Surrey Championship Division 4 – 2nd XI competition
Hampton Wick Royal 2nd XI 180 all out (49.4 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 2nd XI 181 for 8 (49.3 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 2nd XI won by 2 wickets
Stoke’s 2nd XI recorded a second win in as many weeks, chasing down ten man Hampton Wick Royal’s total with three balls to spare, the home side’s availability affected by the demands of the 1st XI.
Another lost toss saw Stoke in the field first. Ralph Coleman struck two early blows when Maingot was bowled, and Byrne hit to Olly Trower on the circle; but whilst these wickets were welcome, they brought together the home side’s two best players; Weerakoon and Singh, who added 66 runs in the next thirteen overs.
Keith Watson and Gary Harkett applied the brakes, and the latter split the pair when Singh, who had made a chanceless 40 to that point, inexplicably holed out in the deep where Dom Morley took a good catch. To this point, Weerakoon had batted fluently, but was more circumspect at the fall of Singh’s wicket, suggesting a lack of depth in the order.
As a result, Stoke seized the initiative either side of drinks. Rudolph hit a delivery from Harkett to mid-wicket where Alistair McMillan made a good one-handed grab over his head; and Ali was bowled by Watson. Watson, (10-0-41-2), and Harkett, (10-2-19-1), bowled well in tandem.
Andy Page, (10-2-27-2), continued to strangle the scoring as Charlton chopped on for 11 and Stephens hit a low full toss straight back to him.
Page’s wickets were either side of Weerakoon’s, who checked out on 80 when he skied a delivery from Morley to Jeremy Connell. Last pair Edmonds and McMullen nursed the total up to 180 when Coleman, (3-27), castled the latter to close the innings.
After tea, Malcolm Dickson and McMillan gave the chase the perfect platform with a stand of 47 in just under twelve overs; but Stoke gave the home side a foothold by losing three quick wickets; all to medium pacer Byrne who had taken just two wickets in his entire career before this match.
McMillan served up a return catch, Dickson, (27), hit to mid-wicket where Maingot took a good running catch, then Morley tickled a catch to keeper Stephens down the leg-side.
With plenty of time and overs left, Steve Wade and Trower rebuilt the innings. Boundaries were hard to come by, but there were five lung-bursting threes in a short space of time, making the drinks break most welcome with the board showing 92-5.
The drinks had the desired effect for the home side, though. New bowler Charlton collected the wickets of Trower, (22), and Peter Phipps in his first over; leaving Wade and Watson to patch things up again.
The pair batted cautiously but rotated the strike to good effect, making use of the lack of a full compliment of fielders. Although Watson fell for 17, 38 runs were added in decent time; and skipper Andy Page carried on the good work, adding a further 32 runs with Wade to keep the asking rate within manageable proportions.
Page fell, also for 17, trying to up the scoring rate, and although Connell followed soon after, Stoke were in position to make a final push for the points. Wade continued to score off virtually every ball he faced, and trusted No.10 Harkett with the strike. The big man didn’t disappoint. One shot destined for the boundary was brilliantly stopped on the circle, but in the final over he clubbed a straight four to tie the scores, then a scrambled single completed the win in front of a decent crowd, made up of returning 1st XI players and some of our friends from Valley End who were playing a 3rd XI match the other side of the wall.
Wade walked off unbeaten on 52, a knock that included just one four, the big playing area made boundaries in the entire match hard to come by, (Weerakoon only hit four in his earlier knock of 80), and Charlton, (4-36) and Byrne, (4-37), would expect to win more games than they lose with figures like that.
The players and supporters supped a few ales on the balcony in glorious sunshine, reflecting on another good spirited game between the sides, albeit with much different personnel than we have faced in previous years.
Next week everyone moves from the 50-overs per side format to ‘timed’ or ‘declaration’ cricket. Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians come to the Rec.
Scorecard Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11769247