Archived Match Report
First XI vs. Stourbridge - 02 Jun - Frome record first victory of the season
Frome turned up on a miserable rainy day at a pitch that was greener than Mark Godsall's cap! They did however know which pitch they were playing on when they finally put some funny pieces of wood in the ground vaguely in line with one another.
Lloydy tossed up and lost (again) so Frome had a bat. Paul Andrews & Mark Godsall opened up and punished the bowling with 0 runs from 4 overs!!! They started to make up for it though with shots all around the ground - but Paul tool this too far and put it straight up in the air. However they decided not to run and instead stand together to discuss the importance of headwear during cricket....the inevitable happened, catch was dropped.....Paul run out. Stevie Wilson came to the wicket, after much discussion it was decided that he has abandoned technique for bludgeoning "Andy Rogers" style involving quick hands and ball in the air. It worked, 40 quick runs until he was caught at square leg, unlucky really as Stourbridge had already juggled 3 catches. Other players came and went Rogers, Nicko, Elkington with much thought about where skipper Lloydy should bat. "don't put yourself too low Lloydy - if you end up 20not out its a real waste!!!" however he didn't listen and put his name down as no. 10. During the same conversation with the scorer Lloydy also learned that when a team shouts "come on Stour" that they weren't talking about Stourport.....it is also short for Stourbridge don't you know???!
Anyway, back to the cricket - Hopey was running on a modern mixture of alcohol topped up with pasty - a fine combination as he smeared the bowling around for a quick 35. The left handed pair of Child and Captain America Wilson came and went, the latter having slight more success flicking a no ball for 6 with the edge of his blade. That left Lloydy to make sure his fine batting skills weren't wasted....oh and they weren't. A serious of blocks and swipes can only mean he was playing by numbers but it looked like he had the right combination. He finished 23* with Luke's contribution wih the blade being a single leg glance and a run out on the final ball.
A heroic batting performance based on previous weeks, 229 in 50 overs with a top score of 40 meaning contributions all the was down.
So the bowling - Lloyd opened up with his usually cocked arm bit failed to bend the ball around corners as much as usual. Child opened the other end and after a tricky first over proved why they call him the angry kid!! He had a chance dropped by Elkington a real steepler some might say....a dolly say others. The very next ball though a flash off the blade an Nicko Evans bucket like hands took the catch.
Frome generally fielded well and backed their bowlers, Elkington came on for his first bowl for 12 months and after looking as sharp as a rusty nail pulled it together and started to tighten the screw on Stour (Stourbridge that is not Stourport - Lloydy) Luke Cottrell came on the other end and bowled a mixture of slow left arm, slower left arm and by the end even some grenades were chucked. The fielding was in general quite good, Rogers dying swan not quite so good, Hopey (with the gloves) fluffing a simple run out were just blips in the early evening gloom.
They took wickets at regular intervals but become concerned that Stour werent going for the runs.....it got to the last roll of the dice 5 overs left 4 wickets to take. Lloydy throw a couple of crackers down and managed to nick one out with a stump removed and another chipped to mid-wicket. Frome were left one short but Stour were realistically 50runs short.
A great game had by all with contributions throughout (see attached scorecard). Lloydy now takes his men back to home soil next week with renewed confidence about setting a target!!!
