Dave ‘Flash’ Gordon strikes with bat and ball to secure 1st XI win over Frocester.

Minch entertained Frocester at Stuart Playing Fields on Saturday in the return leg of this fixture. Before the game Minch were dealt a blow as skipper Pete Wallis was ruled out  with a broken finger, potentially for the rest of the season. Vice Captain Alex Waring stepped up and won the toss choosing to bat. The Frocester openers Choudury and Whincup bowled with pace and bounce and were difficult to get away.  Openers Dave Gordon and Waring found it tough going. Waring fell bowled by Whincup and no3 Pete Raphael upped the tempo with a quick fire 18 but both he and Ross Britton failed to account for the swing of Frocester’s 1st change Dean Evans. Dave Gordon battled on and looked in fine form. Simon Penn joined him and batted with aggression to boost the Minch run rate, the 2 added 70 for the 4th wicket. Penn fell for 37 and Gordon reached his 50 only to fall caught off the bowling of Richardson for a well played 57. Will Price (10) Jaime Waring (10) and James Priest (12) all had short sharp cameos to boost the Minch score at the end and Minch reached a good total of 184 all out, Dave Richardson pick of the Frocester bowlers with 5 for 57.

In reply the Minch openers of James Priest and John Turton kept things tight but couldn’t get an early wicket. A quick bowling change saw a wicket as Dave Gordon once again showed his knack of picking up a wicket in hits 1st over.  He removed Dunfiord caught at mid on by Raphael. Gordon then had the youngster Helmke caught by Ross Britton, a sharp slip catch . Then Gordon struck again, removing the dangerous Whincup for a duck, and Minch piled on the pressure. Jaime Waring entered the attack and despite a mixed 1st over picked up the wicket J Dunford for 13. His next over removed Tuck bowled and the pressure was really on for Frocester at 66 for 6. But opener Utting had held his wicket well and despite some testing bowling by Priest could not be removed. Partridge went after the bowling initially, but 17 year old Marcus Cole  entered the attack and removed Utting for 45 after a stunning 1 handed catch from Simon Penn at mid wicket. At 116 for 9 with 9 overs left Frocester chose to hold firm and see off the remaining overs and Minch couldn’t get the final wicket, Partridge left on 34 not out. Cole finished with figures of 2 for 17, Waring 3 for 25 but Dave Gordon with 57 runs and 3 for 19 with the ball took the man of the match award and guided Minch to a 53 run victory.