Historic match vs Finchingfield and Sampford
Sunday 5 July
2pm SWCC v Finchingfield and Sampford at the Anglo American Playing Fields. This is a match with historic significance – read on….
In 1785 we find the following reference in Leslie Thompson’s Cricketing in Essex Then and Now (1963).
“On Tuesday last a Match of Cricket was played at Finchingfield in this county, by the gentlemen of that place, with the assistance of two gentlemen from Old Sampford, against a company of gentlemen from Saffron Walden; the spectators
On Sunday a Saffron Walden CC XI entertained Finchingfield CC it the second match of a three-match series. The first match was played in 1794 and it has taken just 215 years! to manage the second. The third and final match will be at Finchingfield on 26 July.
FCC won the toss and put SWCC in to bat. The hosts made a good start reaching 35 before the first wicket fell. Jamie Glydon, on his way to 52, continued, however, and was give good support by the middle order – Nigel Tegg, Jason Murphy and Nigel Appleby all reaching the mid-20s. FCC stuck at their task and wickets fell at regular intervals keeping the hosts from running away with things, though with a very hard, fast outfield boundaries were forthcoming. SWCC were all out in the 37th over for 225. The pick of the FCC bowling was leg spinner Graeme Ellis taking 4 for 31.
In reply FCC, in the face of disciplined bowling, made a slow start, not breaking double figures until the 9th over and found themselves in trouble on 33 for 4 after 14 overs. The middle order rallied however – Nick Cooper, ably supported by Paul Denman and Graeme Ellis, put on 101 for the 5th and 69 for the 7th wickets. With Copper and Ellis at the crease the momentum was soundly behind FCC and the target of 226 was within reach. Copper, finishing on 102, was well caught behind off his gloves and in the next over Ellis too fell. The FCC tail was left with 15 required from the last 3 overs. SWCC bowled well and the pressure mounted with FCC only managing singles, the 9th wicket fell with 12 needed from 12 balls, then it was 8 from 6 balls, then 3 from 2 balls – alas it was not to be Kevin Duers, the standout SWCC bowler, struck for the 5th time and FCC were all out on 223.
Download the press report
