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Other Fixtures
| Date |
Opponents |
Location |
Result |
| Sat
April 23rd |
Collingbourne |
Home |
Lost |
| The
glorious sunshine of the opening game against Collingbourne
promised a run feast, and Farley’s rusty opening bowlers
were only too willing to oblige. The Northerners’ experienced
opening pair took full toll, racking up a century partnership
by the time of the much needed drinks break at 14 overs.
It took a typically parsimonious spell from Geoff – against
his Wiltshire over 50s colleague – to slow the run rate.
He was assisted by Sam Arnold, who showed great control
of flight with his legspinners, but it was skipper Woody
who made the breakthrough with his first ball, as the
batsman mistimed a gentle full bunger into the hands of
Arnold on the boundary. A fiery second spell from Jacko
helped keep Collingbourne in check, and on a fast outfield
and good paced pitch, the total of 219 looked well within
reach. After a steady start, Farley’s openers – Keith
Redding and Andy Coveney – followed the Collingbourne
pair in putting on a hundred for the first wicket and
recording a 50 apiece. However, the fall of the first
wicket led to a sudden collapse, with two golden ducks
in the middle order. Again it was a Ramsey-Arnold partnership
which restored some balance, before Geoff played on. Sam
A, however, was imperturbable and began to find the boundaries
with some well-timed nudges and flicks. Dave Probert hit
the gas, some muscular blows bringing the Collingbourne
total within reach. But his fall meant that the eight
an over required continued to rise, and 15 off the last
proved too much. |
| Fri
April 29th |
Sway |
Home |
Lost |
| Next
up came Sway. While the royal couple attended their wedding
banquet, Andy C feasted on the Sway attack, powering his
way to a regal 91. Against some rapid bowling, however,
the rest of the batting struggled. Only Simon Wakeford
and Dom Sell offered much support as we ended 186 all
out. Skipper Dave Glanvill chose Phil “Bosh” Owen and
Shahab to open the innings, from the battery of medium-pacers
at his disposal. Bosh, reincarnated from his days as a
spinner, found good movement from the bottom end to make
the first breakthrough, courtesy of a stunning catch from
a hazy Dan Gibson in the gully. Dom Sell kept up the good
work, picking up a couple of wickets and causing the visitors’
top order plenty of anxiety. But while wickets were tumbling,
runs were still being scored at speed, particularly by
visiting captain Grasham, who was merciless on anything
on his legs. Once he found a reliable ally, he began to
put the bowling to the sword, with no-one escaping. Despite
another blinding gully catch – Bosh this time – Grasham
saw his side home by just a couple of wickets, leaving
Farley to reflect on what might have been as they enjoyed
the post-match barbecue. |
| Sat
April 30th |
St
Mary Bourne |
Home |
Lost |
| The
following day saw us up against old adversaries St Mary
Bourne, and not for the first time against them some wayward
bowling gave them a rapid start. Things got worse for
Farley as captain Woody seized up in his third over and
had to leave the field pending further medical investigation.
Several visiting batsmen made quick runs as only Pete
Thompson offered much control with the ball as St Mary
Bourne finished in excess of 270. However, the Farley
innings started in a similar vein, a restored Dan Gibson
flaying the Bourne opening pair around the park on his
way to 79. Mike Covill also looked in good touch with
an aggressive 47. But as the canny Bourne medium pacers
took the pace off the ball, the rate dropped and wickets
fell. Pete again stood out, with a resolute 42 as we succumbed
to defeat. |
| Sun
May 1st |
Wherwell |
Home |
Won |
| The
final pre-season outing brought a much improved all-round
display against Wherwell. Dave Glanvill and Matt Sell
provided a tidy start with the ball, Dave unlucky not
to pick up more than the one wicket. Dave Probert and
Geoff then demolished the middle order, Geoff taking 2-3
in four overs, while an improved fielding display saw
some good catches not least by Dave Glanvill, diving to
his right theatrically at point. Dismissed for 130, the
visitors – who play in RD1N – were not going down without
a fight. Their pacy and aggressive opening attack tested
the foot movement (and ducking ability) of openers James
Melhorn and Keith, but both proved up to the task. Mellers
hit some lovely straight drives on his way to 50, and
then retired with the score on 88. Keith stayed resolute
on the way to an unbeaten half century to ensure a comfortable
victory by seven wickets. |
| May
4th |
Porton |
Away |
Lost |
| Porton
won the toss and proceeded steadily to 180 for 0 after
20 overs. The total would have been considerably more
had the Farley bowlers bowled six bad balls an over instead
of just the four. Paul Webster and Shahab bowled a reasonable
line and length for theirfirst games of the season but
the less said about the others the better. Farley's chase
in diminishing light was eventful. Major Tom blasted his
way to a quickfire 72 before being bowled out at ten minutes
to midnight, having already complained that the game should
have been abandoned five minutes earlier so that he could
have his Horlicks. The Farley total reached 142 for 8
before the players trudged off for a shower and early
breakfast. |
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| May
25th |
Dinton |
Home |
Won |
| With
sunny and dry conditions Dinton won the toss and elected
to bat. The opening pair started well and were starting
to get comfortable before Alan Fletcher bowled M.Coombes
for 28 in the last over of his spell (5-0-1-31). Simon
Butcher bowled well from the opposite end with figures
of 17 off 4, yet an injury meant he couldn't finish his
spell and was replaced by Shahab Shahid. Dinton carried
on steadily until new-comer Pete Cole caught L. Harwood
behind off Shahid's bowling for 22. Jackson could not
force a wicket (3-0-23-0) as Heaven supported B. Coomes
who finished not out with 74 off the 20 overs. With 160
on the board Farley openers Hamish Cameron (20) and Al
Cosh (16) started well before the former was caught and
bowled by A. Gunawarden, and the latter caught behind
off S. Howell. It was up to Pete Cole, playing his first
game for Farley, to steady the innings and keep the scoreboard
ticking over, and a short cameo from Dan Jackson (18)
helped pick up the run rate before he was bowled by Heaven.
Geoff Ramsey joined Cole at the crease and between the
two they rotated the strike well, both picking up boundaries
as well as singles and twos. 13 runs were needed off the
last over to be bowled by A. Gunawarden and 2 off the
last ball which Geoff Ramsey sent sailing over the fence
for 6 to clinch the Farley win. The crucial partnership
between Cole (45no) and G. Ramsey (40no) created a great
finale to what had been a very close game. |
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