Sunday XI end the 2013 season with a win over Old Ashfordians

Friendly Match – Sunday 29th September 2013
Old Ashfordians 162 for 9 dec (38 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 164 for 6 (33.5 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon won by 4 wickets

Stoke’s Sunday XI completed a weekend win-double to end the 2013 season on a high. The result was even more satisfying as we had no fixture until Friday lunchtime when we received a call from our friends from Old Ashfordians were left short of a fixture, but were still given use of the ground by Shepperton, their original and traditional end of season opponents.

Stoke were given the call ahead of many others who had advertised looking for an away fixture due to good relations between the sides; but did their best to devil this when barely half the team were at the ground by the time play was due to commence. When calls were made, one alleged he didn’t know he was playing, another went to another’s house only to find out ten minutes before play that his mate had gone direct, and another was stuck in traffic despite living closer to the ground than most.

This sent pre-game negotiations into a bit of turmoil as there was an expectation that Stoke would field, the hosts saying they were a little stronger than their two previous XIs that have won at the Rec. This was still the outcome at the toss, but only the kindness of the hosts in lending fielders to get the match started made this possible. Old A’s, we know you read our reports, we apologise, and are grateful that you did what we would have done. Hopefully the post-game jugs of beer were enough!

When play started, Stoke still short, Dan Douthwaite and Keegan Weideman bowled decent areas and kept the run rate below three per over. First change bowlers Umar Qayyum and Ralph Coleman got Stoke on the board, sharing the first three wickets to fall. Qayyum forced David Halle cut to Moumer Khara at point, then Carr played across a straight one that kept low. Derek Halle edged a delivery from Coleman where Nico Spreeth took a great catch diving forward.

An attritional period to drinks followed when Prowse and Handley dug in, moving the score to 81; the innings run rate still under threes. This was despite another Loony Tunes moment in the 22nd over when a no-ball that slipped from Qayyum’s hands was pulled down to the vacant long-leg area where Hugo Solway, who had arrived but was waiting on the boundary to enter the arena, ran on to the pitch and fielded the ball. After some head-scratching, Coleman’s suggestion that penalty runs should be awarded was approved and the total was adjusted accordingly at the drinks break.

Thereafter the next passage of play was a contest between Spreeth and the Old Ashfordians’ middle order. Spreeth castled Handley for 14; the next ball to left-hander Byrne’s turned savagely, so he charged at his second and was well caught by Douthwaite who had taken over the gloves; then Peace was bowled for 2. 89 for 6.

It was a different game at the other end as other bowlers were given their chance but ran into Vidyerthy, (normally an aggressive opening bat), and Prowse; the latter starting to be more expansive having done the spade work early on. The pair added another 37 runs before Jeremy Connell picked up Prowse for 40, another catch for Khara, Connell experimenting with a bit of leg-‘spin’ that was abandoned as a concept after two overs.

Weideman returned to the attack and was rewarded for his efforts when Vidyerthy skied to Spreeth at fly-slip; then Spreeth himself returned and took his fourth wicket of the afternoon, (7-3-21-4), and his 50th of his breakthrough season, when MacCallum was bowled.

Last pair Sravan and Mills nudged another 25 runs leading to a 38-over declaration on 162 for 9.

After a good tea, the message from the captain was clear. Bat the overs and we would win the game, but be watchful of first change Carr who had taken five-fors to win both previous meetings between the sides.

Khara survived an early dropped chance but was bowled by Byrne for 2 soon after; but Solway and Douthwaite got the board moving, adding 80 runs in nine overs. Solway had a block the straight one, smash the errant one approach, and found the fence seven times. Douthwaite carried on where he left off the previous day and registered his half-century off just the 31st ball he faced.

Solway was caught in the covers for a career best 43; but Connell joined Douthwaite and the pair batted with little alarm, moving the total to 117 when the last 20 overs were called.

Then came the collective team blob. Carr entered the attack and a succession of batsmen proceeded to gift him their wickets. Douthwaite, (whose 64 from 46 with 9×4 and 1×6 to take his season’s aggregate to 1129), skied to Vidyerthy who took a good high catch having spilled three more straightforward ones earlier in the session; Connell mis-pulled to mid-wicket three balls later; Steve Finch went aerial once too often and gave more catching practice; then Qayyum hit a return catch. 140 for 6, Carr 5 for 28 including 5 for 21 in 39 balls.

Calm heads were needed with more than ten overs to score the remaining 23 runs. Rod Thomson, (21 not out), and Spreeth, (14 not out), delivered the goods and knocked off the balance with plenty of time to spare, to close the season on a happy note.

So, Stoke’s Sunday XI ended their season with a balanced record of P22, W9, L10, D1, Abandoned 2. 58 different players took the field, and we think we got the balance right between giving the younger players their chances and seniors their right to play a part themselves with bat & ball. Vocal & administrative support from key individuals was never in short supply; and as a collective we promoted the Spirit of Cricket.

Applications for Sunday skipper next year are now being sought; whoever takes on the job has a wonderful opportunity to build on what we have done in the last two seasons after our Sunday cricket nearly died in 2011. Roll on 2014!

Scorecard Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11838741