Camberley Nomads vs Frimley Green Cricket Club - Sunday 8th September 2019, 13:00

Fresh off the back of 3 wins over the last two weekends, FGCC arrived at the Crown and Cushion looking to continue their excellent run of recent form in this first ever game against the newly-formed Camberley Nomads. Winning the toss and choosing to bat with some pleasant late Summer sunshine for company, Jim and the rest of the team were soon confronted with a real hotch-potch of an oppo, consisting of a mix of Crown Taverners players, at least one ringer (more on that later) and some really friendly Sunday cricketers. It was the Tavs players who made early in-roads to FGCC's batting line-up however as opening bowlers Panda and Short ripped the top order to shreds. This started with last week's MOTM Anthony departing 4th ball, which was soon followed by Mark looping a dolly to mid-on and then Lloyd getting an away swinger from Short that rearranged his stumps. New recruit John and Anu played sensibly for a few overs, but when both were dismissed for single figures FGCC's score read 35-5 off 13. Someone (or two) was needed to wrestle back the initiative, and luckily in Anam and Dean FGCC had just the lads to rise to the occasion. It could have been so very different as new dad Dean was momentarily feeling the after-effects of a couple of interrupted sleeps when he skied one straight up when on 12, only to see a Nomad fumble it. From there however it soon turned into Carr-nage time, as Dean started playing some lusty thwacks into the pub garden and car park. Despite Anam getting snagged at gully when well-set and Vamsi playing all over a straight one FGCC were still on the up, helped by a bucketload of wides. Extras aside no-one was more responsible for FGCC’s fight back than Dean, who brought up his 50 with a massive 6 over the nets. Dominating a 39 run partnership with a much-missed Kanavel, and a 45 run 10th wicket stand with Pranay, Dean was well-and-truly set, and unlucky not to bring up a ton when he was run out on 85. His innings included 12 4s and 3 6s, and dragged FGCC back from the abyss to end on 199 - fine batting indeed. After tea the Nomads came out with Tavs batsman Delaney and Hartley Wintney CC batsman Bowles. Anam and Dean started well, keeping things tight and eventually got the breakthrough when Delaney edged to safe-hands Lloyd fielding at slip. This brought Jackman to the crease - a batsman who it later transpired was being paid £1 per run scored (possibly a first for a Frimley Green game). With cash on the line, Jackman wasn't in the mood to take home pennies, as he played his strokes with considerable power. Dropped twice and surviving a couple of LBW shouts which FGCC were never going to get, the 2nd wicket Nomads pairing saw them to drinks, well below the required run rate. Something however needed to give, and thankfully this came in the shape of wicket-taking sensation Pranay who took a smart return catch to dismiss Bowles. With Panda chipping one to Dean at mid-off giving Pranay another wicket, FGCC were back in the driving seat. But it wouldn't be a game at the Crown & Cushion without a little bit of controversy, and thankfully this time it was the Nomads who were on the receiving end when Short was given LBW for a duck by a sheepish Nomad before said umpire got an earful and was instantly banished to square leg by irate opposition skipper Delaney. From here it was pretty much all downhill for the Nomads - first Jackman was cleaned up by Anam for £43, who an over later dismissed the hard-hitting Panda thanks to a catch at 2nd slip by Anthony. With Pranay chipping in for another scalp - this time thanks to Vamsi taking a good catch - it was left to a returning Dean to polish off the tail. 2 in 2 helped, and although the hat-trick ball agonisingly flew over Anam's head it only delayed the inevitable as a few balls later Dean threw one back to Mark who ceremoniously knocked off the bails to give FGCC the win. NOTE - this victory has seen FGCC win 10 matches this season - the first time that's happened in a season this century. That's also the club's 4th win on the trot, a feat that's not been achieved since the 2000/2001 season (5 consecutive wins spread over 2 seasons).