Crown WoodCrown Wood vs Frimley Green Cricket ClubFGCC

The first match of the 2011 season saw FGCC claim a deserved victory over old adversaries Crown Wood. Captain Jim Barker lost the toss on a wicket that looked like it would certainly offer lots to the bowlers, but as events transpired it proved to be a good toss to lose. Put in on a drying track, FGCC's opening pair of Rich Loosley and Dave Brown saw off the opening attack with a fluent half-century stand, Dave in particular looking in the mood and dispatching 6s into the recently on-fire thickets and shrubbery of Crowthorne. When Rich finally departed, the scoreboard kept ticking on at around 5 an over for the rest of the innings, with Dave extremely unlucky to be run out for 97. Jim Barker came in towards the end for a brief cameo, and after 40 overs FGCC looked good value for their 203.

Crown Wood's reply was stifled by some accurate bowling and good fielding - debutant Mike Parry looking especially sharp fielding close-in. With Messers Gates and Huggett weighing in with two wickets apiece during their typically miserly opening spells, and thanks to good support from Rich and Kevin Whitehorn, FGCC had Crown Wood pegged back to under 4 an over until drinks. D.Cartledge and Williams put on a decent stand for the 5th wicket, but MOTM Dave Brown made his mark by snagging Cartledge whilst on the cusp of a 50. Wickets fell cheaply thereafter, with Josh Teece taking a couple of nice catches, and with Crown Wood's no.11 not wearing the appropriate underwear capable of accomodating a box, their innings ended abruptly to give FGCC the perfect start to the season.