Old Fullerians v FCC
By Fulmer CC | May 22, 2011
Old Fullerians 184 for 6
Fulmer 185 for 6
Fulmer won by 4 wickets
A quietly confident threesome left KGF for this away fixture to a sunny but rather blustery Herefordshire fixture.
A slightly nervous skipper was relieved to see the majority of his players warming up on the boundary, and the pitch looking in very good order.
The opposition skipper’s first question was as to the wellbeing of one Derrick Randall, his disappointment was to be short lived, if just for a short while. We agreed on a timed game with 20 overs from a flexible 6 o’clock.
Having lost the toss and being sent out to graze, it quickly became apparent that we were one short in the changing room. A call from India confirmed we would be in need of a player. Mr Randall himself had expressed his interest in Sunday’s fixture but the selectors’ door had been bolted firmly shut. A feeling that few will understand overwhelmed the dressing room as a call was placed to the man himself.
It quickly became apparent that the pitch’s “good order” was a bit of an understatement. This was an exceptionally true batting surface combined with a hard, dry outfield.
Mudassar “O’Mali” Ali and Mark Denness opened the bowling and coped well with the blustery conditions and a pitch that didn’t have a lot in it for the bowlers.
The opening batsmen were afforded a fair amount of luck, but batted well for their 50 partnership which came swiftly in the first 10 overs. Mark, returning from a break, bowled particularly well with variation, doing his best to keep the batsmen guessing. Ali, playing today with his brothers, Zeeshan and Arslan, was clearly making a huge effort. Leaving the pitch briefly, he passed the ball to his brother Zeeshan, returning to the field the next over with Mr Randall at his side.
The opening partnership pushed on past the 100 mark as the run rate began to slow, thanks to some fielding changes and exceptional fielding mentions for Prash, Sukhi and, as always, Armando.
Mark’s 11 over spell earned him no rest in the outfield but the ball this day was destined for another man’s hands. Derrick Randall began a remarkable spell, firstly breaking the opening partnership. Zeeshan quickly realised this was not a pitch for pace and now, turning the ball nicely, put pressure on the batsmen and the runs began to dry up.
Zeeshan was replaced by his skipper who, thanks to a brilliant catch in the deep from Arslan, dismissed the other opener on 96. The No. 3 shortly followed after a catch close to the bat by Prash.
What followed is seldom experienced at any level of cricket. A hat-trick of Bowled, Bowled and Bowled. The finest of which was the third, a quicker Yorker catching the inexperienced James off guard. DR, called in at short notice, had well and truly exposed the tail.
Fullerians declared at tea on 184-6 leaving Fulmer 185 to win.
The speed of the outfield was encouraging. Prash, still looking fresh in the field after his ton the day before, opened up with Arslan. Fullerians’ opening bowler left the field after his first over, weakening a side that may have already been short of some bowling.
Fulmer quickly became comfortable on the surface and made good contact with the ball but, frustratingly, in the opening overs, finding fielders for no runs.
The scoreboard moved on quickly regardless, equally so when Sukhi replace Prash after an over ambitious call for 3, ended in the stumping of Prash who was scrambling back, 45-1. Sukhi dispatched his first delivery straight back over the bowlers head. Arslan was not far behind Prash, 64-2.
Joe Hunter, returning after his holiday, came to the crease at No. 4. Joe, perhaps still suffering with a little jet lag, was unfortunately dismissed LBW first ball, we think. Some controversy surrounded his bails being dislodged as well which troubled the scorer briefly.
20 overs began with the score 98-3. Sukhi and Ali were clearly enjoying batting on this wicket. Sukhi was caught on the drive after scoring 27 (including six 4’s). Zeeshan, batting at 6, hit the ball to all areas of the field top scoring with 51. Moving quickly between the wickets, with Ali at the other end, the pair scored quickly. Ali was replaced by Mark Denness after having been bowled on the slog with not much work to do and plenty of overs still on the board 138-5.
Zeeshan was caught in the covers, 171-6, after he and Mark had batted well together. Skipper Julian was called up briefly to push a couple of singles with Marko to seal the win.
