Reports & Newsletter 1995

Frogs vs OU Authentics

Venue: Queens College, Oxford

Date: 23rd April

Result: Match Drawn.

Authentics       232-8 dec        (De Sousa 3 for 11)

Frogs               194-6               (Rogers 58*)

The ’Tics won the toss and batted on a slow wicket, beginning with an opening partnership of over a hundred. However, their middle order fell away in the face of persistent bowling by Patient and the imaginative off-spin of de Sousa. An unbroken partnership of over 50 for the ninth wicket carried them to as useful total in the conditions. Despite a fluent innings from the renascent Rogers we failed to overhaul it.

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Frogs vs Hampstead CC

Venue: Lymington Road

Date: 30th April

Result: Lost by 66 runs.

Chesham         275-4 dec        (Clifford 124, Rodger 3 for 84)

Frogs               118                  (Wollocombe 46)

This was not a happy day for the Frogs. A weak attack in poor early-season form was dispatched to al corners of the ground as Chesham raced to 285 for 4 dec well before half-time. Keith Rodger managed to snare three victims, but he was not well supported. Overall the Frogs’ bowlers concede five runes per over for 54 overs.

When we batted, only Paul Wollocombe showed signs of determined resistance, reaching a dogged 46. But the rest of the eleven showed little inclination to stick it out the target never seeming attainable, and in 40 overs we were skittled for 118. The match manager has left the country and wishes his successor better luck next year in what should by rights be a good fixture for the Frogs in  a very picturesque setting.

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Frogs vs Chesham CC

Venue: The Meadow

Date: 7th May

Result: Lost by 157 runs.

Chesham         275-4 dec        (Clifford 124, Rodger 3 for 84)

Frogs               118                  (Wollocombe 46)

This was not a happy day for the Frogs. A weak attack in poor early-season form was dispatched to al corners of the ground as Chesham raced to 285 for 4 dec well before half-time. Keith Rodger managed to snare three victims, but he was not well supported. Overall the Frogs’ bowlers concede five runes per over for 54 overs.

When we batted, only Paul Wollocombe showed signs of determined resistance, reaching a dogged 46. But the rest of the eleven showed little inclination to stick it out the target never seeming attainable, and in 40 overs we were skittled for 118. The match manager has left the country and wishes his successor better luck next year in what should by rights be a good fixture for the Frogs in  a very picturesque setting.

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Frogs vs Hurlingham

Venue: Hurlingham 

Date: 14th May

Result: Frogs win by 140 runs.

Frogs               255-7 dec        (Pascal 81, Fischel 61*, Wollocombe 44)

Hurlingham     115                

We were put in and batted briskly finishing with 255, highlights being Pascal’s 81 and Fischel’s 61 not out. Cockroft and Wollocombe also chipped in. Hurlingham started badly with Kershaw being easily run out by Peerless in the first over in what was clearly a grudge situation. A collapse ensued with Cockroft, Churton, Chalk and Turnbull each taking a couple of wickets. A quick victory for the Frogs was completed as Hurlingham finished with a weak 115.

Frogs:  T Pascal, T O’Leary, P Wollocombe, T Cockroft, D Fischel, J Hancock (cand), R Chalk, C Griffith-Jones (c), A Jones, J Turnbull, D Churton (cand).

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Frogs vs Limpsfield CC

Venue: Limpsfield CC

Date: 21st May

Result: Frogs win by 62 runs.

Frogs               260-4 dec        (Pascal 125, Wollocombe 84))

Limpsfield       198                 (Rayner 3 for 23)

A fine Frogs partnership of 185 dominated the game from the outset and set up an exciting finish as the Frogs bowled our Limpsfield with only 8 balls left on a lovely May day. Pascal led the was with a thrilling century and was well backed up by the solid straight hitting of Wollocombe who later also performed tidily behind the stumps.

With 260 on the board at half-time we could afford to attack with the ball but it took a couple of well taken catches from the by no almost swaggering Pascal to dent any hopes of victory for the home side. Pank Shah again used his trademark dot ball to good effect with a tidy spell from the awkward pavilion end. But it was Mitcham’s Nick Rayner who salvaged the game for the Frogs when it looked like petering out into a tame draw. After carefully setting his radar in the penultimate over of the day Nick uprooted the last man’s middle peg in grand style to give the Frogs a deserved victory by 62 runs.

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Frogs vs Harrow Wanderers

Venue: Ascott Park

Date: 28th May

Result: Lost

No report received.

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Frogs vs Grasshoppers

Venue: St Georges College, Weybridge.

Date: 29th May

Result: Lost

No report received.

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Frogs vs Old Wellingtonians

Venue: Wellington College

Date: 11th June

Result: Lost by 2 wickets.

Frogs                      200-8 dec (Chapman 73)

Old Wellingtonians 202-8      (Leaver 5 for 64)

Injury and last minute non-availability due to England’s World Cup rugby union semi-final against Australia meant that the Frogs side which arrived at a drizzly Wellington contained a number of unknown factors. The Frogs duly won the toss and were able to watch the rugby whilst Chapman, aided by useful contributions from Richardson and Leman, slowly compiled the runs. With hindsight, Frogs’ early declaration when the heavens opened and it seemed that the OW’s batting time would be cut short, was generous. The shower quickly passed and the OW’s set about chasing the runs fairly quickly. It took a fine and lengthy spell of bowling from Ricky Leaver, who ended up with five wickets, to halt the flow, and had it not been for some crashing blows from the OW bottom order when their team was staring defect in the face at 182 for 8, victory might have been ours.

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Frogs vs Fernden

Venue: Charterhouse

Date: 18th June

Result: Won by 60 runs.

One of the first fine days of summer produced a disappointing match. A good crowd, the usual fine array of picnics but alas a very poor effort by Fernden to field a side. We had to lend ten two players just to allow the game to proceed.

After a wicket had fallen to the first ball of the match, order was restored by Bray batting sedately and Patel in frisky form, after being freed from the rigours of the exam room. There followed a delightful exhibition of forceful strokeplay by John Lee, an Australian playing with Chris Westbrook’s Trojans. This innings set up a declaration at half-time.

Fernden got away to a reasonable start thanks to Ashwani Mathur and M Dunn but a hostile spell from Lee and good bowling from Turnbull, Marshall and Westbrook broke the back of the none too lengthy Fernden batting. Only a hard it 58 from Richard Wells made the final score remotely respectable.

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Frogs vs Beaconsfield CC

Venue: Beaconsfield

Date: 2nd July

Result: Frogs win by 7 wickets.

Beaconsfield   183      (Chew 4 for 34, Cook 4 for 39, Turnbull 2 for 47)

Frogs               185-3   (Cook 60*, Bray 56*, Thomas 48)

This turned out to be a most surprising day. First of all we lost the toss and fielded on a hot but increasingly sultry day. By half past twelve with the score at 105 for nought it looked like the game at Chesham all over again. The Frogs’ battery of seam bowlers were being dispatched to all parts of the ground by the Beaconsfield no 2, including the ultimate indignity, a late inswinger from Turnbull being struck over long-on for six.

He had made 76 in just on an hour when the Match Manager turned in desperation to the slow bowling of Rob Cook. His second ball lured him into a wild heave and he was duly stumped by Morphet, our South African candidate. We took three more wickets before lunch which reduced the score to a more respectable 150 for 4.

After lunch the Frogs put in an excellent bowling and fielding performance. All the catches were held and Chew and Cook took the remaining five wickets for 30 runs. After conceding 24 in his first three overs Chew’s figures read : 5-1-10-4.

Frogs were left to make 184 to win with plenty of time to get them. But there were more surprises in store. Pascal, who explained his dropped catch in the field as being due to defective contact lenses, proceeded to duck under a slow full toss which hit the top of his leg stump. He departed glaring at bowler and umpire and alleging an illegal delivery. Morphet soon followed and the score was a sickly 17 for 2. Bray and Thomas them put on fifty together in good time and at tea Frogs looked well, placed. Then came the next surprise. The weather suddenly changed and it began to rain heavily for the next hour. It looked as though the match was over, but at 6 o’clock the rain relented and it was agreed to resume with the frogs needing 115 from 20 overs. How many times have we collapsed in such a situation! But no, with Bray holding up one end (if not his balance), Thomas and Cook struck some glorious blows and the match ended in a flurry of fours and sixes.

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Frogs vs Oatlands Park CC

Venue: Oatlands Park

Date: 9th July

Result: Frogs win by 122 runs.

Frogs               267-3 dec        (Fitzpatrick 117*, Wollocombe 37, Pascal 33)

Oatlands Park  145                 (Goddard 34, Mathur 33, Patient 3 for 52)

Again I have to report a disappointing match on another glorious day. Once again our opponents failed to raise a proper side and we had to lend them a player just to bring their numbers up to 8.

The Frogs had a setback at the start losing a wicket to the wily Croom-Johnson but then Damien Fitzpatrick played a commanding innings against a less than penetrative attack. Pascal and Wollocombe gave him admirable support, as did Richard Chalk at the end of the innings.

After losing an early wicket Oatlands prospered until tea with Mathur, our man on loan, scoring a brisk 33. Then Dave Patient broke through twice and our spinners Wollocombe and Patel turned the screw to bring an early finish. Enjoying our drinks on the grass on a golden evening nevertheless drew a few regrets that the game had not provided a finish to match the day.

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Frogs vs Old Cranleighans

Venue: Cranleigh School

Date: 14th July

Result: Frogs lose by 1 wicket.

Frogs                   222-9 dec    (Walsh 51*, Cullinan 46, Whitmore 42, Isaacs 4 for 58)

Old Cranleighans 223-9          (Johnson 50, Whitmore 4 for 69, Morris 3 for 41)

Inserted on a pitch of which only seasoned Oatlands Park members had seen the like, a powerful Frogs batting line-up was soon in trouble. Indeed, this wicket “popped” more than a room of warm champagne bottles. It was only a cultured innings of soft hands and considerable patience from Cullinan that kept the score tricking over, and when he fell it seemed all was lost. Enter the admirable Steve “Walshy” Walsh to add a typically doughty unbeaten half-century. With some lusty blows from the captain Frogs were in the unlikely position of being able to declare on 222-9 at half-time.

The Old Cranleighans were out of the blocks at a cracking pace, posting 74 for one at tea. However, some cunning bowling from Morris, doughty overs from the admirable (again) Walshy and expensive wickets from the captain reduced the O.C.’s to 214 for 9 with two overs left. We ten managed to drop a very catchable chance (he will remain nameless) and the oppositions squeezed home I the last over. An excellent game, played in glorious weather and good spirits.

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Frogs vs Hampshire Hogs

Venue: Warnford

Date: 16th July

Result: Frogs win.

No report received.

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Frogs vs Falkland CC

Venue: Falkland

Date: 21st July

Result: Frogs win by 5 wickets.

Falkland                      162      (Peerless 5 for 30)

Old Cranleighans        223-9   (Lewis 54, Perei 40*)

The Frogs recorded another comfortable win in the traditional Friday afternoon game at Falkland. After early breakthroughs by openers Morris and Jones the unexpected star of the Frogs’ bowling proved to be first change Peerless. Twelve overs of steady and accurate medium pace yielded 5 for 30, removing Falkland nos. 3 to 7 in the process. In perfect batting conditions the Falkland total of 162 all out seemed well within the Frogs’ reach, and so it proved.

Opener Lewis (54) set the tone with a six off his first ball and put on 81 for the first wicket with Pascal (20). The loss of quick wickets caused a slight concern before Perei (40*) and Thomas (12*) saw the Frogs home comfortably.

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Frogs vs Stowe Templars

Venue: Stowe School

Date: 23rd July

Result: Match drawn with scores level.

Disappointingly, no report received.

Stowe Templars  227              (Rayner 5-27)

Frogs                   227-8           (Parrish 77)

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Frogs vs Amersham CC

Venue: Shardeloes

Date: 16th July

Result: Match Drawn

Amersham       255-6 dec        (Baker 102, Bridle 58*, P Leaver 3 for 50)

Frogs               231-9               (Thomas 52*, Cook 44, Boddington 43, Pascal 35)

Frogs were invited to field and made useful inroads with Peter Leaver reducing the home side to 25 for 3. That was unfortunately the high point of the day as Amersham then progressed to 255 for 6 helped by some miserable fielding from the Frogs. In response Pascal and Boddington added 34 quick runs but once they departed we were always behind the rate. This was despite the hard hitting of Rob Cook and Duncan Thomas who batted admirable whilst the rest tried to engineer defeat.

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Frogs vs Ashtead CC

Venue: Ashtead

Date: 7th August

Result: Frogs lose by 2 wickets.

Frogs               237-9 dec        (Bray 54, Leman 44, Patient 30*)

Ashstead         241-8               (L Turner 3 for 75, Leaver 2-65)

The question is : will the Frogs ever have an undefeated season while I run the match at Ashstead? A record of played five lost five is inauspicious enough. This season it was added to by high drama involving the batting (yes ….. batting) of David Patient.

“Raw Pace” is not a nickname that falls comfortably on David’s shoulders - but, perhaps “Raw Power” is. David strode to the wicket (last man in) with the Frogs struggling on 179 on an easy batting track with a lightening outfield. Although each of the frontline batsmen (apart from Sheik Pascal) had made starts, none, apart from Richard Bray who made a patient 54, ,could capitalise as a succession of wayward shots led to unworthy downfalls. After Ricky Leaver fell to his thirteenth ball of the season (five times out!), Tom Leman was joined by his fellow lawyer (at a small firm in the City), Patient.

“Raw Power” immediately took control with a flourish of boundaries but, the coup de grâce was a flat-batted six off their opening bowler that broke the quarter light of an unfortunate Bowls Member’s car. Patient went on to a career best 30 not out and shared a final wicket partnership of 54 with Leman, who himself made a solid 44.

Patient, again, and Lloyd Turner bowled tight opening spells but Ashstead profited from the fact that although only three of their batsmen made double figures, each reached at least 60. Ricky Leaver bowled a largely unrewarded spell and with Turner, in the last 20 overs, put Ashstead under some pressure, However, again, it was not to be.

The day’s entertainment did not finish there. Whilst we were enjoying a drink in the bar, the unfortunate Bowls Member came in to inquire about the damage to his vehicle and the ques6tion of compensation. Judge Bray as in his element : “Miller v Bolton, my old chap, “non claimus qui accidentalis hittis par crapus batti Patienti”. He even offered to arbitrate (for a fee). We left the Bowls Member to sort out any question of compensation with Ashstead, but he was last seen wandering away, shaking his head and muttering “I wouldn’t have minded if it had been Lara, Gower or Botham …. But Patient!”.

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Frogs vs Wimbledon CC

Venue: Wimbledon

Date: 13th August

Result: Frogs lose by 3 wickets.

Frogs                256                 (Jenkins 113)

Wimbledon     257-7 

A youthful Frogs side put in a respectable performance and Wimbledon had to fight hard for their win. A dazzling 113 from Julian Jenkins, occasionally playing the hook, was the anchor. Helped by a roaring twenty start from Patel with five fours, the only other middle order batsman to assist was Mathur with a swashbuckling 27 with five fours and a six. Frogs were still looking a little suspect when a tenth wicket stand of 60 from Rayner (29) and Challis (26) restored Frogs’ pride a provided a defendable total. Although we looked doomed when Wimbledon’s first wicket fell at 125 but managed to claw our way back until the closing stages. McLachlan and Rayner bowled with fire and economy, key wickets fell and Morphet had a other good game behind the stumps. All in al a performance to please the Frogs and give Wimbledon no cause for complaint.

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Frogs vs Adastrians

Venue: Vine Lane

Date: 20th August

Result: Match drawn.

Adastrians        280-5 dec       (Doherty 104)

Frogs               186-2              (Saunders 92, Prain 62)

For the second year in succession the RAF won the toss on a baking hot day and without hesitation elected to bat. As the pitch offered only a few blades of grass at the Pavilion End, we were condemned to another long day in the field. Anything slightly off line was punished severely until Marshall produced a vicious lifting delivery, which the opener tried to hook but only succeeded in smashing into his face with a sickening crunch, causing him to stagger towards the Pavilion clutching a blood-soaked towel. The wily Shah immediately replaced Marshall to raised eyebrows from the by now blood-thirsty Frogs and the run-rate slower almost to a crawl to the sound of fizzing non-turning dot balls.

150 for one at lunch became 280 for 5 declared after 61 overs - with a chanceless ton from their No. 3 - during which Marshall, OCJ and Shah bore the brunt of the work-load, supported by Ashwani’s promising spell of leggies and the occasional googly. Match Managers take note, Nigel Grice kept wicket tidily - he of the last ball throw at the stumps at Stowe ….

Our response started unfortunately when Boddington found himself the hapless victim of a leg-side stumping off the keeper’s pads. However, Saunders - reveling in the opportunity to open the innings - composed himself admirably and settled down to the job of winning us the game. With the help of a blistering, but all too brief, innings from Rambler Julian Jenkins and a roll-back-the-years half-century from the President, Mark took us to within striking range of the RAF total.

As it was, we sadly lost out way when Saunders was out for a fine 92 - followed quickly by the President for 62 - and the middle order then buckled in the face of tight home bowling, leaving the tail to hang on at the close to save the game. Nevertheless, everyone agreed the £7.50 was excellent value for money!

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The Western Tour 1995

Frogs vs Gents of Worcester

Venue: Malvern College

Date: 27th August

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs                           280-5 dec        (Chapman 106, Martin 84, Norman 46)

Gents of Worcs           168-8               (Patel 4 for 34)

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Frogs vs North Devon CC

Venue: Instow

Date: 28th August

Result: Frogs win by 70 runs.

Frogs                           205-9 dec        (Prain 59*)

North Devon               147                  (Lawrence 3 for 26)

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Frogs vs Devon Dumplings

Venue: Knightsheyes

Date: 29th August

Result: Frogs win by 57 runs.

Frogs                           262-7 dec        (Slattery 86, McLachlan 75)

Devon Dumplings       205                  (Slattery 2 for 12)

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Frogs vs Somerset Stragglers

Venue: Taunton Deane CC

Date: 30th August

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs                           240-8 dec        (McLachlan 100*, Slattery 45)

Somerset Stragglers    209-9               (Williams 6 for 55)

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Frogs vs Gloucester Gypsies

Venue: Stroud

Date: 31st August

Result: Frogs win by 6 wickets.

Gloucester Gypsies     198                 

Frogs                           199-4               (Williams 101*)

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Frogs vs Wiltshire Queries

Venue: Tidworth

Date: 1st August

Result: Frogs win by 10 wickets.

Wiltshire Queries        171                 

Frogs                           172-0               (Williams 109*, Garraway 45*)

Frogs won the toll and batted on a warm but overcast day at Malvern. A rapid second-wicket partnership of 130 between Chapman (106) and sporting pre-nuptial Martin (84) set Frogs on their way to a strong total. Wickets fell steadily in the Gents reply and they were never in the hunt although the seamers got little help from a dead track. Even a four wicket haul from Patel’s floaters was not enough to finish them off.

Having driven to Devon straight after the Malvern game a sense of being on tour really descended the next day at Instow. Frogs played with ten men, the scoresheet noting that “K Rodger” was in a state of being “unarrived”. Perhaps it is the holiday spirit in this heartland of itinerant Froggy cricket which often leads able players to perform moderately (five out in the twenties), and it took a fine half-century from the resident to post a decent total. N Devon made a good start as they often can and Frogs fielding became so ragged that the skipper’s grip on his temper and strategy could also be said to be “unarrived”. When it did arrive and everyone else shook off their reverie Frogs won very comfortably.

At Knightshayes on Tuesday, Frogs won the toss and started badly (40-4 and 87-5) before a delightful partnership between Slattery (86) and McLachlan (75) hauled us towards the right kind of total off 50.2 overs. Frogs then bowled and fielded quite tightly ensuring a steady fall of wickets shared between most of the bowlers. Slattery being particularly tight and influential in building up pressure . The victory by 57 runs was well deserved.

On Wednesday at Taunton Deane we enjoyed on of the best tour matches in years. The skipper won the toss again and, remarkably for those who toured in the late eighties and early nineties, elected to bat for the fourth time in a row, a decision that nearly backfired disastrously. Frogs were 0-2 and 9-4 before calm was restored by Slattery (45) and another wise innings from Prain (32). McLachlan (100*) then completed a frisky hundred to take us to what appeared to be a secure total. However, the Stragglers raced away at the start of their innings, primarily through the aggressive Selway who seemed to think that balls (pies!) delivered by Passenger were best used on the neighbouring tennis courts. On 108 the first man was run out by a brilliant piece of fielding by Slattery. The introduction of Williams’ leg-spin (6-65) soon had Selway and the middle-order in a pickle and at 164-8 it looked as if the Frogs would win. A fine match had yet another turn however as Stragglers captain Mustafa Shaikh, batting lower than his true position, held out for a most enjoyable draw.

That night a fine sing-song accompanied on piano by both Greg Williams and O C-J, set us up for the journey north the next morning to Stroud, a new venue for the Gypsies fixture.

Gypsies chose to bat and fell away in the face of persistent bowling and good fielding, including a blinding one-handed catch by passenger to dismiss the Glamorgan player Clitheroe. Frogs cruised to their target off 30.3 overs mainly through Williams (101*) who rediscovered his form after two consecutive fourth-ball ducks.

After some amusement in a nightclub in Marlborough under the watchful eye of “Head of Security” Passenger, Frogs rolled up for the final game of the tour at Tidworth. Reinforced by the arrival of Sam Garraway and Lee Savident from Hampshire, Frogs made early inroads into the Queries’ batting. Savident (12.3-5-39-6) bowling two and having four caught behind or at first slip. Queries meagre total was passed with ease as Williams (109* off 95 balls) and Garraway ensured our fourth win of the week in which the weather remained kind and so much good cricket was played. Despite personal problems thrown up by drop-outs and an unprecedented daily need to find last0-minute recruits, performances will stick in the memory, Chapman, McLachlan, Martin, Prain, Slattery, Savident all took honours on particular days but Williams it is who retains the famous yellow jersey.

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Frogs vs Bradfield Waifs

Venue: Oatlands Park

Date: 3rd September

Result: Lost by 8 wickets.

Frogs               182                  (McLachlan 42, Chalk 41 Flint 5 for 43)

Bradfield Waifs 186-2                        (Williams 62*, Cane 60*, Harvey 52)

Poor batting proved the undoing of the Frogs against a keen, young Waifs side. Despite winning the toss and having first use of a placed track, too many  batsmen got starts before giving their wickets away. Richard Chalk and Fergus McLachlan, our Australian import, cracked 40s and looked to be setting the foundation for a big score. However, the slow flight and guile of Flint destroyed a good middle order and restricted us to only 182 all out. In reply, the Waifs showed how to make those pretty 20s into match-winning knocks as Williams, Harvey and Cane all scored half centuries. Good bowling, in particular from Westbrook and O’Gorman, restricted scoring but the Waifs were never under pressure and cruised to an easy victory.

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