OF Cricket Team progress through 1st Round of Cricketer Trophy

The newly formed competitive OF Cricket Team have progressed through the 1st round of Cricketer Trophy following a win against Old Priorians (St Benedicts Eailing). Please see below the Match Report which has been kindly written by George Jackson:

“A gorgeous Sunday morning set the stage for a game what was sure to be a thriller. A team of a 11 moulded together through there Framlingham college cricketing roots. It was fair to say we were Back on the Back! The sun was shining and spirits were high throughout most of the camp, however in true Fram like fashion, it was clear a couple of the team were nursing a sore head from the previous nights antics. No names needed. After getting on the wrong end of the toss, the boys were sent into bowl.

Bowling

A steady opening partnership had the Old Priorians 24 without loss before Bevan took the crucial breakthrough with a sharp catch From Archie Winter after a firm drive straight to mid off. Just 11 runs later, the slightly worse for wear Chicken Royale steamed up that Fram hill and trapped there other opener (Wass) LBW.

The high spirits at 33/2 where damaged slightly when the Old Priorians found themselves 103/2, not helped by a couple of dropped catches down at deep square leg, unfortunately can’t recall who it was to name any names!. After the Priorians started to look a little to comfortable, the dangerous Chippendale had his off stump bolted out of the ground thanks to a Hobbs breakthrough.

Just 17 runs later we had our fourth and fifth, Ben Smarts introduction with the ball was thankfully vastly improved compared to his on field chat and a quick double for him thanks to a Taylor catch and sharp bit of Lecompte keeping had the Priorians 121/5 .

The Old Framlinghamians didn’t have to wait long before we had our sixth, after witnessing a few agricultural cricket shots, Chapman set his trap and a Taylor catch out at deep midwicket did the rest. The 7th and 8th came in the form of a Borges cluster package, thanks to an agile Bevan catch and one of the balls of the day to dismiss the Old Priorinas skipper for a golden duck.

The ninth saw the return of Smart who found an outside edge which had Borges at first slip doing an acrobatic stuntman type dive to his right, with the presentation of a butterfly landing with saw feet, to take an absolute worldie and have them just 149/9. After Taylors request of ‘higher’ to the in form JB, Fram’s final wicket came in the form of the ultimate teaser. A loopy delivery had the number 11 licking his lips, a dance down the track, followed by a swing and miss, led to a Lecompte stumping and had the Old Priorians all out for 167. Some classy Fram work with the ball indeed.

Batting

The opening pair of Champan and Lecompte looked assured with some lovely shots to get Fram off and running. There were even talks of winning this one by 10 wickets up on the balcony! The first dismissal however came at 28/1 where Champan got given caught behind, an unfortunate decision which might have been overruled had the Back had the luxury of snicko. The second dismissal came at 52/2, myself getting caught LBW, and this kicked off the traditional Fram collapse…

Taylor getting caught had us 3 down and the following 2 wickets fell shortly after. Both of which slightly controversal, starting with Harrison’s LBW decision which will have been flirting with going down the leg side and JB’s mystery bowled dismissal, we will never no…

52/1 turned into 56/5 and originally relaxed Fram balcony started to fear, it was fair to say, the boys were under the cosh. Lecompte rallied to a very useful 35 however got caught and Fram had themselves 69/6. Bevan and Hobbs bumped us up to 81 before losing our 7th, with Hobbs being bowled to the in form R Wass who had his 6th wicket of the day!

It was time for lunch, and it truly was “squeaky bum time”, the game on a knife edge, Fram required 87 with just 3 wickets remaining.

Bevan and Royal surged on elegantly and steadied the ship alongside the nerves that sat up on the balcony. They gracefully put together a match winning partnership with game on the line, Bevan reaching 50 not out and the hungover Freddie making a gutsy 33 to get us over the line.

The team in high spirits headed for “quick one” at the station to talk next round tactics and the prospects of a big away day. A big thank you to the College for hosting, it was a lovely lunch as per usual, and the groundsmen for producing such a good outfield and wicket as they always do. 1 from 1 in Fram’s first attempt in the Cricketer Trophy, and in my opinion, a bloody good day out. Well Played All 🫡”

The team have been drawn away to Old Foresters (Forest School) in the Quarter Final on the 5th July.