Sunday’s Giants – Tom Allkins, Ketan Amin (c), Nish Amin, Ben Bauman, Seb Clark, Oller Furness, Alex Humphreys, Jacob Kalnins (wkt), Andrew Penfold, Tom Stevens, and Rory Watson. (*Mynthurst Cricket Ground).

The beginning of a new era under the captaincy of Ketan Amin started with a loss of the toss and being put in to bat. After a lengthy search for someone to open with K, the experience of Tom Alkins rolled into the car park, close to start of play (but still well ahead of Andrew Penfold) and reluctantly accepted. Imagine our surprise when Tom asked for a left-handed guard! With, Mynthurst having only 9 players we supplied 2 fielders (keep that in mind, it has an impact). A classic Giants’ collapse of the top order put us at 15-5 off only 8 overs. Humpers and Oller had to steady the ship, which they did until Humpers was bowled by their young spinner for a well worked 20. A solid partnership of 40 brought us up to 55-6 off 14 overs. In came Nish Amin, and after some solid shots he looked good until he chipped one straight to Rory, one of the fielders we had given them. Not the best idea to get the captain’s son out but it would’ve caused a big argument had he dropped it. It was a pitch that gave us a very variable bounce making it tough to bat on, however it was a simple straight ball that was missed by Oller that ended his stint in the middle with 40 runs to his name. That left the giants at a slightly more respectable 83-8 off 17 overs. Once we reached the 100 mark, Oller thought ‘enough was enough’ and wanted an early tea so offered to field and took a low catch to dismiss Ben Bauman. There would have been less complaints if it was dropped but he had to stay professional. The Giants finishing on 109 all out from 22.2 overs.

After a great tea, out came the Giants to field. A great start from the ‘bowling machine’ that is Stevo, taking one wicket in his eight over spell but deserved more. Ben also had a great opening spell of 7 overs taking 2 wickets. First and second changes were Oller and Rory, both being two over spells. Oller took 2 wickets from his first spell, as well as a direct hit from fine leg to remove their number 4 off Rory’s bowling. As Mynthurst had collapsed to 45-6 off 18 overs, the captain thought it was safe enough to bring himself on. Partnered by Nish, the Amins continued to apply the pressure, with Nish sure to be a great asset to the future of the Giants both with the bat and the ball. After that, Oller returned and to take another wicket, with Alkins at the other end as tidy as ever. No wickets to add to his long tally unfortunately. As they seemed to be batting for the draw, K brought Stevo back on to finish them off. After one of their more senior players went off with short breath after running some quick twos, up stepped Bill Weston to give them a slightly longer tail. All the Giants were keen to have a bowl and get him out, however Stevo had the privilege of doing so with the first ball of his 11th over. Mynthurst bowled out for 80 off 34.1 overs, ending in a Giants win by 29 runs.

Great game, definitely a day for the bowlers, and great sausages and chips, courtesy
of the opposition, at The Plough after.

Flemish Giants win by 29 runs (in 34.1 overs)
Umpire’s call for Player of the Match – Oller Furness, 40* and 3-7 (6)
Giants Moment of the Match – The wild celebrations amongst the Giants, taken to levels not seen since the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup Final, that followed Stevo bamboozling Mynthurt’s OAP no10 into playing all round a perfectly straight one.

Oller Furness – June 2022