Newsletter and Match Reports - 2005

Frogs vs Wimbledon CC

Venue: Church Road

Date: 1st May

Result: Match Cancelled.

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Frogs vs OU Authentics

Venue: Marston

Date: 15th May

Result: Frogs lose.

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Frogs vs Amersham CC

Venue: Shardeloes

Date: 22nd May 

Result: Frogs lose.

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Frogs vs Hampshire Hogs CC

Venue: Warnford

Date: 29th May

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs   216                  (Hazlitt 46)

Hampshire Hogs         (Chetwode 3 for 44)

Going into the game with a formidable batting line up the Frogs came off for lunch at 118 – 7! This followed an encouraging opening stand of 46 between Forward & Walker and included a swashbuckling 46 from Hazlitt. Fortunately the experienced Frogs tail, made up of Chetwode, Twiston-Davies, Norman and Rodger, partook of a “wholesome” lunch before wagging! Chetwode (21), Twiston-Davies (30), Norman (19) & Rodger (17 n.o.) took the total to something approaching respectability. The sight of Keith charging down the wicket and smacking the Hogs opening bowler back over his head was worth the match fee on its own…

Whist the Hogs made steady progress towards their victory target of 217, they also lost wickets. A marathon 18 overs off the now famed shorten Chetwode run-up accounting for 3 key Hogs wickets. Entering the final 20 over the equation was nicely balanced; 100 runs needed, 5 wickets remaining. Despite further wickets from Westbrook, Hazlitt, Twiston-Davies (to a leg side trap) & Eysele the Hogs managed to hang on for the Draw, 17 runs short with one wicket left. Cricket was the winner!

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Frogs vs Grasshoppers

Venue: St Georges College, Weybridge.

Date: 30th May

Result: Match Cancelled.

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Frogs vs Chesham CC

Venue: The Meadow

Date: 5th June

Result: Lost by 5 wickets.

Frogs               138                 

Chesham         142-5               (Walsh 3 for 40)

The Frogs won the toss and felt obliged to bat on a predictably damp, slow and green wicket. We might have chosen to bowl first but one of our principal strike bowlers was missing. It turned out that his car, apparently an elderly wagon, had broken down irretrievably on the M25, from whence it was towed to Windsor leaving him without means of transporting himself to Chesham.

Our innings began brightly with a brisk opening partnership of 50 but a collapse tore out our middle order. Apart from a spirited innings from James Milner, no-one else showed to good effect and our total of 138 looked inadequate.

However, very good bowling by Duncan Ward (six maidens in his first eight overs) and Steve Walsh (the first three wickets) found Chesham struggling on 26-3; but a steadying partnership followed by a swashbuckling innings from the accomplished Steve Ayres ( 55 with 5 sixes and 4 fours) took Chesham to an eventual comfortable win.

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Frogs vs St Georges XI

Venue: St Georges College, Weybridge.

Date: 19th June

Result: Lost by 4 wickets.

Frogs                           142 .               

St Georges College     143-6  

A below-par match for Captain Rob Warburton on his debut as skipper.   Losing the game, failing to get 11 together and then losing the scorecard, these are the sorts of people the Frogs are managing to recruit.

Rob did manage to win the toss on a boiling hot day and duly had a bat much to the delight of all.  In particular Mike Chetwode who could receive the ODI updates from his daughters (told to sit in front of the match all day) every 5 minutes on his mobile.  Abeed Janmohamed, in some of the worst form of his life, didn’t disappoint and was caught down the leg side 1^st ball of the game.  Unfortunately despite one reasonable partnership we lost wickets at regular intervals before and after lunch … (can you tell I lost the scorecard yet?!).  We succumbed soon after the interval to the sprightly youngsters.  All out for 142.

On a lightening outfield and with a man short we were always going to struggle.  However we managed to take a few with us and stretch the game out long enough to enjoy a fine tea.  Shortly after common sense prevailed and with the ODI moving towards an exciting close the St George’s master in charge came in to hit the winning runs so we could all retire to the pub and watch KP do the rest

Notable performance:  Kevin Pietersen smashing the Australians around Bristol to win the ODI whilst we watched it in the pub.

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Frogs vs Old Cranleighans CC

Venue: Cranleigh School

Date: 26th June

Result: Lost by 54 runs.

Old Cranleighans  240-9 dec  (Chetwode 4 for 99, Ward 3 for 44)

Frogs                   177              (Norman 44, Darbyshire 42)

Old Cranleighans won the toss and decided to bat on a very good track.  They started confidently and scored depressingly easily off the first few overs.  Frogs heads dipped when Darbyshire dropped Copleston (E) at slip off Chetwode but fortunately the umpire took pity on us and gave him out LBW off the next ball.  49 for 1 quickly turned into 57 for 3 as Chetwode and Ward got into the groove, the scoring slowed and at lunch OCs were 89 for 4.

After lunch, OCs tried to increase the tempo but struggled.  Janmohammed (still suffering the psychological effects of last year’s dismissal by Rodger) was superbly caught and bowled by Chetwode and at 143 for 6 the Frogs were still in the driving seat.  Unfortunately Houston, coming in at 7, batted very well indeed for 75.  He put on 79 for the 7th wicket with Watkinson and OCs eventually declared at 240 after 60 overs.  Chetwode bowled unchanged and he was very unlucky not to take more wickets in his 30 overs.

When Frogs batted a wicket seemed to fall every time the batsmen were starting to get on top.  While Darbyshire (who played as calmly as ever for his 42) and Ward were together, batting looked easy and OCs attack toothless.  Ward looked like he was firmly in the groove when he was caught off Janmohammed.  Sadly, 125 for 3 quickly turned into 153 for 8 and 177 all out after the Frogs fragile middle order fell apart.

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Frogs vs Privateers CC

Venue: Haileybury College

Date: 3rd July

Result: Match Cancelled.

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Frogs vs Old Wellingtonians CC

Venue: Wellington College

Date: 10th July

Result: Lost by 8 wickets.

Frogs                           227 – 9  dec    (Mason 56; Norman 35; Rolland 30)

Old Wellingtonians     228 – 2

A resounding and humiliating defeat.

Frogs batted first, and compiled a creditable total, albeit one that took 65 overs. Mason, Rolland and Norman all batted doggedly.

Our bowling appeared respectable on paper but proved threadbare in practice, and was thrashed everywhere. The hosts won with 14 overs of the last 20 remaining.

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Frogs vs Stowe Templars CC

Venue: Stowe School

Date: 17th July

Result: Frogs lose by 144 runs.

Stowe Templars           273-9 dec        (Hind 3 for 78)

Frogs                           134                  (Phillips 41)

After the customary round of highly plausible late withdrawals, and having scoured the pubs, clubs, and nether reaches of the Rutland League Div 3 for warm cricketing bodies, the Frogs arrived 10 strong, to face a similarly depleted Templars side. It was a glorious day, and played out in front of an immaculately restored Stowe. Our opponents chose to bat, and plundered what proved to be a gutsy but underpowered Frogs attack. Candidate Jo Hind bowled doggedly through some heavy stick to finish with 3 for 78, and both Steve Walsh and Richard Phillips strove hard for their two wickets apiece. We didn't field sloppily, Michael Sheridan was unobtrusive and neat with the gloves, and Ed Bray made a superb run-out, but we failed to apply much pressure, and the youthful Templars (we gave an average of about 12 years per player) were eventually dismissed for 273 off 43 overs.

Our reply began in quite bizarre fashion - the first over yielded 16 wides - and a stumping, pulled off by a very tidy, if bubble-gum popping, keeper, standing up to a wild quickie.....Thereafter, rather akin to our bowling, the batting was willing, but the flesh was weak, and despite some heartening strokes from Richard Phillips (41) and Steve Walsh (28), we subsided to 134 all out soon after 6 o'clock. So the Templars had their revenge for the 2003 Centenary season show-stopper in which we had successfully chased down a target of 284, having been 60 for 6. Next year the tables will turn - the skipper has returned from the languid warmth of Rome to work in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, there, close by, to punish his body into lean fighting form in the Chester-le-Street nets.....bring them on!

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Frogs vs Hurlingham

Venue: Hurlingham

Date: 23rd July

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs                           294-4  dec       (Rankine 111, Mason 98)

Hurlingham                 210-8               (Marshall 5 for 67; Rodger 3 for 44)

A very strong Frogs performance, and a significant improvement on the previous year’s shambles.

Batting first, Mason and Baker got us off to a flying start before Baker was caught for 29. Mason and Rankine (making a rare Frogs appearance on a trip to London from the Iberian Peninsula – the writer cannot remember which country) then clobbered the hosts all over their small but perfectly formed ground. Only 48 overs were required for us to arrive just shy of 300. Rankine’s 111 was top-notch, and Mason’s 98 not far behind.

Walsh and Marshall bowled almost as effectively as their illustrious Caribbean namesakes, with the former unlucky not to take wickets. Marshall’s 5 – 67 reflected some really good wicket-taking balls. The Match Manager hoovered up a couple of wickets almost as enthusiastically as he had previously hoovered up the tea and cakes.

At 117 – 7, Frogs were odds-on favourites, but the home captain dug in and put on 76 with the number 9. When this partnership was eventually broken, insufficient overs remained for us to finish the job, despite the best efforts of Walsh and the Match Manager, who resorted to bowling the last over of the day left-handed on the theory that his opposite number might get himself out laughing…but it was not to be, and the game was drawn.

An excellent day out. My thanks to all who played.

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Frogs vs Mitcham CC

Venue: Mitcham Green

Date: 4th August

Result: Match Drawn

Mitcham                      168

Frogs                           165-8              

In contrast to the previous year’s downpour, bright sunshine greeted the Frogs as they assembled at Mitcham’s historic Green.  A negotiated toss led to an apparently bowling- light Frogs taking the field. Strike bowlers Sergeant and Walsh both bowled tight spells of contrasting fortunes. Sergeant struck regularly to pick up 3-22, whilst Steve Walsh bowled possibly the unluckiest spell of his life frequently beating the bat, but with 3 dropped catches and off stump uprooted from a no ball amongst the misfortunes in his wicket-less 17 overs. The back up bowling, whilst initially stunned to be thrown the ball, had more luck, Marc Williams removing the dogged opener in his first over – what Steve muttered at fine leg is unrepeatable! Simon Leather’s first Frogs spell was treated with (too much?) respect by his normal club mates and his flight and guile meant he finished with remarkable figures of 3-15, whilst with further help from the skipper who had a total of 5 victims behind the stumps, Marc ended with 3-21.

The relatively youthful Frogs line-up set about chasing a very gettable 169 to win in around 40 overs. The innings didn’t quite go to plan and at 21-4 with 12 overs gone it was left to Howard (38) and the President (30) to get us back on track with a fine stand of 50.  Quick cameos of twenties from Kazim and Walsh left Sergeant and Marc Williams to get 40 off the last 5 overs; inventive shot making and cheeky scampering between wickets wasn’t enough though and 16 off the final over seemed unreachable. A couple of boundaries and the game was back on; for the second day running the locals were treated to a game with all 3 results possible with two balls remaining, but Sergeant was unable to compete the comeback with the boundary required off the last ball to win.

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Frogs vs Adastrians

Venue: Vine Lane

Date: 14th August

Result: Match Drawn.

Frogs               267-7 dec        (Williams 80, Phillips 77, Pargeter 62)

Adastrians       129-9               (Ward 3 for 17, Lester 3 for 55)

Another warm sunny morning at Vine Lane and the usual pattern of events. The Frogs win the toss, bat, score freely, hit up a big score, declare after 45 overs, make deep inroads into the Adastrians’ batting but lack a good spinner to bowl out the tail while one batsman digs in effectively to thwart us at one end. However, both sides’ chances of obtaining a positive result were spoilt by the loss of more than half an hour through rain after the Adastrians started their innings.

A fine second wicket partnership between Richard Phillips and Marc Williams of over 100 set the Frogs on their way and then Shane Pargeter hammered 11 fours and 2 sixes in a brutal assault on the tiring bowlers in half an hour’s rich entertainment.

Our innings had lost some time to rain and the further loss of time when Adastrians batted and their loss of early wickets gave then little chance of winning. The Frogs had to bowl them out which once again in this fixture we were unable to do. Duncan Ward and Chris Lester bowled well for us and Abeed picked up two wickets but the Adastrians hung on with 9 men out and one batsman resisting well on 60 not out.

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Frogs vs Guards

Venue: Burton Court

Date: 21st August

Result: Frogs win by 38 runs.

Frogs               254-4 dec        (Janmohammed 67*, Phillips 43, Chalk 41*,Mason 39)

Guards            216                  (Marshall 4 for 55, Chetwode 4 for 85)

A beautifully sunny day in the middle of a week of appalling weather provided the window of opportunity for the Frogs first win of the summer.

The Frogs won the toss and batted. Angus Kirk (on his debut for the Frogs) and Paul Dolman played fluently and put on 35 for the first wicket. The first wicket fell when Dolman, who had looked very comfortable, unfortunately top-edged an attempted pull. Kirk then unfurled two purring cover drives, before falling LBW to the first questionable decision of the day. James Mason and Richard Phillips then saw the Frogs through to the lunch break.

After an exceptionally good lunch, Mason and Phillips quickly accelerated the scoring-rate before Mason was given out to another debatable lbw with the score at 123. Phillips was bowled, playing on, with the score at 175 but after that, Abeed Janmohammed and Richard Chalk hammered the Guards’ bowling to all quarters of the ground in an unbroken 4th wicket stand of 79, which was also notable for Chalk’s booming calling and both batsmen’s good running between the wickets. The stand enabled the Frogs to declare after 47 overs. Abeed finished with 67 off 39 balls and Chalk with 41 off 44 balls.

The Guards’ innings got off to a poor start with Andy Marshall and Mike Chetwode quickly disposing of both openers. The Guards then batted steadily until Andrew Berks (also on his debut for the Frogs) took 2 wickets in 2 balls to leave the home team reeling at 96-5. Winter and Fletcher, for the Guards, then built a stand of 92 (the highest partnership of the day) that threatened to take the game away from the Frogs. Winter, in particular, played some crunching strokes down the ground. But eventually Marshall (in his second spell) broke through with 2 wickets with the score on 188. After that, none of their tail-enders had either the ability or application to stay with Winter - who was left not out on 108. The Frogs won by a comfortable 38 runs with just under 3 overs of play left.

The Frogs bowling was outstanding: Chetwode (who bowled unchanged for 25 overs) finished with 4-85, Marshall with 4-55 and Berks with 2-33. Nine out of the ten dismissals were either bowled, caught behind or lbw, and no extras of any kind were conceded. Thanks and congratulations to all the Frogs who played in this game and made it such an excellent and enjoyable day.

Frogs: P Dolman, A Kirk, J Mason, R Phillips (c), A Janmohammed, R Chalk, G Prain, A Berks,I Rolland, M Chetwode, A Marshall. 

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Frogs vs Gents of Worcester

Venue: Malvern College

Date: 28th August

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs                           274-7dec         (Bray 78, Oldroyd 72)

Gents of Worcester     270-8               (Rodger 6 for 51)

With the pitch looking flat and the outfield looking extremely quick, a big score was hoped for and the Frogs batsmen didn’t disappoint. Having won the toss, the touring Frogs started brightly, with the opening partnership recording 50 within 11 overs, however it was the fall of the first wicket and the arrival of Owen Oldroyd to the crease when the fireworks really started. Oldroyd quickly got into his stride, striking the ball cleanly over the bemused bowlers and fielders. At the other end Richard Bray was more than holding his own with some equally impressive blows. The score was looking very good at lunch when the pair returned unbeaten to the pavilion with the score standing at 189-1 off of just 33 overs. After lunch the tourists continued to dispatch the ball to all parts. However Bray departed for 78 before the entertaining Oldroyd went for 72 (off of just 44 balls!). The Frogs tried to push the scoring even more, however wickets tumbled, and despite a nice little cameo from Chalk on his old stomping ground, the Frogs stumbled to 274-7 off of 53 overs, when really a score of around 300 should have been reached after the good work from the top order.

In reply the Gents started brightly, with a second wicket century partnership putting the game nicely balanced. Oldroyd then continued with the ball where he left off with the bat, taking two quick wickets to swing the game back into the tourists’ hands. It was at this point that Keith Rodger returned to the fray, having already dismissed the Gents’ opener, Keith quickly took two wickets and the game was firmly in the Frogs grasp. However, as the Frogs attacked, so the Gents’ number 7 counterattacked, with wickets falling at the other end he steered them to within touching distance of victory. Anxious times for the Frogs, as a tense last hour on the pitch wasn’t helped by ball-by-ball reports on the also tense fourth Ashes test, as England fought their way to a win. The Frogs continued their push for victory despite the off field distraction, with Rodger finally getting his man, tempting their number 7 into a big shot as he was caught in the deep for 50. This left the Frogs three overs to get two wickets, or for the Gents to knock off the runs. In the end the Gents held out/were held for a very entertaining draw in what proved to be a very exciting start to the 2005 Frogs tour.

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Frogs vs Exmouth CC

Venue: Exmouth

Date: 29th August

Result: Frogs win by 6 wickets

Exmouth         173                  (Rodger 5 for 34)

Frogs               176-4               (Loader 77)

The Frogs tour is always the highlight of the season for many reasons, but getting to play at superb venues everyday for a week has to be one of the main attractions. Playing at Exmouth Cricket Club is one of these occasions – with spectators’ cars parked around the boundaries edge and onlookers the more numerous as the day wears on. The scheduled late start also allowed the tourists time in the morning to spend on the beach and enjoy a chance to sample the local ice cream.

The tourists soon had to put the beach behind them however, as soon as the captain won the toss, bowling and fielding heads were straight on, as the Frogs bowling attack soon made inroads into the relatively inexperienced Exmouth batting line up. Keith Rodger showed his experience as he took his second five-wicket haul in two days, capably assisted by Owen Oldroyd who took another two wickets. On a relatively flat pitch the Frogs managed to keep the dangerous Hope off strike and eventually frustrated him into throwing his wicket away. This proved to be the vital wicket, as Exmouth struggled to 173 all out, a score which proved to be around 50 runs short of a competitive total.

Frogs in reply started brightly, with openers Ed Loader and the elevated Simon Leather taking the attack to Exmouth. The opening partnership managed to put on an impressive century stand before Leather was dismissed when he was on 42. This only slowed the Frogs down, and despite losing Loader for 77 and a late couple of wickets making the match seem closer than it actually was, the Frogs romped home with plenty of overs remaining in a fixture that always looked like it would end in a Frogs win.

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Frogs vs Devon Dumplings CC

Venue: Exeter CC

Date: 30th August

Result: Lost by 6 wickets.

Frogs                           165                 

Dumplings                   166-4            

If the Exmouth pitch was a joy to play on with pace and bounce, then the Exeter pitch was the opposite. Over the years the pitch has deteriorated and scores have dropped. With history hinting that it has been better to chase than to set a target it was somewhat of a surprise when the Frogs captain, having won the toss, decided to have a bat on a still relatively damp pitch. The Frogs started brightly, with runs flowing freely, however wickets soon started to fall. It wasn’t until Marc Williams and Simon Leather came together at the crease when the flow of wickets ceased. Williams playing well for his 40 and Leather reaching 30 before they were both dismissed. This left the tail exposed and after briefly wagging the Frogs were all out for an extremely disappointing 165.

With the Frogs bowling attack looking devoid of any real pace, it was always going to be a big ask to bowl the Dumplings out. The Dumplings started well, and it wasn’t until the evergreen Keith Rodger got the ball in his hand that fortune changed for the Frogs. Picking up two wickets in two overs things looked promising for the Frogs as the new found pressure lead to the fall of two more wickets at the other end. Alas, it wasn’t to be for the tourists, as the Dumplings eased home with plenty of time to spare. A disappointing result for the Frogs, in a fixture that over the previous years has been one-way traffic.

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Frogs vs North Devon CC

Venue: Instow

Date: 31st August

Result: Match Drawn

Frogs                           221-3 dec        (Bill 74, Loader 52*)             

North Devon               168-6            

Instow is another of the grounds that the touring Frogs look forward to playing at. The prospect of playing on a picturesque ground with a good playing surface along with a chat with David Shepherd in the afternoon and a leisurely morning due to the late start time, make this fixture one that all Frogs should want to play in.

On the pitch, having won the toss the Frogs decided to try and put the misery of the previous days batting display behind them. With the quick loss of the captain early on things looked like they were continuing from where they left off the previous day, however the arrival of Marc Williams to the crease to join Jamie Bill soon dispelled any doubts though as the pair quickly sent the North Devon bowling attack to the sword - bringing up a century partnership in just the eighteenth over! With the run-rate rocketing, an attempted big shot was always going to find a fielder in the deep and this was the case when Williams holed out in the deep when on 41. With Bill quickly following for an entertaining 74 it seemed that the onslaught would stutter, but the arrival of Ed Loader and John Lawrence to the crease soon put these doubts to rest, as the tempo of the innings increased further until the declaration quickly came with the score standing at 221-3 off of just 35 overs.

After tea the Frogs made the important early breakthrough as Ed Bray dismissed one opener before Keith Rodger dismissed the following three batsmen in double quick time. This proved to be the sign for North Devon to shut up shop and as the Frogs toiled away in the overcast conditions, only two more wickets fell. The game dragged out, as the Frogs couldn’t take the final few wickets and the North Devon batsmen refused to play any shots, with North Devon ending up 53 runs short despite receiving 5 overs more.

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Frogs vs Somerset Stragglers CC

Venue: Taunton

Date: 1st September

Result: Won by 7 wickets.

Stragglers        173                 

Frogs               174-3               (Wright 53)

The Frogs arrived in Taunton full of confidence, recent years have seen the Frogs dominant over the Stragglers, when, for years before it was the Stragglers that used to dominate this fixture. The Frogs arrived with a strong side for the toughest fixture of the tour and soon took the upper hand, despite losing the toss and being asked to field. The pitch looked like a good one to bat on, and later proved to be the case. With this in mind tight bowling was going to be the order of the day for the bowlers. Debutante Rexworthy took the new ball along with Bray, and it wasn’t long before the openers were both dismissed. Rexworthy picked up three victims in his eleven overs of tight bowling. With the shine off of the ball, the spinners then entered the fray. Simon Wright and Tom Green working in tandem, backed up with good fielding soon saw pressure build up on the batsman and wickets steadily fell throughout the innings. Stragglers finally bowled out for 173, with both Wright and Green picking up three wickets each, in what was very good display of bowling and fielding from the Frogs.

The Frogs started brightly in reply, with J. Bill and J. Smith opening the batting and putting on a fine half century stand for the first wicket. This proved to be the foundation that would take the Frogs to a comprehensive victory, Bill ending up one short of his fifty and Smith ending up on 44. S. Wright went in at number three for the Frogs and backed up his three wickets with a fine 53. Unfortunately Simon couldn’t see the Frogs home, as he fell within touching distance of the Stragglers score. This left E. Loader and S. Leather to knock of the runs with plenty of time left.

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Frogs vs Wiltshire Queries

Venue: Tidworth

Date: 2nd September

Result: Won by 25 runs.

Frogs                           125     

Wiltshire Queries        120                  (Chetwode 5 for 26)

History tells us that Frogs always bat first, struggle, before ultimately pulling through with the ball in hand. This was to be no exception.

Having won the toss and deciding to bat, the Frogs struggled throughout their innings on what has become a pretty dead wicket that is devoid of any pace or bounce. Only a few Frogs actually got ‘in’ as scoring proved to be difficult. The two Eds were the ‘pick’ of the Frogs batsmen with Ed Bray top scoring with 28 and Ed Loader reaching 20. Chris Westbrook (15) came in at the fall of the eighth wicket and, for what seems like the umpteenth year in succession managed to take the Frogs to a competitive score of 125.

In reply the Queries started poorly and never looked comfortable against the swing and shrewdness of Chetwode’s bowling. Mixing away swingers and in-duckers he had the Queries batsmen playing and missing on numerous occasions. With the Queries inching their way towards the target and wickets falling regularly it was looking like a tense finish and so it proved. With the Queries last wicket partnership needing to put on 12 for victory every ball was vital. In the end it was Chetwode who ended it, gaining the edge of the bat, and Westbrook taking a fine catch in gully to seal the win for the Frogs. Chetwode finished the match with the fine figures of 5-26 off just over 16 overs. Keith Roger also bowled well, picking up another three wickets in what was another fruitful tour for him.

So another Frogs tour comes to an end, with two wins, two draws and a loss against their name. Hopefully next year will be even better, and have more Frogs available to tour what are some of the best grounds in their respective counties.

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Frogs vs Hampstead CC

Venue: Lymington Road

Date: 4th September

Result: Lost by 3 wickets.

Frogs               270-6 dec        (Mason 146, Trevor 69)

Hampstead      271-7               (Roger 4 for 86)

Summary: A thrilling game that the Frogs controlled from the outset and expected to win; but a match winning performance from Buttleman secured a memorable victory for Hampstead on the second-last ball of the day.

Mason and Trevor opened for the Frogs.  Wasim Khan, who had picked up James the previous year opened superbly for Hampstead, conceding only one run from his first five overs.  But Mason was in magnificent form and gradually established his authority.  He took full toll of the occasional loose delivery, hitting six fours in his first 25 runs.  Trevor provided ideal support, also punishing anything loose and working the singles to keep the scoreboard attendants on their toes and in buoyant mood.  Buttleman tried Obumanu, Shama, Berks and Chapman, all to no avail.

The partnership passed 100 and the runs kept coming at an ever-increasing pace.  Eventually the sixth, and most successful, bowler Denslow, removed Trevor for 69, bringing the opening stand to a close just four short of 200.  Doyle and Jones kept up the momentum with double-figure contributions.  Mason’s majestic innings finally came to an end at 146 when Denslow had him stumped.  The Frogs declared on 270 for 6 after 52 overs.  The track was flat but the team was bristling with bowlers.

Porter (40) and Chapman (30) opened for Hampstead.  Marshall and Sergeant bowled tightly without success as did Trevor and Walsh.  The Frogs eventually broke through with the introduction of Rodger, who had both openers caught.  In the first 25 overs the Frogs had conceded 92 runs.  In the remaining 24 Hampstead would need 178 to win.  Rodger was on song and number 3 Smith (27) and number 5 Griffin (4) went the same way as the openers.  When number 4 Carter (43) was run out, the top five batsmen were gone and the Frogs felt the game was theirs for the taking.

But Hampstead captain Buttleman, who joined Sharma, had other plans.  He set about establishing a base that would enable Hampstead to launch a final attack.  When Trevor bowled Sharma (29) the Frogs were once again convinced that the task was now beyond the opposition, but Wasim Khan provided valuable support to his determined captain.  In the fading light Hampstead need 41 off the final four overs.  Buttleman kept his cool, successfully selecting at least two balls an over to launch into. 

The Frogs, needing one tight over, were unable to maintain pressure in the field despite the run out of Khan (15).  At the beginning of the final over Hampstead needed 11 to win.  Buttleman relieved the pressure for Hampstead by hitting the first ball for 6.  He followed up with a boundary from the third ball and a single from the fifth to finish triumphant on 61 not out leading Hampstead to victory with one ball to spare.  The Frogs were downcast having lost a game that they had expected to win, however, Buttleman’s match winning performance was graciously acknowledged over a pint.  Over the winter months we would remember our opening stand of 196 and reflect on how we could improve in the field.  The Frogs drew some comfort from the thought that Buttleman’s innings would inspire his young team and that such a thrilling match would bode well for the continuance of this fixture. 

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Frogs vs Ashtead CC

Venue: Ashtead

Date: 11th September

Result: Lost by 7 wickets.

Frogs               160     

Ashtead           163-7

A disappointing end to the captain's long unbroken run of victories was posted at Ashtead in a late season set back for the club. We started brightly enough, thumping the first four balls of our innings for boundaries but were then unable to capitalise on our flying start. Rawlinson, Walsh and Williams all made starts but weren't able to go on and convert into big scores. At the other end, wickets fell steadily and it was only a late flourish from Keith Rodger and Andrew Marshall that gave us the minimum of a respectable score.

In the field, the captain can only take personal responsibility for a shambolic handling of the bowling attack. The skipper was dismayed to discover that his opening bowler had converted into a spinner since last playing together (not that Keith Rodger showed any change in pace....). He then persevered with the "broken down old trundlers" before discovering James Ellis lurking in the covers who then promptly took a wicket when the game was already on the point of being lost.

In fairness, we never made enough runs and at least we got a game which is more than can be said of last year. Next time we shall do better.

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Frogs vs Cross Arrows

Venue: Lords

Date: 19th September.

Result: Won.

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