Brookwood vs Frimley Green Cricket Club - Sunday 12th May 2019, 13:30

FGCC's first win of 2019, and first since the epic 10th wicket partnership victory against Ottershaw in July 2018, saw old and new players combine to produce a fine performance on a very challenging pitch against new opposition in the shape of Brookwood. Losing the toss and being invited to bat, Tim and Mark faced some tough opening overs on a track which had more than the odd gremlin, Indeed, the bounce was so unpredictable slow-medium deliveries more than once came through as bouncers, and it was credit to both openers that a stand of 36 was put on the board before Mark skewed one to point. With debutant Lloyd falling to another that spat up, and fellow new man Pranay clipping one to mid-on, another FGCC all-too-frequent middle order wobble seemed to be on the cards. When Tim finally fell and Suresh ran himself out, the score stood at 78-5 off 22.3 overs. A solid partnership was called for, and luckily thanks to excellent batting and athletic running between the wickets by Adam (23) and Rich that's exactly what transpired. With 66 put on for the 6th wicket, both Ajay and Dean came in to play little cameos towards the end once Rich had finally left the crease. His innings featured 5 4s and a huge 6 in a fine 60 in his 50th match for the club - a fine effort. With Brookwood set a target of 190 and with the pitch showing no signs of behaving itself (you'd be forgiven for thinking the square was inhabited by moles who every now and then would pop up and send the ball into orbit) FGCC started to make early in-roads, with both BCC openers falling to a great opening spell by Sheshi, thanks to catches by Lloyd and Mark. With 2 wickets for Rich to add to his excellent half-century, and with Ajay chipping in by finding Rahul's edge to give slipper Tim some catching practice, Brookwood found themselves 52-5 at drinks. Needing nearly 7 an over, it was a couple of fine spells by both our new players Lloyd (4-1-10-0) and especially Pranay, whose 3 overs cost 4 runs and saw 3 Brookwood wickets tumble, matched by an uncharacteristically economical spell by the skipper that put pay to any realistic hope of a victorious run chase by the home side. With Jim finding a pitch that suited his bowling perfectly, the captain was able to make the ball misbehave in all manner of ways, and his perseverance was finally rewarded in the last two balls of his spell as he polished off the last two wickets to leave himself with a hat-trick ball to bowl next match, and to seal a deserved first win of the season for FGCC.