Frimley Green Cricket ClubFGCC vs Welford ParkWelford Park

In a match that will forever go down in the annuls of FGCC history (at least until Nug comes up with a better suggestion), Frimley Green rode their luck and bit their nails down to the nub to secure what at one point looked like a very unlikely victory against Welford Park.

With Vice-Captain JP winning the toss and deciding to field (as Jim was delayed due to fannying about watching the telly), FGCC took a couple of decisive early wickets and kept things tight during the opening overs, due in no small part to a truly stunning one-handed catch by Alan Greaves at gully to dismiss Welford Park captain Galbraith. With Shahid bowling magnificently on season debut to outfox and bewilder Welford Park stalwart Ian Herrington, FGCC took the momentum and stifled the opposition's batting to great effect, slowing the scoring rate right down and taking wickets when opportunities arose and ultimately wrapping up the innings (despite some resolute defense) for a (at the time seemingly) paultry 85, Amit weighing in with two wickets at the end.

FGCC's reply was, to say the least, twitchy and nervous in spite of their supposedly dominant position. Tim Jones fell second ball to a prod. Amit swung, missed, connected and got caught behind. With both openers going cheaply, Ants and Greavsie hung around for a bit until Greavsie's stumps got shattered and Ants unluckily played on. Cue Captain and Vice-Captain to see things through to the then seemingly inevitable victory... which after JP was brilliantly caught at short mid-wicket and Jim skied a drive to mid-off when looking well-set seemed nothing but sure. Were FGCC about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...?

With Nick Sharma, Shahid and Kevin all falling cheaply, Welford Park looked to have the match in the bag - 20 still needed, one wicket remaining. However, they hadn't reckoned on the resilience (and sheer 'jammyness') of messers Gates and Huggett. The Not Out twins batted sensibly and rode their luck on more than one occasion, catches being dropped like slippery olives. Fingernails now well and truly grinded down to nothing, every extra was cheered like a 6. With the scene set for a match-winning effort, it was duly left to the calm head of MOTM Gates to hit the winning run, greeted justly with whoops and cheers from the gathered throngs on the picnic tables. A truly fantastic game of cricket, and great to get back into the winning spirit after two pretty fruitless weeks at Frimley Lodge Park.