Farnham vs Old Hamptonians

Farnham entertained Old Hamptonians at the Park in their first of the longer format, timed games of the season.

Skipper James Berry wasn’t available ble this week, so the mantle was passed down to Nathan Thorpe for the game, who promptly lost the toss and been asked to bat first. Farnham opened with Thorpe and Hicks. Old Hamptonians bowled well at the top with some great line and lengths which made runs come hard by. However the pair importantly negotiated the opening spells and started to build a platform. Thorpe was the more fluent of the pair before the opening stand of 84 was cut short as Hicks was caught for a labouring 24.

This brought Tom Flack to the crease who has started the season well with the bat. Thorpe and Flack started to put more pressure onto the fielding team and made 32 for the second wicket, before Thorpe was caught and bowled for a well made 69. At 116-2 Farnham knew that they needed to up the rate in order to get their total up to a competitive score. Harry Morrogh joined Flack at the crease, with his 50 last week he was timing the ball well, the pair combined well - taking quick singles and punishing the bad balls. They were rattling along taking the Farnham total to 159-3 when Flack was alleged to be run out coming back for a third. FCC’s brightest up and coming youngster Harry Morrogh had been batting beautifully before he fell to a slower ball and was bowled for an enterprising 43 and left Farnham poised at 184-4. The middle order frantically tried to launch Farnham far past the 200 mark but wickets tumbled and only managed to get the score up to 201-8 at tea.

Farnham came out to bowl knowing that Old Hamptonians would need to come out hard to chase the total within 45 overs. But Farnham got off to a great start with overseas Brady Poole taking a wicket in his first over caught by Thorpe at cover. Robbie Goldsworthy joined the party, nicking off the other opener who was again caught by captain Thorpe at 2nd slip.

Old Hamptonians would have not expected to be 20-2 so quickly. Worth the pitch taking turn from the first innings, the two spinners Thorpe and Henderson were introduced into the attack to provide spin at both ends. However a good third wicket stand of 55 put an end to OH’s nervy start, before Henderson picked up his first wicket - a good LBW appeal removing Chippendale for a well batted 46. Henderson struck again forcing the batsman to chase a wide delivery hitting it straight at Adam Elstow at cover. 90-4 at this point Thorpe, gave the ball to seam bowler Adam Elstow to get another wicket and it wasn’t long until Elstow did as commanded, a smart catch from Poole at Mid-on, reducing Old Hamptonians to 91-5. Farnham were struggling to break a 6th wicket partnership until some brilliant fielding by Thorpe created a run out opportunity removing Old Hamptonians skipper for a quick fire 40, leaving them on 146-6. Henderson picked up his third wicket of the game bowling Lee for 26 leaving the game in the balance. Thorpe came back into attack and picked up his first, beating the charging left handers outside edge combined with quick hands by Jamie Strachan behind the stumps leaving Old Hamptonians at 176-8 with 4 overs remaining. The game could have gone either way at this point and, but Old Hamptonians blocked out for the draw leaving them 177-8 off their 45 overs. The Geordie Jake Henderson pick of the bowlers with 3-35 off 14 overs.

Overall, a great game of cricket where the result could have gone either way. Farnham would be happy with the result having came into this game knowing Old Hamptonians had won their last 3 games. Farnham travel to Oxted and Limpsfield next week, with the second team hosting the same club at the Park.