Stanley made the short trip to near rivals
Frocester on a rare sunny Saturday.
Shaun Little of Frocester IV won the toss
and decided to bat first on what looked like a superb batting
track despite all the rain during the week. Openers Rich Spyvee
and Dan Whincup, found the bowling of Rob Walker very difficult
to get away, Spyvee was first to fall after receiving and
unplayable delivery and was bowled without troubling the
scorers. Two overs later, the disappointment with the Readers
balls continued, when the new match ball had to be replaced
after only 7 overs. Spyvee can count himself very unlucky as the
replacement ball didn't swing or move off the seam anything like
the original. A. Mukasa came in at no. 3 and played steadily for
20 and after Whincup was caught behind for 10, was part of a
good stand with veteran Ian Smith who scored a patient 51. M.
Whyard made a useful 21 including some improvised shots a la
Dilshan Tilekeratne, Bev Baker played aggressively before being
run out for 19. Seb Choudhury forced a quick 11 before being
bowled by Nash and with J. Roberets 7n.o. and Paul Wiffen 11 n.o.
Frocester reached 171 for 7 after their allotted 40 overs.
Special mention must be made of Marcus Collins who, for a
part-time bowler, did extreremly well bowling 12 overs 2 maidens
2 for 46. Rob Walker again toiled away without the success he
deserved, with figures of 12-3-43-1.
After tea, Stanley started the run chase
with ominous clouds building to the west. Gabb and Clements
opened this week and got off to a lightening start with 31 on
the board after only 5 overs. Unfortunately at this point Gabb
decided to leave his off stump open again and was bowled by
Choudhury for 29. Clements not yet off the mark. Chris Oakes
joined him and put on 44 for the second wicket before Oakes was
stumped by the superb Dan Whincup for 20. Rob Walker, complete
with new bat and pads, put them to good use putting on 36 with
Clements before being nonchalantly caught and bowled by J.
Roberts. Andy Brennan was unlucky to be out first ball getting
and inside edge onto has pads and eventually on to the stumps. I
think he needed somebody to love afterwards. A slight hiccup
then at 111 for 4 but B. J. Fry looked at the weather and
decided it was time to get on with it and with his hero Jack
Russell watching, took the Frocester bowlers to task hitting a
rapid 42 before being bowled by Shaun little only 4 runs short
of the total. Fittingly it was left to Clements, the anchor of
the innings, to score the winning runs ending on 43n.o. with 4
1/2 overs left. J. Roberts the only shining light in the
Frocester attack with figures of 7-0-24-2. Stanley won by 5
wickets to keep them second in the table as Eastcombe (top) and
Hawksbury (third) both won.
Paul Gabb
Leonard Stanley Captain and Press Officer.
