Sunday XI draw with Hampton Hill

Sunday 27th July 2014 – Friendly
Stoke D’Abernon 220 for 7 declared (36 overs)
Hampton Hill 128 for 7 (45 overs)
Match Drawn

Hampton Hill made a welcome return to the Stoke Rec after a number of years of being off the card, we speculated that it was the lengthening of the League programme in the mid-1990s that meant something had to give. (One of the opposition remembered the old changing rooms being behind the bowler’s arm at the Blundell Lane end the last time he played here, and was unaware of the current clubhouse being where it is today!)

This match had all the makings of a thriller at the drinks break in the second innings after Stoke racked up 220 in just 36 overs, only to face a rapid opening stand of 68 in reply, the total moving to 101 for 2 with twenty overs to go. The loss of top-scorer Ayyathurai, who made 52 soon after led to a severe reduction in the scoring rate and the match petered out into a draw.

Stephen Finch won the toss and chose to bat on a warm afternoon. Ollie John, (12 from 10), and Neil Foster, (24 from 19), got the board ticking and 53 runs had already been scored by the end of the seventh over, that saw Foster hole out to mid-off. John looked good until his progress was cut short when Ayyathurai stuck out a hand at cover and held on to a cut shot that was hit hard.

Jeremy Connell hit three fours in a brief knock of 13, and late self-appointed call-up Mike Carty kept the boundaries coming, clubbing seven of them in a knock of 30 that lasted just 16 balls. Carty was fourth out with the score on 95 in just the fourteenth over.

Rod Thomson was not at his usual fluent self but did participate in a fifth wicket stand of 32 with Chris Finch, the latter moving his feet well and manoeuvring the field in an excellent knock of 57 from 55 balls faced with seven fours and two sixes. He found great support from Alex Thomson who found confidence from a couple of early boundaries and went on to hit a career best 30.

After Chris Finch was stumped, his brother hit a quick unbeaten 24 to prompt a 36 over declaration. Zaq, (8-3-22-1), was the pick of the bowlers, showing what could be achieved if a sensible field was set and bowled to. A.Rutherford took 2 for 48 in seven overs, figures spoiled a little by Carty’s earlier fireworks.

After another mega tea from Jo, Stoke looked for early wickets but Ayyathurai and M.Rutherford added 68 in 14.2 overs to get their run chase off to a good start. The new ball was shared by youngsters Banji Moore and debutant Henry Baker. Both can be pleased with their contribution despite their lack of wickets. The pitch offered little for them.

Change bowlers Jay Atwal and Carty slowed the run-rate down, and Carty got Stoke on the board when M.Rutherford cut a ball to Connell at backward point, a catch met with approval from messers Raimondo, Frost(W) and Ramdin who were in attendance.

No.3 Harding hit a couple of nice fours before falling to a smart stumping by Foster off Atwal, and drinks were taken with the score on 99 for 2 with Ayyathurai having completed his fifty, his own personal scoring rate declining rapidly as he turned down what looked like a number of easy runs.

Ayyathurai, (52 from 74), was out in the first over after drinks when he hit a ball from Atwal to Stephen Finch at short cover, and the pace of the game changed for the worse from this point. Twins P.Rutherford and A.Rutherford found runs hard to come by, and the pressure told as the latter called the former through only to be beaten by a good throw from the edge of the circle by John.

Puri was bowled by Carty for just a single, (104 for 5), but from then on it was frustration. Atwal, (12-3-25-2), and Carty, (10-1-26-2), sent down over after over with little reward; A.Rutherford and Zaq negotiated thirteen overs for the addition of just fifteen runs.

After four tidy overs from John, Zaq, (13 from 46), finally lost concentration when he chipped Stephen Finch to Connell; the same bowler then took a return catch in the penultimate over to remove Kendall for a duck; but A.Rutherford could not be shifted, his 57 ball vigil, (the first 49 of them containing just three singles), ending with him hitting the last ball of the match from Connell for his second four to finish 11 not out. The final total was 128 for 7 after 45 overs.

The victorious returning Trust League squad made it a busy bar afterwards and the opposition were as sociable off the field as they were on it. We hope to have them back next year. It was also great to see Logie Logendran pop in to say hello.

Currently there is no fixture next Sunday other than the Trust League match at the Rec against Beddington. Please let Ralphie know if you can play and if we get numbers we will source an away fixture.

Scorecard Link : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/view_results_details?id=11940099