2nd XI lose control of destiny with narrow defeat to Ripley

Saturday 10th August 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship – 2nd XI competition
Ripley 2nd XI 162 all out (46.5 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 2nd XI 154 all out (49.2 overs)
Ripley 2nd XI Won by 8 runs

Two years ago Stoke left Ripley with a convincing 50:50 win and a ticket to Division 3. When stumps were drawn after this match a narrow defeat left them staring another exit of the same division, but this time the other way.

This was very much one that got away. For large periods Stoke were in control; an important toss won, six wickets taken for 88 off 34 overs despite conceding 34 for the first wicket. Tristan Caviet, (10-1-24-2), Alex Bond, (2 for 25), plus a wicket each for Duncan Elder an Adrian Mills had Stoke in a great position; but a cavalier counter by the lower order coupled with front line bowlers having bowled all their allocations saw Nasser, (20), and Govey, (39), help get the hosts something to bowl at.

Raja Singh, (3 for 15), mopped up most of the tail in three eventful overs where some crazy running and shot selection was met with a few black marks on an otherwise decent fielding display; Andy Page, (1 for 27), closed the innings on 162 in the 47th over.

The hosts made a great start when Naseer threw one through Andy Berry’s defences in the first over; but Peter Phipps and Caviet built a nice partnership of 46 to put Stoke ahead of the game with wickets in hand, but never miles ahead of the asking rate as Rashid, (10-3-22-0), tied down and end on a pitch that was starting to become difficult to bat on.

The task suddenly became even more difficult when prior to drinks Caviet, (14) chipped one from Govey to square; and the same bowler castled Malhotra Jnr and Malhotra Snr – although the former was unlucky to be beaten buy a back of a length delivery that rolled – then Jeremy Connell got a good one first up. 58 for 5 and Phipps had 36 of them.

A player finally stuck around with Phipps to edge stoke closer to the finishing line. Andy Page played nicely for 34, but when he was out with the total on 111 Phipps was running out of partners. He lost two more in Singh and Bond; and with 22 needed off the last four overs it was time to have a go.

Phipps advanced his score to a league career best 69; but became the returning Govey’s fifth wicket, (he finished on 10-5-23-5 – previous career best 3 for 42…against the same opposition), leaving Elder and Mills the remaining 19 runs to get.

The equation was brought down to 13 from the last and it began well when Elder hit the first ball to the boundary; bit a mix up next ball saw an easy run out end the game seconds later.

So Stoke fall behind Ripley again in the points table and below the dreaded dotted line. Bonus points might come into play but the most likely scenario is that Stoke would probably survive were they to win one more game than Ripley in the last four rounds of fixtures; the first of which sees Merstham come to the Rec, (Stoke secured a winning draw in the reverse fixture), who curiously were unable to chase 100.

Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3754566