Hampton WoodlawnHampton Woodlawn vs Frimley Green Cricket ClubFGCC

In their first match of 2023, FGCC visited Carlisle Park to face now familiar opposition in the shape of Hampton Woodlawn. Given the unseasonably early start to the season (well done President Nick for organising a packed programme for the summer ahead), Suresh and his team were greeted with a soft track and long outfield. Runs, it seemed, were going to be at a premium, and so it proved to be in this nail-biting game.

Winning the toss and making the correct to decision to bat first on a track with plenty of uneven bounce, FGCC opened up with Anam and Hafiz, whose accuracy and pace proved extremely tricky for the Woodlawn openers to get away. Nevertheless, and despite plenty of swipes outside off which saw a fly slip brought in, the batsmen were more focused on preserving their wicket than hitting out. After 15 overs, and with the score on 39-0 the home team needed to accelerate, which thankfully lead to FGCC's first wicket of the season when opener Manraj tickled one behind into Mark's gloves off Prasad's bowling for 14. Mark was in the action again soon after, as Naren's out-swingers did for no.2 Nick who was also caught behind. Drinks and further bowling changes did however see Woodlawn start to motor, with no.3 Jamie hitting a couple of sixes over the long grass (the only way to get a boundary here was to go over the top) before Chairman Jim cleaned him up playing across the line with a uncharacteristic seam-up delivery. 2 balls later, with Jim striking again thanks to a loopy full-pitched ball striking Kapil on the back leg, HWLCC found themselves on 84-4 off 23. A solid partnership in the form of Naryon and James Sharp followed for the home team, and in spite of a first FGCC wicket for Chandra Gupta and a one-handed, juggled snag at slip by Jim to give Hafiz a well-deserved wicket, Hampton Woodlawn finished at a modest (yet potentially match-winning given the conditions) 144-6 off their 35 overs.

In reply, Harish and Mark opened up, and were ticking along well until Mark got a grubber and was bowled in the 10th over. After Hafiz skied one to fine leg, FGCC were 40-2 at the 15 over stage. Thankfully a couple of slower bowlers came in to help fill in the extras column, and coupled with some intelligent shot placement and some very enthusiastic running (Harish's "yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah" call is going to end up in the annuls of FGCC folklore without a doubt) Harish and Madhav strung together a 50 run partnership. Once Madhav departed, wickets started to fall at regular intervals, and with 10 overs to go FGCC still needed 54 runs to get over the line. Hampton's James Sharp was making inroads however, snagging Jonny and Suresh to good catches, but it was before this in the 28th over when the momentum started to swing thanks to an inspired cameo by Prasad, who took Sharp for 14 with a 6 and 4 in consecutive balls.

Whilst all this was going on, Harish - hampered close to the end with a touch of cramp - was finding the gaps and knocking runs off in 1s and 2. It was systematic of the conditions that his 50 contained only 2 boundaries, however it was the one in the 33rd over, to leave FGCC needing 5 off 14 balls, that proved the most significant. Joined by Jim, Harish knocked off the final few runs needed, allowing FGCC to win their first game of 2023 by 3 wickets. A really enjoyable game, played in sunny, overcast and at times drizzly conditions, and a great way to start the season.