Army Win 40-Over Match Against Fire Service

The British Army cricket team have continued their winning start to the condensed 2020 season by beating the Fire Service in Aldershot.

After defeating Oxford University last week in their first match back, the military players were victorious in 40-over action.

The next focus for many of the Army cricketers will be the Inter Corps T20 tournament scheduled for September.

The Army won the toss and opted to bat first with opener Varun Bali hitting the first three deliveries for four runs.

However, the end of the first over went into the Fire Service's favour.

Bali's mistimed shot from Steve Kirkham's delivery was into the path of Ali Chambers for the catch.

That would be as good as it got for the Fire Service's bowlers as the Army racked up almost a hundred runs before the second wicket.

Liam Fletcher and Tade Carmichael were in top form for the Forces team but they did have a piece of luck.

With Fletcher just five runs off a half century, he went for a long-range shot that should have been caught, but the fielder fumbled the ball and Fletcher survived.

The REME player did reach 50 runs, but just an over later, he was out. 

Fire Service captain Ross Allen's wicked delivery caught out Fletcher who was dismissed thanks to an LBW.

Carmichael was next to pass the half-century mark.

He reached 65 runs before he also fell thanks to a catch from the Fire Service wicket-keeper.

With the score now at 150-4, the Army's middle order overcame the wobble to score a flurry of late runs.

The Army ended their 40 overs with a score of 271-9, leaving the Fire Service a difficult task.

The away team made a good start to their innings, but their first wicket fell thanks to a rash batting decision.

Adam Cook's attempted shot put himself in trouble and Emmerson Wood claimed his wicked at 46-1.

Wood grabbed a second wicket soon after - Ross Daynes dismissed thanks to a great catch from Carmichael.

From there, the Fire Service's innings fell apart.

Wicket after wicket fell and they were all out for 154 runs - 117 short of their target.