Frensham Cricket Club played host to an all new six-a-side cricket competition on Friday 27th June. The Frensham Sixes were organised by the Hampshire and Surrey Cricket Boards to raise money for the development of youth cricket in the two counties. Former Hampshire and Middlesex spin bowler Raj Maru organised and hosted the event, which was considered a resounding success by all involved.
The cricket was fast and furious, the five-over per innings format provided an entertaining mix of big hitting, tumbling wickets and spectacular fielding. Participating teams represented companies, clubs and both the Hampshire and Surrey Cricket Boards. Each side was paired with a former cricket pro to host them throughout the day. The cricketing legends included Hampshire wicket keeper Bobby Parks, Surrey off spinner Chris Bullen and former England internationals Monte Lynch and Paul Taylor.
During the day Hampshire and Surrey coaches provided coaching for sixteen local cricket mad youngsters. An excellent authentic Indian lunch was provided by Luthful Kamil of 'The Taste of India' Restaurant at Ash Vale and a superb traditional English cricket tea was supplied by local caterers Catering Advisory Service of Farnham. Racing Green Cars of Ash Vale bought along a number of beautiful sports cars to be showcased at the ground. During lunch and tea a number of generaous donations were made by way of an auction and a raffle, with such prizes as a training shirt signed by the New Zealand Touring Squad, a signed Mark Ramprakash shirt and a signed Kevin Pietersen shirt being taken home by the successful guests.
As the tournament progressed teams representing CameraScan and Friends Provident emerged as the tournament's front runners and duly qualified to compete in the final, a repeat of the first match of the tournament which had seen CameraScan come out on top. CameraScan batted first and took the attack to Friends Provident posting 82 thanks to some big hitting from former Hampshire player Mitchell Stokes. As one of the highest scores of the tournament it appeared that Camera Scan would run away with it, however Friends Provident had other ideas.
Alton Cricket Club's Scott Myers and Bobby Parks opened the batting and set about scoring the runs required, the youthful Myers playing a series of ingenious shots to retire within the first couple of overs. The retirement of Myers bought to the crease guest player Charlie Freeston, whose batting was less inventive but just as effective. Freeston set about the CameraScan bowling with some sensational strokeplay hitting a number of huge sixes into and over the adjoining car park. Freeston soon retired and when Parks was dismissed, U13 Hampshire cricketer James Sennett, a guest player from the Finest Scaffolding team, strolled to the wicket. The Friends Provident team required three runs to win off two deliveries from former international Paul Taylor and Sennett duly manufactured a single to bring the Friends Provident team within one run of the CameraScan total.
The scene was set for final ball heroics from both batsman and bowler, as Taylor charged into bowl the final delivery of the tournament all three results were still a possibility. Taylor's big match temperament had not deserted him though, a toe crushing yorker destroyed the stumps and spelt the end of the Friends Provident innings. CameraScan were well deserved victors in a thoroughly enjoyable day.