With near perfect conditions at Ashlyns Road the crowd were treated to over 7 hours of quality Cricket with over 500 runs being scored in a thrilling game which Frinton edged.
Visiting Burwell Captain Graham Hume was quick to choose to bat on what proved to be a batting wicket. However the Frinton opening attack of Dan Carter & Mervyn Westfield were quickly amongst the wickets as both openers and skipper Hume were removed with only 26 runs on the board. Essex Academy player Ben Seabrook (fresh from a good knock for the Academy during Frinton’s Cricket Week) held firm and was joined by Middlesex Academy player Alex Bramley in a 62 run fourth wicket partnership. Seabrook departed on 32 having been caught by Westfield off the bowling of David Brent but further support arrived in the form of Lalit Bose who made 42 before being bowled by Westfield. With Westfield working his way through the batsmen with 5 for 48 it fell to the experienced Josh Arksey to drop anchor at number 11 for an unbeaten 34. His 65 run last wicket partnership with Ed Fletcher pushed Burwell to 250 all out once Fletcher departed to the spin of young Harry Nightingale. Burwell felt they had a match winning score whilst Frinton were disappointed not to let keep them under the 200 mark.
The Frinton reply started shakily with Mike Griggs missing a low straight ball from Alistair Allchin to depart for 5. Murray Commins looked settled on 25 until offering an easy chance to the field to depart just before tea. Stand in number three batsman Tom Benn held firm and was well supported by Young with a 62 run fourth wicket partnership which got Frinton back into the game.
When Benn departed on 45 having been caught off the bowling of Arksey the stage was set for Zimbabwean David Brent to decide the matches outcome. Not having had the best of form with bat this season Brent looked in good order as he and Young built the match winning partnership of 93 for the next wicket. When Young was caught on the boundary rope for 70 it fell to the lower order to stand firm with Brent who finished his unbeaten 72 with a huge six to win the game for Frinton with 2 overs to spare. The Ashlyns Road faithful had witnessed one of the best games in recent memory.
At Worlington Lewis Catlow’s 2nd XI bowled out the hosts for 165 with 6 wickets for Catlow himself. Frinton chased this down with 3 wickets in hand with an unbeaten 55 for Alex Price. Frinton’s 3rd XI also recorded a good win by beating Elvedon by 7 wickets.
Frinton 2nd XI host title hopefuls Wivenhoe on Saturday at Ashlyns Road in a Two Counties Division 1 fixture starting at 1 pm.
