Binfield vs Frimley Green Cricket Club - Sunday 21st May 2017, 13:30

FGCC won their first match in just under a year in this picturesque Berkshire thriller against a very talented and hospitable Binfield side. Losing the toss and being invited to bowl under clearing skies, Anam came in at good pace, peppering a line outside off-stump which eventually got the better of opener J. Humphrey who nicked one behind to Mark, who took a sharp low catch behind the stumps. After surviving a very confident caught-behind appeal, fellow opener Devarakanda kept the score ticking over with some hoiks to the leg-side, leaving FGCC looking for a wicket to swing the momentum. And this came in the form of debutant Kanavel, who in his opening spell for the club worked his way through the middle order ending up with 3 wickets by drinks. Reg Edginton wasn't prepared to let the game slip by, and decided to take a liking to Rich's bowling with some lusty blows before Kanavel slipped him a slower ball and had him caught at Cow Corner by safe-hands Loosley for a quickfire 43. With Anam returning for a second spell and taking a second scalp, FGCC were firmly on top. However as so often runs started to flow towards the end, with Jack Collett making 43 not out before the ever-reliable TJ came back and took 2 in 2 to leave Binfield all out for 176. After a cracking tea FGCC's reply started poorly with Rich falling 2nd ball (for, it transpired, his first ever duck for the club). Cue Alan Greaves, whose steady, patient approach to batting was exactly what was needed to preserve wickets whilst Mark blasted his way to 26 off 22 balls. When Ants fell without troubling the scorers chief FGCC nurdler Suresh came in and with Greavsie kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely. With Greavsie finally departing Anam came in, and as per last week took the bowling to task. His 50 came off only 21 balls - the second fastest half-century for FGCC following his 19-ball effort the previous week. Bowled by Binfield opening seamer Vines (whose consistency and good line saw him end on 8-3-18-2) Anam's departure could have sealed a collapse, but thanks to Aakhash and Tim the target of 177 got ever closer. When Aakhash was finally bowled Jim came in with only 20 needed, but in typical FGCC fashion Tim fell LBW with 2 left to get, and Kanavel ran himself out chasing glory. The scores were tied. Enter Shahid - in his first game for a while - to knock off the single needed for a morale-boosting victory with 8 balls to spare, giving the captain (batting at the other end) the cue to celebrate the breaking of FGCC's 2017 duck with a euphoric shout and seal the victory after a cracking game of cricket.