Downham Stow pick up credible draw

Downham Stow made the long trip to Essex on Saturday in the first red ball game of the season and came away with a credible draw.After a slight delay to the toss due to overnight rain, skipper Ben Wilcox won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first on a used pitch.Arthur Wilcox struck in the fourth over, having Frinton’s Australian overseas pro Jayden Goodwin leg-before-wicket.Stolworthy then had Kyran Young caught at gully with the opening pair going past the bat on numerous occasions in an exceptional opening blast.The introduction of Colombage soon brought the third wicket as he clean-bowled Ronnie McKenna.This brought England U-19 and Essex all-rounder Luc Benkenstein to the crease, and after an early life, he began to free his armsand cleared the ropes a few times before being trapped leg-before-wicket by Addam Todd. The innings then stalled slightly as Fin Wilcox masterfully ran out opener Hamad Arshad for 66 as Downham Stow began to sense blood until home skipper and ex-Essex player Michael Comber entered the fray and, in conjunction with the tai,l first steadied the innings then began to up the run rate. Comber combined some good stroke play with some lusty blows to get Frinton up to a respectable total as the returning Stolworthy bowled with skill to end with a maiden five-wicket haul for Downham Stow.The Downham Stow reply got off to a far from ideal start as Fin Wilcox was bowled in the second over and visiting skipper Ben Wilcox was caught and bowled by Benkenstein.Will Denny took the attack to the home bowlers and was looking in total control, along with Freddie Fairey as the pair headed into tea with Downham Stow well placed at 93-2. Soon after tea, Denny was bizarrely stumped for a well-made 46 while both Arthur Wilcox and De Lucci were both clean-bowled as the pitch began to turn and bounce, much to the delight of the home side’s heavy attack.Fairey was joined by veteran Todd and with Downham Stow on 117-5 the pair set about consolidating as the home side began to sniff victory with men being placed around the bat on what by now was a very tricky pitch to score on. The pair survived until the last hour as Fairy was bowled for another eye-catching 48, leaving Downham Stow trying to hold on for a draw.Todd began to try to take the attack to the home side where possible, and Stolworthy played some delightful cover drives as the pair looked to be surviving comfortably until Stolworthy was caught at slip and George Cook fell leg-before-wicket to Benkenstein, leaving a nervous last few overs.Todd and Colombage managed to hold out for a draw with Colombage being stumped off the last ball of the game, leaving Todd unbeaten at the other end on 40.