Reports & Scorecards 2015
Frogs vs Cross Arrrows CC
Venue: Nursery Ground, Lord's
Date: 28 September 2015
Result: Match Won
Cross Arrows 227-8 (45 overs) - O'Gorman 3-29.
Frogs 230-2 (35 overs). - C Carson 93*, Williams 71*
Reporting: Marc Williams
On a glorious late September morning the Frogs took the field having won the toss and inserted the Cross Arrows on a used pitch that still had a green tinge to it. It wasn't long before Walsh had the first Cross Arrow wicket - trapping Smith in front with a full ball that just moved with the seam. With Walsh bowling tightly and Wright looking dangerous at the other end with swing and seam movement it was only a matter of time before another wicket fell - indeed it should have come much earlier than it did when Wright caught the outside edge of James - only for it to be put down at second slip by Williams. Carson replaced the luckless Wright and the senior pro Andy Marshall replaced Walsh, both stemmed the runs and kept things tight before A. Marshall eventually bowled the earlier free-scoring James. Carson then got in on the act - bowling a tight line he dismissed Stewart and then Furner in quick succession both to good catches by the impressive McCarthy standing up. Spinners O. Marshall and O'Gorman then came on and instantly started hitting a good line and length (something that O'Gorman had previously struggled with throughout this season!) - there's something about playing at Lords that brings the best out of O'Gorman, two years previously he picked up four wickets and on this occasion he picked up three wickets. With the Cross Arrows collapsing to 151-7 it appeared that the Frogs would be chasing a modest total, but a sensible knock from the Cross Arrows captain Fenn and Kitzinger a score of 227-8 was eventually reached from the allotted 45 overs.
In reply the Frogs openers Thorn and Lawrence both made solid starts. Thorns struggling to time the ball on a slowing pitch but Lawrence proving patient and watchful - punishing any loose ball that came his way. Thorns attempted to hit his way out of a rut, but without any luck - finally falling for 21 - but having taken the opening bowlers' sting out of the attack. Lawrence then uncharacteristically put his foot down and upped his scoring rate with a couple of glorious cover drives and a clip off his pads. Just as it looked like a half century was looming for Lawrence he was trapped in front by Courtney. It appeared that a Frogs' collapse - so often seen throughout 2015 - was going to rear its ugly head once more, however it wasn't to be. Carson, having played himself in sensibly, began to take the attack to the Cross Arrows. At the other end Williams patiently waited for the bad ball to put it away without fuss. With runs being scored freely, Carson soon brought up his half century from just 51 balls. Williams quickly followed suit and brought up his half century from an even quicker 45 balls. The target was reached from the final ball of the 35th over, with 10 overs remaining and 8 wickets still in hand - fittingly it was Carson that scored the winning runs with yet another straight six.
A great performance by the Frogs and a well deserved victory to end the season with.
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Frogs vs Amersham CC
Venue: Amersham
Date: 6 September 2015
Result: Match Lost
Amersham 214-7 dec - Gibbons 3-36
Frogs 168 all out - Walsh - 53.
Reporting: Andrew Marshall
7-2-5-7.
So tells the story of the Frogs’ middle and lower order batting as we subsided from 164-5 (and earlier 131-2) to 168 all out. The damage was caused by Maduka, who the internet tells us is a Sri Lankan ex-U19 international with some 130 1st class wickets (and 58 league wickets this season), in possession of an action resembling many of this modern breed of spinner. Rarely can there have been such a mismatch against batsmen aged the wrong side (or perhaps not!) of either 20 or 50.
All of which spoiled a beautiful September day at Amersham which started with so much promise as Callum Gibbons (3-36) was instrumental in reducing the home side to 34-4. The recovery was led by a well-compiled 85 from Berkshire batswoman Alex Rogers, with the home side batting 4 or 5 overs and probably 20 runs longer than would have been ideal for their 214-7 in 48 overs
Frogs’ started well after stand-in skipper Marshall snr, in an excursion up the order, showed why he is better suited elsewhere by nicking consecutive popping deliveries first onto his eye and then into the keepers gloves on a pitted and difficult pitch. But Matt Hughes, debutant Aftab Akram, and the evergreen Steve Walsh made light of the difficulties and all hit a heavy ball for 32, 47 and 53 respectively to take us to the aforementioned 164-5 when a victory seemed at least even money in the 37 overs available.
Cue the whirling dervish Maduka, and the rest is history.
Thanks to all for an enjoyable day out and lunchtime curry, and particularly to James Hamilton for saving the absent matchmanager’s blushes by ensuring his long-suffering Dad had packed his whites for a run in the field, a long dose of scoring, and 0 not out. And Chalky, we’ll see if the Frogs budget can stretch to a portable version of DRS especially for your lbw!
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Frogs vs Maidenhead and Bray CC
Venue: Maidenhead & Bray
Date: 16 August 2015
Result: Match Lost - MBCC 250, Frogs 126.
Reporting: Richard Lawrence
Taking the challenge of a new fixture head-on, Frogs’ won the toss and elected to bowl on a flat, hard shiny looking deck that looked ripe for batting on…second. Having made the team come round to his thinking, the captain then got the ball rolling with a sharp slip catch off Wright, a new potential Frogs’ player. However, a careless drop by square leg left the Frogs’ up against it. Although taking the pace off the ball eventually paid dividends, but it was too little too late. Bray batting strongly to accumulate 250 in short order in their 40 overs.
Frogs didn’t respond well, with the openers out in the first two overs. A collapse then ensued with Frogs losing a wicket for every 10 runs scored; ending up 7-70. However, home team captain Richard Lawrence showed his team how to bat on a sticky wicket in very gloomy conditions. With high elbows, Lawrence pierced the packed off-side field with ease to accumulate a quick fire 46 in 38 overs. It wasn’t enough, with the Frogs losing by c. 100 runs. However, a very enjoyable day out and the Frogs’ are already looking forward to next year’s fixture.
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Frogs vs Knebworth Park CC
Venue: Knebworth Park CC
Date: 9 August 2015
Result: Match Lost
KPCC 275-8 - Hardie 4-31
Frogs 217-3 - Mason 62, Lawrence 61.
Reporting: Thomas Marshall
The Frogs aimed to end their losing streak against Adam Sargeant’s Knebworth Park CC. They got off to a poor start when skipper Tom Marshall lost the toss and they were put into the field for 40 overs. Knebworth got off to a quick start and their run rate never dropped below 7 an over for the first 20 overs. Callum Gibbons had a good opening spell and would’ve had an early wicket if he had kept his front foot behind the line. Tom Marshall did take an early wicket as R. Leather edged to the “safe” hands of Richard Chalk (who subsequently had to leave the field as the seam cut the webbing between two of his fingers). The second wicket partnership was over 100 runs before Tom Walden-Jones broke it. Andy Marshall also picked up a wicket as the Frogs squeezed hard after the drinks break. As the skipper turned to his secret weapon Joe O’Gorman in hope of another breakthrough in the 24th over, Knebworth had raced onto 168-2. O’Gorman did not prove to be useful as he bowled 2 overs for 26 runs…an unusual spell of bowling for him on his first game since an operation. Due to the failing O’Gorman, Tom Marshall turned to his back up secret weapon, Will Hardie, a Scotland under 15 international slow left armer, who proved to be very successful on the day as he picked up a very tidy 4-31 from his 8 overs. However, despite this, Knebworth Park racked up a meaty 275-8 from their 40 overs; greatly thanks to a rapid 50 from KPCC’s Australian overseas player.
In reply to this the Frogs started slowly due to some tight opening spells from J. Leather and J. Collinson. Will Hardie making a slow 14 before being bowled by G. Fisher. Richard Lawrence crawled his way to a dull 61 from 27 overs before chipping the ball softly to a fielder. In addition to this James Mason made a quick-fire 62 including 9 boundaries while Richard Chalk made 16. Tom Walden-Jones also batted well making a quick 49 not out as the Frogs fell 70 runs short of their target. However, it was not all doom and gloom at KPCC for the Frogs as they were entertained by a delicious barbeque.
A poor result for the Frogs but all in all a good day out thanks to a stunning venue, barbeque and some scorching weather.
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Frogs vs Stowe Templars
Venue: Stowe School
Date: 19 July 2015
Result: Match Lost
Stowe Templars 330 for 6 dec - Chetwode 4-61
Frogs’ 173 All Out - Chetwode 65, Pope 50.
Reporting: Dylan Jones
“Captain’s Log: Flogged Frogs Agog” – and so indeed we were. When politely invited to bat, the Templars unleashed the full fury of their vengeance, following the temerity of our victory last year.
Like Tennyson’s Eagle, Croomers watched from his fastness in the Stowe pavilion:
“He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.”
Play began promptly at 11:30am and No 1 retired with a century (including 7 sixes) some 55 minutes later, and we lunched with the oppo on 254…they went on to declare way before half time with 330 from 47 overs – a scoring rate over 7 on a very flat unresponsive wicket – Ouch!
Our bowling was frankly savaged by a very lean and hungry Templars crew, and our fielding was patchy – our side polarised in age with 4 players of 18 summers and under, and 5 of us 50 and over. Wonderful to have so many tadpoles, but Croomers had managed to find a full crop of 20-somethings, and the old adage holds horribly true – a good big’un will always beat a good littl’un.
Chetters stood out with the ball – after his first brief spell of 4 overs de-toxing from Lord’s, he came back on to exert a real measure of control and finished with 4 for 61 from 12 overs. Young guest Alfie Fuller showed promise with some brave chinamen before a brutal C&B chance split his finger webbing and he spent the rest of the afternoon in Milton Keynes A&E; Bruno Rogers was a dervish in the field and the other two young’uns, ‘keeper Dan Pope and Owen Marshall, made a proper impact beyond their years, the former executing a nifty stumping standing up to Chetters, of Owen more anon…
And so to our rather shell-shocked response. Opener Omar Razaq alas contributed our first of many ducks, having survived elegantly for 45 minutes! His partner, Dan (18 years of age), went on to score a lovely 50 – some cover drives had the purists purring, but sadly the senior pros could not stick with him and it fell to Chetters to add some respectability…like a dreadnought battleship stranded in a shallow creek he loosed off repeated 21 inch rounds with his trusty pull-drive, building a partnership of 30 with Dan, and then of 95 with Owen – the latter falling just 2 short of a well-deserved half century. Chetters himself compiled 65, and combined with his 4-fer haul earned an MOM mention. The bowling may in part have been “occasional”, but these two nevertheless provided much entertainment and some mighty blows, and we managed to overhaul the halfway mark of the Templars’ total.
In other circumstances, three Frogs’ batsmen contributing 65, 50 and 48 would have underpinned a competitive score, but it pains your skipper to report that their 8 team-mates managed a mere 6 runs collectively – 4 of those from Andy!
So, found wanting in Jove’s authentic fire, there was nothing for us but to repair to the Queen’s Head, where an excellent turnout of both elevens could share a couple of beakers of the warm south before wending happily home…your skips comforted by the words of William Ernest Henley,
“In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.”
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Frogs vs OU Authentics
Venue: Marston, Oxford
Date: 21 June 2015
Result: Match Lost
OU Authentics 230-8
Frogs’ 180 All Out
Reporting: Richard Lawrence
Frogs, having won the toss, elected to bowl and things started out well with Blease bowling tight lines in partnership with Thomas Marshall in a 50 over game. In the lead up to a splendid lunch, Frogs had control of the game with the Tics on c. 100-4 off 25 overs on a slow, but true, pitch. However, an exemplary and chanceless century from Harry Magee took Oxford to a competitive score of 230-8, following some [filth/out-of-control] bowling by the Frogs’ professional player, Joe O’Gorman, and his partner in crime spin, Owen Marshall.
A slow, solid, stodgy and steadfast approach from the Frogs resulted in early wickets and a required run rate that climbed exponentially as the innings progressed. Taking the approach of a moral victory to be not-out by the end of the innings in creating a draw from the jaws of defeat sadly fell apart following the demise of Andrew Marshall, in his finest innings of the season to-date, with Frogs’ bowled out for under 200. On reflection, a strong ‘tics side simply outplayed a reasonable Frogs’ side that should have come closer.
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Frogs vs Hampshire Hogs
Venue: Warnford
Date: 24 May 2015
Result: Match Lost
Hogs 250-7 dec - Walsh 3-54, O Marshall 3-43
Frogs 175 all out.
Reporting: Ian Rolland
On a fine morning we lost the toss and took the field, as has become the pattern in this fixture. (Sorry chaps, I was sure tails was going to come up this year). Continuing the pattern, we bowled and fielded well against some competent batting. The top 5 batsmen all got off to reasonable starts, but due to the persistency of our attack and the tenacity of our fielding, only Love (70) managed to post a half century. Steve Walsh (3/54 off 17) and Owen Marshall (3/43 off 12) were rewarded for their accuracy and guile, and they were ably supported by the energetic Professor O'Gorman (1/83 off 17). Hogs made a well-timed declaration when they reached 250 for 7. Thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon, but while dark clouds threatened, we managed to complete our innings without having to resort to Duckworth-Lewis!! (Unlike a magnificent one-dayer against the Kiwis at the Oval a couple of weeks later). We decided to "have a go" from the start and Matt Hughes (28) set a swashbuckling tone. After a solid start, Tom Walden-Jones (30) picked up the tempo when Matt departed - and Trevellyn Ward (24) played a scintillating cameo innings - which unfortunately ended as we began to think that the target was well within reach. At 124 for 3 we had established a base from which an assault on 250 seemed eminently do-able. Of the remaining batsmen, only Owen Marshall (31) appeared to come to grips with the situation - which called for a combination of patience with the slow bowling of Durston, and attack against the occasional bad ball. We fell 75 runs short. Disappointing that we were not able to reward our cherished supporters (Jane Chalk and the President) with a win. Next year?
Thanks to the Hogs for a wonderful lunch and tea - and for augmenting our 9 Frogs with an additional, rotating fielder - all were lively and committed. Christopher Bazalgette - as ever - was there to support the Hogs and to coach all in upholding the game's highest standards. This was a memorable game in that it was the last time that we would have Brian officiating - as he is retiring at the end of the season. As usual, he did a terrific job. Thanks Brian. You and Anne will be missed!
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Frogs vs Grasshoppers
Venue: Horsley & Send CC
Date: 10 May 2015
Result: Match Drawn
Grasshoppers 188-9 -
Frogs 126-7 - Mason 64.
Reporting: Duncan Ellis
A super opener to the season, featuring the presence of 3 wives (hurrah), 2 Frogs debutants and a missing jockstrap. The result was an honourable draw in a game in which James Mason's excellent 64 was not enough to counter the middle order solidity of the Hoppers (scores from no's 3, 4, 5 and 6 of 25, 24, 32 and 44 respectively). For a match we went into with apparently no new ball attack and 3 off spinners that was a satisfactory return. Highlights of the game included:
* a hostile new ball spell from Adam Sargeant (why doesn't he bowl more?)
* impressive debuts from Andrew Jackson - wicket from his first ball for 10+ years - and Hugo Manfield - what action and control from a 15yo off-spinner
* a great return to Frogs action from Howard Chick - reckoned to have been away for 13? years - too long for sure
* the presence of 6 "former opening quicks" in the Frogs side (Marshall, Walsh, Jackson, Sargeant, Chick and Chalk)
* Owen Marshall moving up the batting order - there will be more of this methinks
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