Old Leightonians vs Frimley Green Cricket Club - Sunday 25th August 2019, 13:30

After a disappointing loss to Ripley, FGCC were keen to bounce back again fellow Sunday friendly side Old Leightonians, played in the grounds of Leighton Park school as the first part of a scorching hot Bank Holiday weekend double-header. With the Leightonians running late, Jim and oppo skip Shreyas agreed that FGCC would bat first, which considering the weather and a pretty flat track seemed a somewhat bizarre decision on the old boys' side. Nevertheless Mark wasn't to benefit from the conditions, as he was bowled 3rd ball by Asim. In strolled Lloyd, and after a slow start both he and Rich started to bed in for the long haul. And what a haul it was - in fact one of the biggest partnerships FGCC have seen since the days of Johnson and Head's at Tilford in 2004. Bowler after bowler were dismissed to the boundary with regularity, and whilst Mark and Jim watched Stokes take the Australian bowling to task in the score box FGCC's own wrecking crew were dismantling the Leightonian's bowling like taking mallets to barbecued shrimp. Both bought up their 50s in good time, bearly giving the oppo a sniff (although Lloyd's own personal landmark - his first for FGCC - was helped by a Leightonian comically spilling the ball over the boundary). The partnership showed no sign of slowing, and what transpired was a personal battle between the two as to who'd get a ton first. With Rich on 96 - one hit from the landmark - the inevitable seemed only a drive away... but tragically celebrations were curtailed when opening bowler Asim bowled him. Lloyd however wasn't going to let the same fate befall his quest, and despite Pavan and Anam both getting out cheaply he stuck to the task in hand and reached his 100 with yet another 4. Finally bowled on 111, Lloyd's innings - better than a run-a-ball - featured 15 4s and a massive 6, good enough to get him 9th place on FGCC's highest ever individual scores and a place in club folklore. Setting OLCC 242 to win, and after a tea that consisted of Subway sandwiches and cookies (and nothing else), FGCC quickly made in-roads thanks in no small part to Anam's bowling, albeit ably assisted by superb catches by Lloyd - one-handed at first slip - and Rich, who was in the right place at the right time to catch Aman (Aman being out to Anam had an air of inevitability about it, in truth). The three FGCCers continued to dominate proceedings thereafter - another spectacular catch, this time via a tumbling Rich who did amazingly well to make his ground to snag Mahesh off Anu's bowling; Lloyd yet again taking a blinder over his head at slip off Kaarthav's first ball to dismiss Groom, and Anam returning with a devastating final spell to mop up the tail (the wicket of Price, who was bowled via Anam's leg spinner, causing the bowler to run the length of the pitch in celebration). Powers and Narayanswaney briefly threatened, the latter taking a particular liking to Rich's bowling, but when Rich exacted revenge by taking a blistering caught-and-bowled any chance Old Leightonians had of salvaging something disappeared. In taking Asim's wicket, fittingly caught behind the stumps by Mark (who'd exacted his one personal revenge on a batsman who'd ended his innings earlier), Anam finished with a 5-fer, Rich with 4 catches and Lloyd with 2... and of course a ton to his name. Fair to say the whole team played their part in the win, but full credit to Rich, Anam and especially Lloyd for their huge contributions to (what in hindsight has proven to be) the start of a very prosperous run for FGCC. NOTE - credit to Mark (before he moans at me for not mentioning it), but not a single bye conceded.