2nd XI chase down Chessington total

Surrey Championship Division 4 – 2nd XI competition
Chessington 2nd XI 255 for 8 dec (50 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 2nd XI 258 for 8 (49 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 2nd XI won by 2 wickets

A tremendous run chase lifted Stoke’s 2nd XI into the promotion places at the half-way point in the League season on a warm day at the Rec.

Returning skipper Andy Page won a toss he didn’t really want to and chose to field – generally the done thing in the 100-over ‘timed’ cricket format – but tea couldn’t come quickly enough.

Ralph Coleman was pressed into new-ball action after Jase Earl was running late. Variable bounce in the first over suggested the pitch might play up, but it flattened out quickly and became increasingly easier to bat on. McKay played his shots, and Kendall scored almost exclusively through mid-wicket, and the pair added 50 by the last ball of the seventh over when McKay, (26), edged Coleman to Malcolm Dickson looking to maintain the healthy run-rate.

No.3 Cook – who looked a very good player – joined Kendall and the pair doubled the total by the 19th. Page accounted for the former for 25 in his first over when a ball that lifted sharply was edged to Dickson standing up, the ball looping up nicely after hitting him in the chest. In Page’s fourth over, Kendall fell to a leading edge one short of his half-century where Earl made good ground to complete the catch.

Visiting captain Shaboodien announced his arrival by cutting the first ball he faced through point for four. He attempted to repeat the exercise several times throughout his innings of 40, and perished in that manner when Dickson took his third catch standing up off Gary Harkett. 160 for 4.

Hill and Qureshi kept the board ticking and struck the ball cleanly as other bowling options were tried until Earl was permitted to enter the attack. When he did he accounted for Querishi for 32 and Woodman for 2 and would finish with figures of 2 for 37.

The charge appeared to be on as Hill became more expansive. He lost another partner in Barnard who picked out Peter Phipps in the deep off Harkett who ended with figures of 22-4-65-2, but hit a six over extra cover to add to his six fours to bring up his half-century.

He fell to a great catch in the deep by Dom Morley for 54, (the runs saved as a result were to prove crucial in the end); prompting a 50-over declaration at 255 for 8, leaving Stoke no ‘winning draw’ option. The total could have been a little lower had a few chances gone to hand, but conversely might have been bigger had intelligent field placements to restrict runs not been made.

After tea, Dickson was an early casualty when he picked out mid-off going for his first big shot; but Phipps and Morley responded by building a second wicket stand of 74; preserving their wickets up the first drinks break.

Morley looked in good touch for his 29, progress cut short when Qureshi was thrown the new ball and he responded by bending back his middle stump.

Phipps continued to accumulate runs and put his recent shortage of them behind him to keep the board moving. He lost Keith Watson, but reached his half-century with one of the ten fours he would ultimately hit.

Although the required run rate was spiralling out of control, an injection of pace was needed, and Greg Routley carried on from where he left off last week. After a couple of sighters he hit his third ball for four to open his account; and just seventeen balls later he was caught in the deep having scored 45 with eight fours and two sixes.

Shortly before Routley’s dismissal, Phipps also departed for a Stoke career best of 62, from 102 balls, a fourth catch in the field by Cook, and this left two new batsmen in Page and Earl at the crease.

Page was dismissed in identical circumstances to his opposite number but Earl was fluent from the off and the attacking fields set by the visitors allowed for plenty of scoring opportunities. The 200-mark was passed with the asking rate still at roughly a run-a-ball. The loss of Jeremy Connell left Earl with the tail, but he put his trust in them and they didn’t disappoint.

Harkett clubbed two fours in a run-a-ball 10 to reduce the equation to 28 required from 27 balls; and Giacomo Gray, who recovered from a nervous start with the ball but saved many important runs in the long fielding effort, played correctly and waited for the bad ball.

Gray did get a life when mid-on failed to hold on to a catch over his head, but batted brilliantly under the circumstances. Encouragement from the keeper to keep playing shots resulted in the next ball going over extra cover for four. Earl engineered thirteen runs off the 48th over, bringing up his half-century in the process, leaving twelve balls to score five to win. A couple of scrambled singles edged Stoke nearer the win; and with the field up a filthy full toss was carved over the short fine leg by Gray for four to complete the win with six balls to spare.

Earl walked off 56 not out from 48 balls faced with six fours and three sixes; Gray, (10 not out), received plaudits from both sides and will have memory to bank for ever.

The injustice of the point scoring system in the Championship means that Chessington take no points for contributing to such an excellent game and playing it in the right spirit, allowing a substitute fielder during Earl’s absence. They should get a welcome increment to their points total next week against Warlingham, and should be fine despite their precarious League position. Mention also to their umpire who stood at both ends and was completely impartial and good humoured throughout. Stoke travel to Horsley & Send next week hoping to complete a double.

Scorecard Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11769260