First XI
Matches
Sat 21 Aug 2021  ·  Division 1
Frensham Cricket Club
First XI
243/7
184
Blackheath CC, Surrey - 1st XI
Frensham 1st XI continue fine recent form to defeat Blackheath 1st XI

Frensham 1st XI continue fine recent form to defeat Blackheath 1st XI

Tom Nicholls22 Aug 2021 - 20:27
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Having defeated league-leaders Tilford last week, Frensham 1st XI continued their fine recent form with an excellent all-round display at home to Blackheath 1st XI.

Having lost toss and being asked to bat first, Blackheath looked destined to make early inroads on a pitch that offered some lateral movement. However, despite picking up the early wicket of Tim Knight, the in-form Jack Richards and captain James Wood steadied the ship for the home side and began constructing a partnership that would eventually lead the home side to a position of dominance at the interval.

With Richards continuing his fine form with the bat, the pair added 149 for the second wicket in a partnership that was defined by the destructive shot-making of Richards and some uncharacteristically lackadaisical fielding by Blackheath. By the time the impervious Richard’s reached his well-deserved century, Frensham’s eyes were firmly set on significant first innings total.

With Frensham looking to attack further, Blackheath were able to reign the home side somewhat, thanks in part to an excellent spell of bowling by Pete Mellhuish (5-58) and a sharp leg-side stumping to remove the centurion, Richards, for 106. However, Frensham were not tied down for long and a quick-fire 32 not out from Owen Dunne helped propel the home side to a first innings total of 243-7.

Knowing that it would require something special to win the game and keep their title-hopes alive, Blackheath came out all guns blazing in their pursuit of the winning total. Despite the fired-up Hilton Young picking up an early wicket, Blackheath made an explosive start, with Rob Parrot and Will Melhuish running Frensham ragged in the field early on.

However, the introduction of Richards and Knight brought about a change in the home side’s fortunes. While looking to take the attack to Frensham, Parrot and Melhuish were both dismissed by sharp catches in the covers, for 47 and 31 respectively – leaving Blackheath on 94-3 and the game delicately poised.

With the run rate slowly climbing, Tim Knight began to turn the screw with the ball before a remarkable run-out at the non-striker’s end (off the foot of Knight) removed Pete Melhuish and placed Frensham well and truly back in the driving seat.

A couple of late blows from Elliott Cozens gave the visitors a small glimmer of hope but Frensham’s bowling attack remained disciplined, and the away side were eventually bowled out for 184 – 59 runs short of Frensham’s total. Knight and Richards were the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 3-31 and 3-24 respectively. On an what was an uneven pitch, Richard Elliott also put in another stellar performance with the gloves, claiming his 500th I’Anson victim with a superb diving catch late-on in the game.

While Frensham were the deserved winners on the day, with Richard’s producing a man of the match performance with bat and ball, Blackheath will rue number of chances that were squandered in the field and the number of extras conceded.

The win ensures a third-place finish for Frensham in Division 1 and provides the perfect backdrop for the Stevens Cup final on 5th September, where Frensham and Blackheath will meet again.

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Aug 2021

Kickoff

13:00

Competition

Division 1

League position

2
Blackheath CC, Surrey - 1st XI
3
Frensham CC - 1st XI
Team overview
Further reading