GCC vs. FCC Match Report

With the mercury rocketing to 12 degrees, GCC's first fixture of 2013 saw a 40 over-a-side friendly against local rivals Farncombe. Buoyed by excellent attendance at winter nets, the match provided the first opportunity for a number of new faces to lay down a marker ahead of the first league fixtures. Although the outfield unsurprisingly provided the odd challenge, given this year’s extended winter, great credit to FCC for producing a decent track.

On the back of a lean 2012, skipper Cilla Black’s assiduous study of the coin toss over the winter months paid immediate dividends, opting to set a total. Leading from the front, Cilla and the now happily/finally married John Milner laid a solid foundation, before the latter rocked back to a full ball and lost his castle. With Hickey and Dawson falling cheaply, veteran Derek Agge joined the skipper to steady the innings. Agge’s typically belligerent strokes were set aside some delicate touches, and with both batsmen finding the boundary at regular intervals, GCC were on course for an imposing total.

When Cilla succumbed to the ever deviant full toss, Agge found able support from debutant Michael O’Day, who crafted an excellent half century in registering his first runs in England. With Agge finally falling for 87, it was left to O’Day and Churaman to round things off with a combination of whippet like singles and hefty carves through the leg side. 219-5 at the half way point.

Ryan Elgarr and the rumbustious George Stow took the new ball in reply. New face Elgarr bowled with decent rhythm, and got his rewards for a fine spell when he removed FCC's opener with a belter. Keyworth then replaced Stow at the Pavilion End to york FCC’s other opener, bringing skipper Edwards to the crease. The introduction of Torin Davies almost bore instant fruit, shattering Edwards’ stumps with a big inswinger, only for the skipper to find reprieve in Davies’ big front foot no-ball. Although FCC were well below the run rate, with only two wickets down, many in the field began wondering how costly it may have been.

However, with the run rate climbing, the introduction of some slow left arm proved decisive. Hickey made the key breakthrough in removing Edwards lbw, following this up with two more wickets in the next over. The returning Davies claimed a legitimate wicket, alongside one a piece for Dawson and O’Day, and when Hickey prized a fourth with a filthy double bouncer, the sting was well and truly removed from the innings. Only tug-boat Milner’s fielding could deny Hickey a well-earned 5fer, but as it was, Stow wrapped things up with the infamous “Jader” (give us strength…) to give GCC a solid start to 2013.