Sunday XI win at Ewhurst

Friendly Match

Ewhurst 156 all out (38.1 overs)

Stoke D’Abernon 159 for 7 (26 overs)

Stoke D’Abernon won by 3 wickets

With no Saturday fixture this week, Stoke’s Sunday XI took centre stage and recorded a second successive victory on a sunny afternoon at Ewhurst who kindly stepped in with the offer of a 40-over match after Stoke’s original opponents, Dorking, were unable to fulfil the fixture.

Ewhurst chose to bat on a drying pitch that offered considerable seam movement. Alex Bond and Ralph Coleman made full use of the conditions and reduced the hosts to 29 for 4 after eleven overs.

Bond took the first two wickets when Bloomfield mis-pulled to James Trower at square leg; then Kerry, who was dropped first ball, edged to keeper Michael Dolman for 21. Bond returned figures of 6-1-17-2.

Coleman removed Ewhurst’s two leading run scorers Cation and Gilchrist in his fifth over. Cation lost his off stump with the help of an inside edge to the first ball that he faced; then Coleman ran a delivery across left-hander Gilchrist, Dolman completing the formalities. The wicket of Cation was Coleman’s 500th for the club, the fifteenth bowler to reach this landmark.

Change bowlers Trower and Roy Johns continued to apply the pressure, conceding just 22 and 25 runs respectively from their allotted eight overs. Trower collected the wicket of home captain M.Selby when he turned one through the gate.

Patel was forced to retire hurt with a recurrence of his knee problem and the tail was exposed when Brendan-Green called for a single and was beaten by Greg Routley’s direct hit from mid-on.

T.Selby launched a counter-attack, hitting five fours and three sixes in a career best knock of 54. He found good support from Rose who made 13 before he was bowled by Stoke captain Stephen Finch.

T.Selby was eventually dismissed when he was bowled by Routley. Number 10 Wakefield fell to a catch by Rick Mustill off the same bowler soon afterwards; and despite Patel returning to hit an unbeaten 33 and nudge the total past the 150-mark; the innings closed on 156 when Brace was castled by Mike Carty.

After tea, Stoke lost Mustill to the fourth ball of the innings when Kerry jagged one back through the gate; but Jack Raimondo and Malcolm Dickson got Stoke well ahead of the rate with a rapid partnership of 63.

Dickson hit four boundaries in a knock of 19 that ended when he picked out Broomfield at mid-on off the bowling of M.Selby.

Raimondo caressed the first ball he faced through the covers for four, and profited from an early chance to hit 47 with seven fours before serving up a catch to Gilchrist off T.Selby.

Routley departed for just 5 when Gilchrist took a second catch, this time off M.Selby; and the wheels were in danger of coming off when Finch, (11), failed to clear the infield; then Trower, (10), drove loosely at a delivery from Gilchrist to Cation at cover. 108 for 6.

The home side sensed a win, but Carty lauched a counter attack and in partnership with Dolman moved Stoke towards the finishing line.

Dolman could do nothing to keep out a Gilchrist yorker with the total on 137; but nerves were calmed when Bond hit a four and a six in a seven ball cameo of 11 not out; then Carty, who found the short boundaries to his liking, made the winning hit with his third six to go with three other fours and walk off unbeaten on 41.

A great spirited match played in glorious September sunshine. Hopes are high that the sides can pen this fixture into the card next season.

Scorecard Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11003291