innings, latching onto anything astray from the senior XI, with one huge six off Ray burt a particular highlight of a very well made 51. However, he then next ball tried to repeat the feat of the four which brought up his half century, and was bowled by Shaz Raza. 

Dave Peters marshalled the tail, but when he lost Connor Ashenden as a partner, he was running out of support, but still a thron in the side of the seniors. Hoping to bowl them out before lunch, Bassi turned to occasional spinner Dave Gracey, in an effort to get as many overs in before the interval. In one over, he nearly had the dangerous Dave Peters LBW,  caught at slip, and bowled, then on the last ball, Peters swept the ball to Sam Gracey at leg slip, to end a fine innings. At 170 all out, the youth team had showed real strength in batting, and ended only 37 behind the senior XI's first innings score.

The first innings lead was vital, so the Senior XI though, and at Lunch on the final day, many strategies would conjured up by both teams. With players from each side trying to second guess the others approach.

The plan for the senior XI was to bat until tea, and hopeful set about 160 for victory for the youth team.

The youth team had other ideas however, and the senior XI never really got to grips with impressive bowling spells of both Ashenden's, George Burt, Richard Gibbons and in particular Michael Blown. Wickets were regular occurrences, and at tea, the score was just 90 for 5, and a lead of 127. This the seniors didn't believe was enough. So, after tea, they batted again for 5 overs. Sam Gracey and Paul Winchester were dismissed, and Ray Burt and Mark Gracey bought the score to 128, and a second innings lead of 165.

The youth team were then set a very sporting target of 166, with half an hours play, then twenty overs to try to reach the score. The seniors needed 10 wickets.

Things began in ideal circumstances for the senior XI, as they dismissed Mike Evans and Sam Budd relatively cheaply, and kept the scoring rate down to just a few an over. The buoyant mood of the seniors was soon put to the sword however, as George Burt and Connor Ashenden began to get to grips witht he bowling. Both played superb, mature innings , and with the confidence gained from their first innings effort, began to chip away at the total. Scoring, at times, and 8 or 9 runs per over, Burt and Ashenden began to put the youth XI in the driving seat towards what would be an brilliant batting effort. Burt passed his maiden half century, but unfortunatley couldn't complete the job, as Winchester had him caught and bowled for an excellent and inspiring 61. Ashenden, continued to press home, and was running very well between the innings, but misjudged a run off Raza, who demolished the stumps to run him out for 46.

The remaining batsmen continued to try to get over the finishing line, but unfortunately for the young team, they wound up just short, as the experienced Raza, Gracey and Winchester bowled some very tight overs, with Raza particularly efficient at the death, to leave the youth XI 163 for 7 at the close of play, just 3 away from what would have been a truly memorable victory, reminiscent of Ashes Tests of recent years.

The Test match once again was played with real passion and the desire to win from both teams, but in the true spirit of the game. It showed what strength in depth the club has, and what a pool of talent is present in the younger generations of the club. If the youth Xi continue to develop and show as much ability, maturity and drive as they showed over the weekend, then Frindsbury Cricket Club will be in good hands for a long time to come.

The Test Match Weekend once again showed what Frindsbury Cricket Club is all about with both days play being played with the right attitude; finished off nicely on Saturday evening with a BBQ and Karaoke, and a superb finale on Sunday evening.

Thanks massively to Emily for the teas on Saturday, Angie for the teas on Sunday. Thanks to Laura, Kayleigh and Anita for their help with the tea's, and leaving the pavilion in a suitable state at the end of the weekend. Thanks to Sam Gracey, Tom, Ray and George Burt for their help in preparing the ground for the Weekends action.

The senior XI retain their Test Match Crown, and will wear it with pride, until next year...

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