Flyford claim victory on a scorching afternoon

 

Report by Joe Chapman

 

Flyford claimed a well deserved 65-run victory on a scorching Sunday in the tranquil surroundings of Fladbury on Sunday. A strong Fly team headed to the outskirts of Pershore for a prompt 2pm start, just - as look would have it - as we began to hit the warmest part of the day.
It was a good surface and a rapid outfield. Fly chose to bat first, a merciful relief for the majority of the side which could sit in the shade and take on water - or, in the case of Joe Allsopp, look to sunbathe.

Runs were pretty hard to come by, though. Fladbury's field meant there weren't too many quick singles on offer, but once you got it through the ring the ball - as Dan Miller demonstrated - often ran quickly to the boundary.

The opening pair of Miller and Simon Tibke contributed 38 before the latter was clean bowled for 14 and Joe A had to give up his sunbathing. He, though, struggled as Si did to reach a level of fluency. Miller was well caught off the bowling of young Will Wade Jr for a well made 38, before Allsopp was bowled for 14. Steve Nullis quickly followed suit and suddenly Fly were 83/4 and needing both stabilising and runs.

Enter Luke Cooper-Sargent who, fresh from a quick-fire 25 at Himbleton recently, picked up where he left off almost immediately and made use of the spinner, who was dragging the ball down and angling the ball in towards his body before being unceremoniously sent to the leg side boundary on numerous occasions, with a whole line of fielders on the boundary line unable to assist.

Luke was well supported by Josh Nullis, who stroked one lovely shot to the boundary himself. Some very willing running from Pete Holpin, bumped up the order, intensified Flyford's innings a little and hurried the score-line along to complement Luke's big hitting. While Play Cricket for much of the afternoon suggested that our projected total wouldn't be much more than 100, there was now a platform for a late surge.

When Luke lost his wicket for a very well made 72 from just 34 balls (13 fours, one six), keeper Mark Walker and captain Joey Poole were then able to bat together in the final overs and played the situation superbly, putting on 43 and bumping Flyford's total past 200.

The bowling unit made in-roads quickly. Joey P struck the first blow early doors when taking the wicket of Diego Gutierrez, while I myself chipped in with the removal of Paul Murphy, who was well held by Si at backward point after some thoughtful fielding tactics from the Flavell thinktank.

For a while we couldn't get opening batter and keeper David Pruddon, who reached 35 and kept Fladbury in with a shout - that was until he succumbed to the Monkster, who bowled eight overs on the spin which rendered him barely able to walk and swiftly requiring a pint and a pack of frozen peas from the pub afterwards.
For the second year in a row, Nigel Payne was like a limpet at the crease, making fielders in close jump with shrill shouts of 'YES THERE'S ONE THERE, COME ON'. He ended the innings not out, dancing around his crease, on 39 having taken up 101 balls. Flyford were in business at the other end, though.

Josh came to the crease and did the Lord's work with his variety of off-spin, which had batters uncertain and Walks up at the stumps interested with every delivery. There was a stumping, a caught behind and a bowled as a part of Josh's 3/40. Pete didn't strike here, but bowled an immaculate spell of four overs for just six runs which went a long way in negating Fladbury's chances of triumphing.

Joe A was positively gleeful as he took the catch of Will Wade Jr, a child, at point off my bowling. There was even time at the death, with the game wrapped up, for Joe himself to have a couple of overs for the first time since winter nets. A pint was enjoyed by many, opposition included, in the Chequers post match, to end a highly pleasant day in good company.

 

Awards:

Man of the match:  Luke 

Tit: Chappers and Luke dancing over the ball

Champagne Moment: Team wicket (fielders moving themselves into the right place)

Thanks for coming: Steve Nullis duck and didn't bowl