Flyford kick off the season with a win 

(with a little help from the opposition!)

Report by Joe Chapman

 

Flyford Flavell kicked off their 2025 season with a dramatic and well earned victory over Alcester and Ragley, in the glorious surroundings of Ragley Hall, on Easter Sunday.
Flyford prevailed victors by just seven runs, in a highly exciting 40-over friendly game where all three results were possible with just two deliveries remaining in the match, with the full 80 overs taken up.

A big thank you must go to a handful of people for simply ensuring we had a game to look forward to; with it being Easter Sunday, many of Flyford's regular faces were understandably unable to attend because of various personal commitments, but the good lads of Droitwich Spa, coupled with the goodwill of our opposition on the day, meant we had a full XI to go into battle with.

Flyford batted first, captained by the super experienced Pete Holpin. Young guns Matty Kirkham and John Phillips headed out into the middle and put on a breezy 24 before the former, on 12, was adjudged to have been trapped in front - something I'm sure Matty disputes to this day.

John, however, pressed on, picking up the poorer balls and sending them to the boundary with increasing regularity. By this stage, he was joined by the determined and patient Ash Rahman, who was prematurely removed for only two, departing in the same fashion as Matty.

That brought our first guest to the crease - Craig Elliott. After needing to take a couple of over to shake off some rustiness, Craig hit his straps and began to play some really nice shots to accelerate Flyford's innings with a handy strike rate. He raised his bat on 50 and made for the hutch, in order to give others a chance at batting.

Bop Foster made a swift and eye-catching 13 which included three fours, but his innings was over all too quickly when he was clean bowled and Flyford required Craig and another guest, Ian Biddle, to rebuild the innings in the middle overs. The pair put on a useful partnership worth north of 80 runs.

There were small contributions from the tail, from Pete, Joe Chapman and third guest Darren Hutchins - who would later take the gloves - before Craig returned to join Ian at the end of the innings and guide the Fly over the 200 mark. Ian ended on 49*.

The target was set - 215 were needed for Alcester and Ragley to win the match. Joe Chapman and Matty opened the bowling from either end and things were kept relatively tight although chances to remove either of the sturdy openers were at a premium.

The breakthrough eventually came, with the hosts 70 without loss, thanks to Cam Moseley who bowled T Walton, although S Ahmed - who was scoring more fluently - remained. Each of John and Bop took crucial wickets, but what was perhaps as important was the discipline in the field shown by this mish-mash of a Flyford team.
Youngster Joe Elliott, the son of Craig, bowled a particularly impressive spell during his five overs to ensure that Flyford kept Alcester and Ragley at an arm's length, never allowing them to venture too far in front in the chase. Before you knew it, they needed 45 from the remaining five overs.

That hard work in the field, with some brilliant stops from Matty and Bop in particular, had increased the pressure and more chances came for Fly. Joe Chapman trapped S Ahmed LBW for a well made 70 just as he began to swing. Young T Austin then slapped 31 before he was caught mightily impressively in the deep by Matty.
Matty then bowled the last over, with 19 runs to play with, and the Flav, this jumbled assortment of players from all over, won the day. Great hosting from Alcester and Ragley throughout the day and hopefully more fixtures to come against them in the years to come.

 

 

 

Man of the Match - Craig Elliott for his knock of 62 not out

Tit of the Match - Pete Holpin for forgetting his trousers and having to play in jeans

Champagne Moment - Matty Kirkham's catch in the deep off Joe Chapman's bowling

Thanks For Coming - Mark Davy turned up for the second innings, not batting or bowling but a welcome regular face