Sunday 6 July 2025
Frensham 107/4 (17.1 overs)
Match abandoned due to rain
35 over match
Frensham won the toss
Scorecard
Various contributors write:
First game since 8 June, 28 days of drought, and rain won the day. For those who had overcome the A3 weekend closure with consequential traffic horrors, it was not best use of a Sunday but, after three fixture free weekends, it was a merry reunion. Stu was unchained from his radiator for the first time this summer, bringing Paul Plewman (and his awful bucket hat) for a third cap, nine years after his second. Alec Hudson also returned for a third cap in eight seasons.
Captain Scottie, unhindered by the A3 closure, made it just in time to lose the toss and ask Stu – no cricket for 10 months – and Andy, a batsman and change bowler when required, to open proceedings against some well coached, talented, several-games-a-week teenagers who were polite enough to keep straight faces as they romped to 37 off the first four overs. Enter Bridge the the fridge, who recognised the requirement and defied the impact of spare tyre on wonky knee to unleash 6.1 overs of impressive seam up stuff like in the old days. How it cost 43 runs is a mystery, he beat the edge time and again and took two wickets, the first of which was either LBW, as the scorebook says, or caught at slip by Seeckts Snr. The batsman chuntered that he had hit it as he walked off, perhaps not realising that we got him either way.
Batsman No.3 absolutely walloped his first two deliveries to cover where Ingo bravely stopped both. ‘Oh dear’ the bowlers thought. Opener Findlay continued the onslaught with No.3 batting like he needed 526 runs in two sessions at Edgbaston.
A game of fetch ensued for Cryptic fielders in the sunshine while dark clouds lingered threateningly in the distance. Stu’s seven over spell improved to take two wickets and have two catches dropped by Scottie, but Ed and Toby took a good catch each before the clouds dumped their load on Frensham’s seemingly flat ground, large puddles clearly identifying the contours. 107-4 off 17.1 might well have developed into a decent contest, but the bar offered refuge from the deluge.
Frensham’s wonderful hospitality included an immense and magnificent tea with the rare treat of Marmite and cucumber sandwiches which disappeared faster than the pies offered up in the first four overs of the match.
The rain stopped after tea and the captains were about to take another look at 5pm, when another downpour ended any chance of a restart.
In better news, Ricky the duck returned from his 10 month stay with Tom Leonard and defied the bookmakers by not going home with Hugs.