Sunday 25th August 2019
Stoke D’Abernon 162 all out (36.5 overs)
Badgers 116 all out (33.2 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon won by 46 runs
With one or two notable exceptions Stoke’s batsmen were indebted to their bowling unit as they turned and under-par score into a winning one at a sun-soaked Stoke Rec.
Going into the last three matches in the knowledge that winning the last three games would make results elsewhere irrelevant; Stoke’s 1st XI completed the first of them by defending an under-par score at The Rec.
Batting first on winning the toss a healthy run rate throughout the innings was maintained but wickets were lost at regular intervals; only James Corbishley, (30), and Alastair Curran, (39) reaching 30; as the innings needed a few re-boots after spluttering to 89 for 5, then 145 for 7. Tom Frost, (15), Robbie Blackburn, (22), and Jase Earl, (13 not out), made useful lower order runs before the innings closed on exactly 200 in just the 44th over.
After tea Stoke’s bowlers stepped up. Will Frost, (10-3-20-2), took out both openers, Shawn Dyson took his 99th and 100th 1st XI League wickets to make it 61 for 4. No stoke bowler with 100 or more 1st XI wickets in the combined Championship and Fuller’s League era has a better strike rate or average.
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Hassan and Wallbank got the visitors close to half-way mark, but used many overs getting there as Billy Zander returned miserly figures of 10-4-8-1; Wallbank was fifth out to Ian Hopton, needing 57 balls to make just 8 as the asking rate climbed.
In the end Sanderstead fell well short. Hopton doubled his count on the way to figures of 10-2-33-2; Max Subba Row took another wicket in a short spell; Dyson, (9-1-40-3), made it nine down before Blackburn castled the last man to complete a 41 run win. All six bowlers used got into the fourth column.
Three wins from three now becomes two wins from two. Dorking are up next. They can’t catch Stoke having been beaten by Chipstead who secured the title by beating them; but Dulwich, Oxted & Limpsfield and Bank of England are all still in the race for second place having secured wins. The latter two play each other next week whilst Dulwich host Worcester Park.
Scorecard : https://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3754737
Saturday 24th August 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship – 2nd XI competition
Stoke D’Abernon 2nd XI 177 for 9 (50 overs)
Kempton 2nd XI 178 for 7 (39.4 overs)
Kempton 2nd XI won by 3 wickets
Only a win would do for both sides and it was Kempton who emerged victorious after Stoke ground out a par-ish score on a good track but were unable to get through a competent lower order pair. Victory for Ripley now relegates Stoke to Division 5; and only defeats with zero points for Addiscombe and two wins for Kempton would prevent this from being a pair of Division 5 fixtures next year.
Thursday 22nd August 2019
Weybridge Over 40s 130 for 3 (16 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon Over 40s 130 for 9 (16 overs)
Match Tied
We could have made this up but we’re not, honest! A tie last Tuesday and a tie again yesterday evening at The Rec as the Over 40s ended their 2019 season with another last ball thriller.
The OSCAs recognise the hard work thousands of volunteers across Surrey put into the recreational game. An OSCA nomination is a great way for the Surrey Cricket Foundation to say thank you to your volunteers.
Nominees and nominators were invited to attend an event at the Kia Oval on Sunday 18th August on Day 1 of Surrey’s County Championship fixture against Hampshire, and we had success in two categories; details below with a background to each nomination.
JAMES TROWER – WINNER
Young Volunteer 19-25
James joined the club 15 years ago as an Under 9. He progressed through the colts into senior cricket. He was appointed 1st XI skipper in 2016 at the age of 21, leading the team to three successive promotions from Div 5 to Div 2 in the Surrey Championship. He qualified as a Level 2 coach at the age of 18 and he works tirelessly to ensure that the club has an inclusive environment for all ages, levels and abilities of cricketers. Friday night training now sees senior players supporting coaches in each age group. James leads this through a weekly duty rota for all senior players to support different coaching sessions. He works with the 2s, 3s and Sunday skippers to ensure that colts are given the opportunity to shine in senior cricket and he was instrumental in organising the recent ‘Stoke Smash’, when team managers and 1s players played a 16 over match in front of 100 enthusiastic colts. He is a Club man to the core and is a role model for the younger colts; constantly coming up with new ideas to improve the way things are done, both on and off the field. His positive energy is infectious.
ANDY PAGE – Final 4 Shortlist
Lifetime Achiever
In 22 years as a member of the club, Andy has made an enormous contribution. As skipper of the first eleven for 6 consecutive years, (2004-2009), he led the transformation of the team from ageing middle aged men to a group of former colts aged 14-18. In doing this, he secured promotion with a team of teenagers from the Fuller’s League to the Surrey Championship, establishing the platform for today’s ‘grow your own players’ policy. At the same time, he skippered the Surrey Trust League team, using it as an additional vehicle for colts development. He subsequently managed the Club’s very successful Ladies team for 5 years, the most famous export being Natalie Sciver. In 2013, he joined forces with the chairman to re-design the clubhouse and make it fit-for-purpose for life inthe Surrey Championship. The Chairman led the fund-raising process and as a practicing chartered surveyor, Andy project-managed the £250,000 build in 2015, refusing to charge the Club for his time. Today, he remains on the Committee in charge of facilities and he continues to play 2s, Sunday and midweek cricket. To many members, he is known as the man who modernised the Club.
Thanks to Drew for the images of JT, (between between Gus Atkinson and Stuart Meaker); and Pagie who was always going to struggle to win because of his age and tenure, (the winner has 62 years’ service to one club under his belt), but our sources say he was incredibly touched and quite emotional. It was a big deal for his family who were also in attendance!
Details of other categories and awards can be found here : https://twitter.com/SurreyCricketFd
We were pleased to have a call from our friends at Chessington in response to our advert; a couple of our Saturday 2nd XI matches have resulted in last over finishes in recent times and the Sunday sides served up another.
Firstly a massive thanks to Hoppy for getting a pitch playable when the overnight deluge put the game in doubt. The start time was put back to 2.30pm but an efficient opposition were out there ready to start ten minutes early to make use of the very bowler friendly conditions.
Moumer Khara and Malcolm Dickson were leg before ahead the official start time; and soon after Deepak Malhotra became Stuart Jnr’s third wicket when he was bowled having looked good for his 17. Geoff Vinall knocked his new bat in with a four and a six before falling to an excellent catch at cover.
With Stoke being in a bit of a hole at 44 for 4 Rod Thomson toughed it out and found some support from Rob Butler who made it to 13 before being given out by his brother. The remaining ball of the over saw Stephen Finch lift the bowler back over his head for four, but sadly this would be his only scoring shot as he was unable to keep down a square cut in the next. Aarav Malhotra didn’t find the alien batting conditions to his liking and chipped a pie to the keeper as the opposition opened things up; and at 98 for 7 Stoke needed a few more which with some sociable game management the opposition kindly obliged.
Thomson continued to grind it out; and Andy Butler connected with a few. The former checked out for a gritty 27; the latter swotted a few more fours as he ran out of partners, being last out for 21 off the first ball of the last over delivered by the returning Stuart Jnr who finished with the match’s best figures of 6.1-1-16-4.
139 all out. Four an over on the pitch was something to bowl at, but Stoke had to bowl well.
Having missed out the previous day Aarav Malhotra quickly made his point, maintaining a great line to a left-hand/right-hand opening combination. At the other end the captain sprayed it like an unguarded hose but got the first wicket when he surprised the batsmen – and himself – with a full and straight one having started with two wides and followed it up with three long hops. Not a great tone to set and Geoff Vinall was quickly on.
Vinall bowled one side of the wicket and got one through No.3’s defensive prod; Malhotra Jnr the got a wicket he fully deserved in the last over he was permitted to bowl by age when the other opener was adjudged leg before by his teammate. Replacement bowler Andy Butler took out No.4 with a full delivery and Stoke were into it 30-40-ish for 4.
With so many bowlers in the side spells were kept short and the buy in from all the bowlers to this approach was much appreciated. The caveat was if any bowler looked like running through the order they could stay on; Khara threatened to do this at every turn, running the ball across the batsmen, and how the No.5 Tharumanayagam didn’t edge one into keeper Kevin Morgan’s gloves will forever remain a mystery. Morgan did another great job behind the timbers.
No.6 Newson did fall to that combination, but Tharumanayagam was going well and was moving Chessington ever nearer the finishing line.
Rob Butler took two in two to get Stoke back into it, but Tharumanayagam’s plan to get a boundary an over with the asking rate pushing fives was clear to see and he was generally successful; when not he was given a little extra help with a number of wides and no-balls – 43 extras would ultimately come back to hurt Stoke.
Khara, (7-1-19-1), made way for the return of Malhotra Jnr and we also discovered we had a player who could keep calm under pressure at the death as well. Having created two chances to remove Tharumanayagam that went begging, he then got his man for 36 with a straight one that kept low.
With 20 needed off the last four overs or two wickets to get things still could have gone either way. Butler Jnr, (7-1-30-3), castled No.10 but the over contained more extras. The No.11 was better than a No.11 – possibly listed there having done so well with the ball earlier – so there was still work to do.
Vinall came back for the penultimate over and dotted things down; Malhotra Jnr had just four to play with going into the last and did everything he could off the first four balls before the fifth was squirted through the covers to close out an absorbing contest.
Well done to everyone for making this game happen, and to Jo to another excellent tea. It was also nice to see George and Olli Nunn pop in to catch up with everyone having joined the ranks last weekend.
There is more cricket at Stoke on Thursday as the Over 40s have a return match against Weybridge after last week’s tie. Please make every effort to get down, cheer the team on and have a beer or two.
As for next weekend, get your availabilities in and we’ll source another home fixture.
Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4076586
All change again at the top of the division as Stoke took second place in the table from Dulwich after beating them by four wickets.
James Trower won the toss and gave the hosts first use of a pitch that was always going to do a bit given the rain that fell in the week; Robbie Blackburn, (6-1-10-0), and Will Frost, (7-1-13-1), gave little away; the latter striking early when dismissing Patel first ball.
A lush outfield didn’t give value for shots either and whilst Purhouse and Khan progressed things to 41 for 1; many overs were used getting to that point as Shawn Dyson, (5-1-13-1), and Jase Earl, (7-0-19-0), continued to lock things down. Dyson made the breakthrough when Purhouse was caught at the wicket by Tom Frost, (one of four dismissals), for what would be the innings’ highest score of 24.
The pressure told and the next wave of bowlers shared the next eight wickets for 63 at a personal cost of just 44 between them. Billy Zander, (10-3-17-3), returned career best 1st XI Surrey Championship bowling figures; Ian Hopton, (9-1-25-3), added another triple to his count and Max Subba Row, (2.2-1-2-2), bowled the last two batsmen to make it 104 all out in 46.4 overs.
Subba Row’s afternoon turned a little for the worst when he was caught at the wicket off the first ball of the reply; and there were a few butterflies when Trower and Hopton were both back in the pavilion soon after with just 11 on the board; but Stoke’s deep batting order was little troubled thereafter; Dyson, (30), Alastair Curran, (27), and Roddy Kelso took Stoke most of the way there; Tom Frost, (15 not out), and Zander, (11 not out), knocked off the rest.
So the result now means if Stoke can win out no-one can stop them finishing in the top two. Bottom placed Sanderstead come to the Rec next Saturday, but they must not be underestimated having dismissed Dorking for 79 to keep alive their faint hopes of survival.
Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3754627
Stoke’s 2nd XI suffered another defeat, and victory for Ripley over Purley leaves them facing the grim prospect of a second successive relegation.
The visitors were given the best of the batting conditions when the coin came down, and but for an early wicket for Adrian Mills and a bullseye delivered by Ed Ashwell in the 18th over, forty overs had passed before the third wicket fell as visiting captain Drewett took full advantage in making 89.
A formidable total was on the cards at 181 for 2 but credit to Stoke who took five wickets in the last ten overs to limit the damage. Raja Singh took the wickets of Drewett and Sathya in the same over; Mills, (10-1-32-2), doubled his tally with the wicket of Pasha; and there were two late strikes for Duncan Elder, (10-0-51-2), as Stoke restricted the damage to 227 for 7. Although wicketless, Patrick O’Neill bowled well, returning figures of 10-1-28-0.
In reply Peter Phipps and Hamza Hafeez gave Stoke a good start with an opening stand of 37 but scoring became increasingly difficult as the pitch started to die, matching the groundsman’s warning that chasing would become difficult.
An out of sorts Hafeez edged to the keeper having had two previous lives; Aarav Malhotra was called through for a suicidal single by his captain who was then bowled in the next over for 20 trying a ramp. Moments later Justin Jones picked out point and 37 for 0 was 38 for 4.
Andy Berry got the board moving again but others struggled to stay with him. Patrick O’Neill hit two nice fours over the top before holing out to the man placed in the deep to dissuade him from attempting a repeat and Carel Ferreira, who kept well earlier in the day, got a good nut second up. 71 for 6 was soon 83 for 7 when Ashwell skied one to point.
Berry was eighth out for 41 with the score on 100; and things could have been a lot worse for Stoke but for a tremendous act of sportsmanship by Drewett who recalled Elder. Having been hit in the ribs by sixth bowler Maplesden’s first delivery, he was a little disorientated and with uncertainty as to whether an opportunist run out should stand or whether the ball was dead, Drewett opted for the former.
The decision was unlikely to affect the outcome of the game, although Elder and Singh did then put together an entertaining partnership of 68; ended when Singh, (21), became was castled by a good one from Aslam. The match was over moments later when Elder checked out for 51 from 47 balls faced and Stoke were comfortably short of their target.
The stats don’t lie. One win in fifteen – and it was arguable that was burgled – leaves Stoke hanging on by a thread and they have three games against Kempton next week, then Purley and Old Emanuel to find the required number of wins; two might still be enough but any more wins for Ripley and it will have to be all three.
Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3754674
Who writes the scripts for Over 40s matches between Stoke and Weybridge?
A third last ball finish in their last four meetings – none of them contrived – on a sunny evening on the green in front of a decent crowd that included Malcolm Dickson and Gary Harkett in their number.
Kevin Morgan won the toss and the non-appearance of Andy Berry at the start meant everyone shifted up one place from their allocated number, and when said latecomer was eventually put down as a non-runner Ralph Coleman was hauled off the pitch from his umpiring duties to get his kit bag from the boot to keep Stoke at a full compliment. The bag was more mobile and probably would have contributed more but that’s another story.
Carel Ferreira, (17), and Justin Jones went off like a train; plundering 28 from the first three overs, (three of the first four deliveries Ferreira faced from Wyeth went to the very long boundaries); but both were dismissed to leave Geoff Vinall and Rod Thomson the task of keeping things moving.
They had mixed success against the son/father combination of Jonny and Oli Slipper; Thomson was bowled by Slipper Snr; then Vinall, (14), heard the death rattle as former Stoker James Howells bowled a straight one that, contrary to the batsman’s version of events, did absolutely nothing. Good bat speed, though.
Fraser Slater and Deepak Malhotra boosted the total with a stand of 31 but were made to work hard for their runs as Howells, (2-0-5-1), and Hall, (2-0-9-1), bowled accurately. They were separated when Slater, (11), was run out by a direct hit with no-one backing up.
Malhotra, (17), Andy Page and Mark Christie surrendered their wickets in the closing overs in the pursuit of quick runs. Harry Nawaz hit a four and a single to close the innings on 100 for 8. Under par was the verdict.
After a quick turnaround Morgan took the gloves, selected his opening bowlers then ‘encouraged’ Coleman into setting the fields and working out the rest of the combinations which, with help from Page and others worked out pretty well. With so few runs to play with one over spells to involve everyone was the way to go in case people missed out; but more by luck than judgement this approach, rather than regimented two over spells adopted by their opponents, proved an effective tactic; due consideration given to the slower bowlers bowling most of the first eight overs with a long cow boundary in play on one side before switching ends.
Vinall and Page bowled the first two overs and set a good tone; Page castling Ed Smith, (dreams of an Ashes call up turned to dust when it became apparent that it wasn’t THE Ed Smith), to get Stoke on the board; next bowlers Jones and Nawaz kept Weybridge behind the rate and the latter bowled Aitken to make it 17 for 2 after four.
Thomson and Malhotra shared the next four overs at a combined cost of just 20; Malhotra was unlucky not to get a wicket; Thomson doubly unfortunate that a shot cracked back at him didn’t stick but split the webbing on his hand, forcing him to leave the field and Stoke a man down for the last quarter of the match.
As the light started to fade quicker bowlers had their turn. Christie and Ferreira bowled well but late boundaries in each of their overs kept Weybridge in with a chance; Vinall completed his allocation with a tidy over to swing things back in Stoke’s favour only for Coleman, Ferreira and Nawaz to cough up a mix of boundaries and extras to leave Page with just six runs to play with going into the last over with dangerman Slipper still a the crease; his arrival prompted by a great throw from the deep by Malhotra to effect a run-out.
It would be remiss of us not to mention Ferreira, Jones, Malhotra and Slater all patrolling the boundaries with distinction to take the game deep.
No-one expected the game to go as far as it did at the innings change, and DLS, WASP, etc; never gave Stoke a price; but their ‘Ice Man’ Page did justice to the name given to him by the golden generation of a decade ago; a boundaryless five ball sequence left two needed off the last ball. It was creamed out into the deep but a rocket throw from Jones to the bowler saw the batsman stranded and an easy run out decision given meaning the sides had tied.
Another excellent advert for Over 40s cricket – for anyone reading this please don’t make these games into League as there are enough high quality in-game battles to satisfy demand there, and those out for a more sociable experience still get to play in a relaxed atmosphere.
The sides meet again at the Stoke Rec next Thursday, (22nd) – please make every effort to come and support this excellent concept that started with a few colts’ parents forming a team and ultimately going on to help with numbers for longer format games at the weekend, make tours happen, extend playing careers and create revenue.
Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4075960
The week started with excellent availability to source a second fixture. The traditional number of drop outs, including four on the Saturday, one at 10.30pm and another tried to bail on the Sunday morning but was turned around, made for a bit of a late scramble but 21 players helped make two games; each side posting a similar score but with a different result.
Home Match
Stoke D’Abernon 211 for 7 (35 overs)
Hampton Woodlawn 127 all out (30 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon won by 84 runs
Stoke batted first in a 35 over contest and whilst run-scoring was difficult early on, the opposition eventually ran out of bowling.
Alistair McMillan, (21), did the hard yards, gluing the top order before being adjudged run out, (“looked a tight call” according to he of pony tail who popped down to watch some of the action.)
Rod Thomson, (29), and Robbie Parrett, (25), got the board moving with a stand of 62; for the second season running Thomson found himself run out by a Stoke fielder lent to the opposition.
When they – and captain Jeremy Connell – were dismissed there was still some work to do at 138 for 7; but at this point the fireworks began.
Carel Ferreira, (20 not out), was his usual positive self; but anything he did was comparatively dull compared to Ed Ashwell who clubbed an unbeaten 52 with five fours and four massive sixes to lift the total to a formidable 211 for 7.
After tea Geoff Vinall and Ferreira put the visitors behind the rate; and Stoke earned two run outs.
Vinnie Paters and Ben Townsend took a wicket each; and the next three bowlers used took wickets too; Connell, (3 for 16), the most successful; and there was one each for McMillan and Thomson to complete an 84 run win.
Members of the away team returned to HQ to find a highly social opposition still putting money over the bar so a good day off the field too.
Scorecard : https://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4074980
Away Match
