Easy win over the Avorians to start the 2013 season

20th April 2013
Cobham Avorians 92 all out (34.4 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 98 for 4 (20.4 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon won by 6 wickets

Will Gudgeon’s tenure as Stoke Captain began with an emphatic win over near neighbours Avorians.

Firstly big props to John Vaughan-Davies for getting a strip prepared as the pre-season weather did its worst at the wrong times during the week. The result was a pitch more than fit for play, but setting a severe test of batting technique; so it was something of a surprise that visiting skipper McLaughlin chose to bat first on winning the toss.

Adrian Mills revelled in the conditions and set to work early; taking three quick wickets to reduce the visitors to 17 for 3; two catches behind the timbers for Jack Raimondo, and another at cover by debutant Stephen Anderson.

The Avorians’ best batsmen Stevenson, (33) and McLaughlin, (15), rebuilt the innings with a partnership of 37; but both were removed in similar circumstances by Matt Gottschalk who returned figures of 4-1-13-2.

This left a long-looking tail open for an easy kill. Ralph Coleman yorked Ilon for a duck; Harry Oliphant, (4-1-5-1), took a first wicket in senior cricket with a return catch to account for Howell; then Anderson made a dream start to his Stoke career by making great ground to take a return catch off the first ball he bowled. 74-8.

A dull period of cricket followed where bowlers given an opportunity to enter the fourth column were met with stubborn resistance. With enough runs on the board to give the batsmen time in the middle; Gudgeon reintroduced openers Alex Bond and Mills, and the pair struck in successive overs.

Bond, (1-13), trapped Prathip leg before for 10, one of only three players to reach double figures; then Partridge drilled a delivery from Mills to extra cover to close the innings on 92; Keith Watson showing good hands to complete a good afternoon in the field for him.

Mills returned figures of 6.4-3-19-4; due reward for his consistency.

After an early tea Raimondo and Nick Lo, (pictured below), set the successful run chase up with a stand of 53, (an early contender for weird stat of the season was that the second over of the innings went for two runs; the third for three; the fourth for four; the fifth for five, the sixth for six; and the seventh for seven before normality resumed – Wisden you have our number after Warlingham in 2011!)

The pair were separated when Lo, who looked good in his knock of 28, was beaten by an accurate throw to the keeper. Raimondo matched Lo’s score as the victory target approached. He was bowled going for an expansive drive over extra cover off the impressive Ilon, (questions were raised as to why was he held back as fourth change); and an untidy finish saw Watson and Anderson depart cheaply before Gudgeon smashed the change bowlers to all parts of the parish to complete the win; finishing unbeaten on 31 from just 21 balls faced with four fours and a match-winning six with the scores level.

Next weekend Stoke face sterner tests as our friends from Oxted visit the Rec on the Saturday, (the 2s going the other way), and Sunday sees another local derby with a short trip to Oxhott.

Scorecard Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11714943