The Frogs President Graham Prain recalls playing against the Queries over 50 years ago, and this fixture has always excited the cricketing juices and created lots of interest. Today at Tidworth – a chilly Tidworth it has to be said – was no exception as the Queries had The Frogs 9 down and 3 overs to play but could not dislodge the final pair.
Queries won the toss and would bat first. Olly Whiteley was in good form – his first ball of the match, a straight drive for 3, indicated as much – however he lost his opening partner James Illingworth in the 5th over with the score at 15. In at 3 was Josh Kelly and he too was in good form, and together they enjoyed a stand of 106 before Josh was out caught for 56. Dan Hunt came in to join Olly, scoring a quick 22 before being bowled. 168 for 3. There then followed a succession of quick wickets and in the blink of an eye we were 171 for 7, including the wicket of Olly for a fine 77. James Brewer steadied the ship with a brisk 24 to push the total past 200 and skipper Simon Campbell declared at 213 for 9 after 47 overs. Pick of the Frogs bowlers’ was Alex Gorton with 13-2-45-4.
It took us just 3 overs to take our first wicket with James Wade having one of the openers caught behind with just 7 runs on the board. Jeremy Wilkins, making a very welcome return to Queries cricket, got his first wicket in the 8th over with Olly Whiteley taking a fantastic diving catch at slip. 23 for 2 – and then 23 for 3 as the opener walked past Ninian MacGregor’s second ball and was stumped. Frogs skipper Callum Carson was their only batsman to get “stuck in”, making a fine 45 however all his partners and then the tail came and went cheaply until the Frogs were 130 for 9 with three overs remaining. Try as the Queries could, all crowded round the bat, they were unable to dislodge either of the final pairing and the match ended in a draw with the Frogs on 131 for 9 after 43 overs.
Josh Kelly was the pick of the Queries bowlers with 3 for 23: James Wade and Ninian MacGregor took 2 apiece, Jeremy Wilkins and Ollie Illingworth took one apiece, and James Bewer was very economical bowling his 9 overs for 19 runs.
Many thanks to Howard Moore for umpiring: many thanks to ForkingOut for another splendid day of catering; many thanks to groundsman John Law for all his valuable effort: and of course many thanks to The Frogs for the fixture and we wish them well for the remainder of their tour in the West country.
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