Harry Nightingale, a 16 year old signed from St Osyth in the close season, showed no sign of nerves as he moved up six divisions to take two wickets on his debut for Frinton in the East Anglian Premier League at Woolpit. Hampered by rain the game was stopped twice and ended up being shortened. Frinton lost the toss and were asked to bat by Woolpit skipper Craig Estlea. Frinton openers Michael Griggs & Murray Commins got the visitors off to a steady start with a 66 run first wicket partnership. Griggs departed on 37 but Commins held firm with assistance from John Hambrook (20) Mervyn Westfield (30) & Skipper Young (30). Commins showed his class with some glorious cover-drives and some innovative reverse sweep shots. Unfortunately he fell 5 runs short of his century but his innings was much appreciated by the watching spectators. Zimbabwean David Brent continued his early season form with an aggressive 42 but the introduction of Woolpit’s Dutch spinner Michael Rippon slowed down Frinton’s charge and by cleaning up the long Frinton tail Rippon claimed 6 wickets for 67 as Frinton were all out for 273 with 1 ball remaining.
Woolpit got off to a poor start when Young removed opener Carl Holmes and followed this with the wicket of Dutch international Ben Cooper for 6 following an excellent catch by Griggs. Opener Will Parker held his end until Young introduced the young debutant Nightingale who dismissed him LBW for 50. When Young caught the dangerous Rippon off the bowling of Dan Carter it was advantage Frinton. Woolpit skipper Estlea dug deep and held his bat for 52. Nightingale then dismissed Tom Whiteman for 28 and had a strong appeal for LBW turned down the following ball. However the rain interruptions cost the visitors and the umpires called bad light when Woolpit were 165 for 5 with 8 overs remaining.
Afterwards Young was full of praise for his team ‘Murray Commins showed us today what a classy player he is and David Brent has started the season well for us’ however he reserved the bulk of his praise for the debutant Nightingale ‘What a great start for Harry, he wasn’t affected by stepping up and taking 2 for 14 off his 7 overs,he is definitely one to watch’.
Frinton return to Ashlyns Road on Saturday with a home game against Vauxhall Mallards starting at 11 am.
