Saturday 7th September 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship – 2nd XI competition
Stoke D’Abernon 2nd XI 254 for 5 (50 overs)
Old Emanuel 2nd XI 255 for 8 (42.1 overs)
Old Emanuel 2nd XI won by 2 wickets

Whilst the 1st XI were doing the necessary down in Farnham Stoke’s second string were at The Rec and a difficult season ended with them suffering defeat against an Old Emanuel side that did everything necessary to secure the win.

With the opposition having only five at the toss, and starting with nine in the field, Stoke batted first.

Andy Berry clubbed 80; and there was an unbroken partnership of 114 between Steve Wade, (57 not out), and Andy Page, (48 not out), to lift Stoke up to a competitive 254 for 5 in their allocation over overs.

Old Emanuel were expected to go at a good rate from the off and they didn’t disappoint as the sides traded wickets for runs at a furious pace; 86 for 2 off 11; 111 for 4 off 16; 160 for 5 off 19 and 176 for 6 off 24 saw Stoke a wicket or two away from a morale bosting win; but the opposition found a way and crossed the finishing line in the 43rd over for the loss of eight wickets.

Raja Singh, (3 for 43), took one early and two late scalps to be Stoke’s leading wicket-taker on the day; Duncan Elder took 2 for 50; and there was a wicket each for Patrick O’Neill, Alex Clinton and Jack Raimondo.

Kempton’s win means Stoke finish bottom of the pile and speculation of one club’s impending withdrawal from the League means that it will be them – not us – who would survive in Division 4 if that happens. So we’ll dust off our Surrey A-Zs and find some new and old friends to play against in 2020.

Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3755000