Frimley Green Cricket Club vs Brookwood - Sunday 15th August 2021, 14:00

Celebrating both a first game in over a decade back at the club's spiritual home of Frimley Green Rec and a 100th cap for former club youth product Jonny Leaver, FGCC came into this fixture against local rivals Brookwood with anticipation and - courtesy of Jonny - a healthy supply of lager in this 35 over-per-side match. Winning the toss and opting to bat on a grassy, unpredictable track, first-choice opening pair Rich (on season debut) and Mark were faced with a challenging opening spell from Brookwood swinger Cheten, who accounted for both FGCC's Vice-Captain and debutant Aziz. Coming in at 4, Sheshi's friend Ayush - who usually turns out for a club in Toronto, ON, Canada - wasn't hanging around, and smashed 4 6s during a rapid 58-run partnership with Rich, which was only ended when he was well-caught out in the deep. With Rich steadily building, Hafiz - another debutant - was next to the crease, and alongside FGCC's opening bat kept the score ticking along during the middle overs. Going at 5+ per over by the time drinks came round, and with Rich bringing up another 50 for the club, Brookwood eventually made the breakthrough when Hafiz was bowled, ending a 4th wicket partnership worth 63. With 7 overs to go and wickets in hand, the lower-middle order were free to swing, Anam duly obligling with a well-made 21. With centurion Jonny - who was sportingly given a guard of honour by the opposition when coming out to bat - and Ajay remaining unbeaten, FGCC finished their innings on a very competitive 195. After Jonny was presented with his golden cap to join a select group of club stalwarts, Brookwood came out to bat with Manoj and debutant Aziz opening up (it would have been Sheshi, but he and Ajay decided to go looking for lunch and ending up getting stuck in the queue at McDonalds Drive-Thru). The absence of two fielders didn't matter however, as Manoj ripped the Brookwood top order to shreds, knocking over both openers in the first over (including Samad for a Platinum Duck) before catches by Ajay and Mark accounted for two more scalps in an opening spell of 4-1-6-4. With a fine run out - instigated courtesy of a direct hit from Hafiz - accounting for Powell, Brookwood found themselves 24-5 after 7 overs. With Anam marking his 2021 debut with a wicket, and Sheshi's outstanding spell richly rewarded with a wicket thanks to another catch by Mark, by drinks the score had moved to 47-7. Having rarely been given the chance to shine previously, Jim opted to give Jonny the chance to turn his arm over, which he did admirably before Manoj was brought back to seal his 5-fer. However, the skipper had other ideas, holding himself back to the end and snagging the last two wickets - the final of these thanks to a catch at slip by Jonny in his landmark appearance - to seal the victory. FUN FACT - This was FGCC's first victory at Frimley Green Rec since beating Welford Park on 31st May 2009 - over 12 years ago.