Scorecard

Frocester v Erratics Cricket Club Erratics on Fri 01 Sep 2017 at 1.30pm
Erratics Cricket Club Lost by 28 runs

Match report The Frocester team gave us a warm and friendly welcome, and sportingly agreed to the substitutions we would need in order to give 13 Erratics a game when only 11 were required:

First of all, James Colclough would bowl for us, to be replaced by his father, Peter, when it came to batting. Secondly, Daniel Thistlethwaite would bat for us, to be substituted by Mark Phillips when it came to fielding.

Meanwhile, in this 40-over game, the Frocester captain said he wanted to share the batting around his team a bit, so would retire his batsmen when they reached 50. We would be batting under no such restrictions. Chris Cook told me that this was the kind of deal doesn't usually work well for us, because it encourages their young batsmen to thrash out their 50 as quickly as possible, and can therefore result in a formidable Frocester total.

On the other hand, the Frocester captain also told me that he would deploy his overseas professional (who normally opens the bowling for the 1st XI, who are in the Premier League) as a batsman, but not a bowler.

Finally, I had the joy of trying to work out if there would be a way of getting Sam Cook into the game, given that he was unlikely to arrive much before tea.

So, it was, shall we say, delightfully convenient that Frocester won the toss and chose to bat - a decision that worked for both teams. Such are some of the joys of captaincy. There's sometimes a lot that happens before a ball is bowled.

As it happened, Paul Molins unfortunately bruised a wicket-keeper's finger rather badly and had to be substituted early in the Frocester innings. This did at least make it easier to get Sam into the game later on.

Frocester began at a canter. Or was it a gallop? Either way, they were 90 for 1 after not very long at all. It turns out that a 1st XI opening bowler can bat pretty handily...

Frocester paced themselves, preferring boundaries to quick singles until drinks, and then accelerating. That said, although there was more urgency to the batting after the 20 over mark, the Erratics bowlers, and fielders, did a good job of restricting the run-rate. Having feared after 10 overs that we might be chasing 290 or so, I found myself almost hopeful when staring at a final target of just 235. It seemed tantalisingly gettable.

Tea was enriched by the visit of Martin Weiler, on his way to see the rugby in Gloucester, and by another living Erratic legend, Brian Carpenter. Brian hasn't played for the last 2 or 3 seasons (or is it more?), struggling with bits of his body not working as well as in the past. When I pointed out that ailments and general decrepitude didn't normally stop an Erratic from playing, he agreed. He said he had been at the Broadclyst game and found himself so reassured by the low quality of the cricket that he fancied a return to the game, perhaps next season. With humour like that, he would be most welcome. And I'm sure he would have been fined if he'd still been there at the end!

Duncan led the charge after tea, but the quality of cricket from Frocester was anything but low. The bowling was tight, the fielding outstanding and runs were hard to come by.

When Fraser, Peter and Martin all departed before achieving their full potential, 235 seemed a distant target. In turn, Chris and Sam Cook joined Duncan and gave us hope, but it was just a bit too much to ask.

A beautifully lofted straight drive from Harry Molins, caused the Frocester fielders to wonder if there might be a sensational late charge, especially when it was followed by a slash over cover that nearly went for 6, and which did earn Harry the "magic moment" award. But a brief flurry of wickets was all that was required to leave us short, though respectably short, and with dignity definitely intact. Duncan was man of the match for his 81 runs.

It's a real pleasure to play at Frocester. The ground is superb, and very well mown (there was lots of mowing), and I'm a sucker for an electronic scoreboard. But above all, this was a competitive game of friendly cricket on a gloriously sunny afternoon, against sporting opposition. Nothing better.

Frocester Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
235 (40.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Harry Molins7.0036136.005.14
James Colclough6.003800.006.33
Chris Cook8.0127127.003.38
Fraser Chave6.0039219.506.50
Phil Power5.003000.006.00
Mark Hailwood4.003400.008.50
Duncan Chave4.0110110.002.50

Erratics Cricket Club Erratics Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
207		        
Duncan Chave Caught  81 9
Fraser Chave Bowled  11 1
Peter Colclough Bowled  0
Martin Wright Bowled  9
Chris Cook Caught  32 5
Sam Cook Caught  18 3
Daniel Thistlethwaite Bowled  4
Phil Power Lbw  13 1
Jonathan Kirby Not Out  2
Harry Molins Caught  9 2 1
Mark Hailwood Bowled  0

Frocester Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
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