Archived Match Report
First XI vs. Halesowen - 07 Jul - Frome splash out for just a few points
Captain Lloydy woke up Saturday morning with a determined look in his eyes that said "I don't care what the weather is doing today, I'm playing cricket!" He was right....almost!
After several flirty texts the night before Lloydy took to the phone and started ringing the Halesowen Captain - the two of them built up a beautiful friendship with Lloydy refusing to take up the dominant roll!
After 2 pitch inspections, 2 committee meetings (1 at Halesowen and 1 at Lloydy's house) it was decided.....we would travel in as many cars as possible and go visit the green, green sea of Halesowen. We arrived and immediately donned flippers, paddles, wetsuits and breathing apparatus.....the shout from the pavilion was "it's a quick dryer!" it would need to be as it was as wet as an otters pocket! Stevie however had come dressed as a dodgy looking German we now call "Hans"! While we talked, we prodded the pitch with flippers, wellingtons and veruka socks to see how wet it was - end result, we started at 3.10pm.
Mark Godsall's fame from the HT last week went to his head - when he closed his eyes this time the stumps went flying, "Hans" missed a straight one! Alec and Andy splashed around for a while, Alec with stylish finesse, Andy with the subtlety of John Terry on a Caribbean Cruise! Nicko rolled out to bat, missed it - Badger didn't feel the heat on the LBW appeal and with swift finger movement forward (that you might think looks like he's giving someone out) but when you move it off to the right with an uncertain "going down leg....." Elkington smashed 5 sixes (2 into the school) while his son climbed the roof of the pavilion and got stuck on the 6ft metal railings with captain fantastic saving the day! Hopey looked greener than the wicket but once again scored runs while under the influence! The Badger got his 2nd first ball duck in as many games and came off to mutterings of…..at least I didn't waste any balls! The total finished at 139-8 off 36 overs, a pretty good effort considering the outfield was wet and long making scoring for the classy players (like Alec and…..??? who else?) difficult!
Frome tucked into tea confident of getting a result but when they took the field the open bowlers found it tough. Lloydy's swinger wasn't swinging and Nicko's trainers (no spikes!!!!) made him look like bambi on ice (after an all you can eat dinner obviosuly!) They took a wicket each but it wasn't long before Elkington arrived into the attack but was about as threatening as Badger's shouts of "come on we can do this" but he missed out the old Badger favourite "keep the faith" which would have been more effective. In a last gasp attempt Lloyd scraped the barrell (not Nicko!!) but got "the old man of the team" Andy Rogers to bowl a couple, 2 wickets fell with Badger taking a blinder but too little too late as by now the ball was flying across the outfield faster than Hans (after Nicko had stolen his trainers!)
Frome got the rough end of the toss which Lloydy has now lost on every occasion since May 31st he has vowed to practice more before next week. Another away game at Claverley next Saturday.
