Hampton Woodlawn vs Frimley Green Cricket Club - Sunday 9th June 2019, 13:30

In a game of 3 halves (you know what I mean), FGCC couldn't make it 4 wins on the spin in this narrow defeat at the hands of Hampton Woodlawn in this 35-over a side match, Losing the toss yet again Jim was invited to bat by opposite number Tish, and early on this proved to be a good call to make as HWCC ripped through Frimley Green's opening order - 1st change bowler Sharp in particular with a 5-fer - reducing them to 51-7 and then 65-8 when Anu slipped and got run out. Then the heavens opened, and with changeable weather (and an early tea) came a quick turnaround in FGCC's fortunes. With Anam in no mood to let the game slip, and with Jim blocking out at the other end on a pitch which was slowly turning into a mudbath the 8th wicket pair put on 45 before Anam was judged LBW by Suresh for a quickfire 43. Ending their innings on 124, it felt like FGCC had found a way back into the match and at least had something to protect... ...and so this proved to be, with a devastating opening spell of raw aggression by Anam (aided by a pitch where the ball mainly kept low due to the rain), ably assisted by Dean, Anu and Aaron (all taking a wicket each), leaving HWCC 64-7 at drinks. With 61 needed and the pitch getting no better FGCC were firmly in the ascendancy, and eyeing up a 4th straight win for the first time since 2004 when Hampton opening bowlers L Glissold and S Patel - who had earlier mustered impressive figures of 8-3-14-2 in an impressive spell of swing bowling - came out and despite a slow start timed their chase to perfection. Hitting the winning runs off Dean with 5 balls remaining and the light slowly fading Hampton Woodlawn took the spoils, ending what at one point looked like another unlikely FGCC victory charge.