Westfield SaintsWestfield Saints vs Frimley Green Cricket ClubFGCC

Frimley Green won the toss and opted to bat in this, their opening game of the season.

That, however, was the only thing to go right for quite some time, with a slow, uneven pitch greatly troubling every batsman but Rich Loosley. Opening bowlers Burrows (with 3 wickets, all clean-bowled) and Hussain reduced FGCC to a miserable 43-5, before the recovery began.

Mike Lloyd, recovering from injury and a last-minute call-up, joined Rich at the crease and a steady partnership of 69 ensued, taking FGCC beyond mere respectability and back in with a chance. Rich eventually cut loose, taking 18 from Burrows' comeback over, including a six into the road and a lost ball. Finally, though, both batsmen were strangled by some tight spin-bowling from Rivers and Kearney who, between them, managed 7 maidens, restricting FGCC to 148, which was deemed a problematic target by the Westfield illuminati, and represented a fine comeback.

Frimley Green then kept things tight; Kevin Whitehorn bowled very well despite coming back from long-term injury, and Mark Russell and Rich Loosley in particular made some excellent stops in the field. As tight as things were, however, no wickets were falling, and opening batsmen Philpot and Singer ground their way to half-centuries.

With the batsmen needing under 4-an-over with around 10 overs remaining, opening bowler David Huggett was recalled, and he responded in style. Gaining some trampoline bounce to unsettle Philpot, he then bowled him with a slower ball, and conceded only 3 runs in his final 3-over spell. With Westfield at this point needing more than 4 an over for the first time in the innings, and the slow pitch and outfield helping FGCC, the match was genuinely in the balance. Rich returned to bowl number 3 Idris, but captain Irvine and the excellent Singer took Westfield over the line with 10 balls to spare.