Frogs 29 August 2019

Captain Alex Wildman

Match Drawn, scores equal

Frogs 228 for 3 dec (Ben Jefferis 2-68)

SOA 228 for 7 (Alex Basford 117, Hugo Cobham 33)

The Valley of the Rocks was the spectacular venue for the final match of 2019’s Western Tour, against the Frogs. The ground is flanked by steep bracken clad banks crowned with jagged rocks, the sea providing the back drop and a strong wind.

The Frogs batted first, the mainstay of their innings being Australian opener Edwards who made 92, an innings full of high straight drives and lofted pulls which gave SOA fielders and spectators ample opportunity to trample through the bracken surrounding the ground searching for the ball. Ed Wildman and Johnny Warner opened the SOA attack on an exceptionally slow wicket, Johnny unlucky to see an unconvincing push first ball of the innings land short of mid-off. The Frogs had reached 51 when Johnny induced a repeat of that first shot which this time reached mid-off and Bruce Lunn took the catch. All three Frogs wickets fell to good SOA catching in the swirling wind, the second off Ben Jefferis taken by Junaid Aziz and the third by Hugo Cobham also off Ben. Ben and Ed had both benefitted from a change of ends for their second spells, Ed unfortunate to see a catch dropped off a slower ball. Junaid, Frankie Crouch and Alex Basford also bowling decent spells. The strong Frogs batting line up afforded their skipper the luxury of a positive declaration after 34 overs on 228-3, leaving SOA around 40 overs to bat.

After 8 overs Alex Basford joined Hugo with the score on 18-2 and their 94 run partnership off 15 overs gave SOA’s innings a platform, ending with Hugo caught for a fine 33. Alex continued with father Jim and then reached his century in a 70 run partnership with Alex Wildman. When his superb innings of 117 concluded with his being bowled, Alex Basford had pulled, driven, reverse-swept and cut SOA to needing only 7 runs an over to win off the last 6. Junaid, Johnny and President Tom Scrase got SOA to 2 needed off the last ball to win. A cover drive from Johnny pierced the field but held up in the grass, the batsmen turned and ran hard for the second, the fielder threw to the bowler who gathered cleanly and took the bails off just as President Tom’s grounded bat hit the crease line…

A draw with the scores level was a fitting end to an excellent game and tour.

Our thanks to Peter Andrews and Russ Hayes for umpiring and scoring, also to the Frogs for an excellent game and a near perfect (for both teams) declaration.