Sunday’s Giants – Ben Bauman, Seb Clark, Richard Creasy, Jack Feakes, Emma Furness, Oller Furness, Alex Humphreys, Jacob Kalnins (wkt),
Ed Whittaker, Tom Weston (c) and Ben Young.

With all Giants managing to traverse the track up to the ground somewhat successfully, the Giants took on Coldharbour on a very hot Sunday. No coin toss required after some good negotiation between the Coldharbour captain and Giants’ Tom Weston allowed Coldharbour to bat and the Giants were sent out to field. Oller and Ben B opened with some tight bowling (worthy of a wicket for Oller but a Sam Billings-esque dive from Jacob diverted an edge away from the waiting hands of Humpers at first slip), until one opener judged eight dots was enough to have got his eye in and decided that the ball was yearning for the foliage over the fence. Luckily, after smashing six fours and two sixes, he didn’t get hold of one properly thanks to a good ball from Ben Young and a diving Westy was able to cling on. Coldharbour 42-1. A very good spell from Richard Creasy from the track end saw another wicket fall and we reached drinks at 83-2. Coldharbour came out hard after drinks, but Feakes and Westy managed to strike with two LBWs. Three more wickets fell courtesy of Ed setting up catches to his field: a brutal one from Youngy at short leg (apparently, it is important kids learn to face the short ball, even if it dismisses them first ball), Jacob keeping hold of one this time and Westy pulling off another stunner (this time to his right). Coldharbour finished on 188 after E and O Furness claimed the last three wickets (Emma usually keeper notably taking two of these and her brother only one, including her first Giants wicket thanks to the support from Seb at the other end to ease the pressure).

After a delicious tea, the Giants opened the batting with Feakes and Ben B. A solid 105* run partnership ensured the Giants got off to a brilliant start, and Feakes even having a go at his lesser known offside shots. Boundaries flooded and both openers were retired on 50* (Ben B nobly taking one more ball to give Feakes top spot on the batting card of the all-important Instagram post) and in came Humpers and Ed. The two worked well together, knocking off more runs from the chase as Humpers sent one into the car park as well as one into the forest which went too far to be recovered - new ball please. Ed retired on a well crafted 25* allowing Emma to face a few having been successful in the four ways ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to determine the later batting order. Three quick fours concluded the game in true Giants fashion as the last was edged through the slips. A win by 10 wickets (take note as it’s bound to become a Giants pub quiz question because that’s a result not very common in Giants history).

Some brilliant hospitality at the club as well as The Plough Inn after the game (Ed would especially recommend trying a Crooked Furrow for anyone going). Good day out for the Giants, see you next week.

Flemish Giants win by 10 wickets (in 34.1 overs)
Umpire’s call for Player of the Match – Emma Furness, 2-10 (3) and 12*.
Giants Moment of the Match – the deafening silence of all car owners at the ground when they saw Humphreys’ 6 rise over the car park’s netted protection, coupled with the collective exhale of breath that followed when they realised it was a miss.

Emma Furness – June 2022