Tag Archives: Alastair Curran

Valiant 1st XI Come Up Just Short in Thriller

Saturday 6th July 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship
Farnham 278 for 8 declared (53 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 263 all out (44.1 overs)
Farnham won by 15 runs

The unpredictable trend of results in this year’s division continued at the Stoke Rec as Farnham, occupiers of one of the bottom two spots, scored a win in a high-scoring encounter. Read more

Winning Draw for the 1st XI – Curran 101, Hopton 300th Wicket

Saturday 29th June 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship
Stoke D’Abernon 308 for 8 (55 overs)
Dorking 155 for 9 (45 overs)
Match Drawn – ‘Winning Draw’ to Stoke D’Abernon

Stoke’s 1st XI had control throughout this 2nd v 3rd encounter at Pixham Lane but for the second time in three weeks had to settle for a winning draw with the last pair at the wicket. Read more

Robbie 65 from 39 but 1st XI Lose to Old Ruts

Saturday 1st June 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship
Old Rutlishians 310 for 9 (50 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 206 all out (37.5 overs)
Old Rutlishians won by 104 runs

Stoke were set one of the highest totals ever made by an opposition at The Rec, and they gave it a go but eventually fell to defeat. Read more

Narrow Defeat for the 1st XI

Saturday 25th May 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship
Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians 253 for 6 (50 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 231 all out (47.5 overs)
Chipstead Coulsdon & Walcountians won by 22 runs

A first defeat of the season for Stoke’s 1st XI in a high quality match at picturesque Chipstead; James Trower’s men making light of the absence of a few key personnel, notably both opening bowlers; those coming into the side doing a great job. Read more

1st XI make Winning Start at Worcester Park

Saturday 11th May 2019
AJ Fordham Surrey Championship
Worcester Park 151 all out (47.3 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 152 for 5 (36.2 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon won by 5 wickets

Stoke made a winning start to life in Division 2 with an efficient put in & chase mission at Worcester Park. Read more

Awards Night Review

Saturday saw the end of League, (still September friendlies to play), celebrations at HQ.

Jo served up a fantastic curry for everyone and with stomachs lined for what was to be consumed later, the Captains and Drew gave their reviews of the season before President Finch handed out the awards.

First up the Bob Willis Cup for the most improved player at any level in the Club went to Patrick O’Neill, a clear winner having shown tremendous growth with the ball the and in the field…and with the bat too he as good as quadrupled his average from last year, and in the Trust League helped set a record last wicket stand in the first game, then beat it later in the season. Nominations from the players also came in for James Corbishley, Alastair Curran, Roddy Kelso and Will Thomson.

Patrick O’Neill

Corbs missed out there, but he will have his name engraved with Ian Hopton’s for the best performance in a match; their all-time Club record 5th wicket stand of 157, (unbroken), to take us to victory at Addiscombe emerged as a late winner despite votes coming in during the week for Andrew Klimcke’s incredible last over heroics to win the Over 40s T20 match against Weybridge, (http://www.stokecc.co.uk/2018/06/15/over-40s-beat-weybridge-on-last-ball-with-27-off-the-final-over/) This was the award that received the highest number of different nominations, and it was nice to see suggestions for 2nd XI performances despite a difficult year.

James Corbishley and Ian Hopton

The Spirit of Cricket Cup captures the person – or for a second year running persons as the award is shared again – who go about things the right way. Two of the most committed people shared it; Will Frost played every 1st XI match, never missed a practice session or the chance to have fun on and off the field; play-anywhere-man Will Thomson was equally committed to the 1st XI, 2nd XI, Sunday XI and Trust League causes and contributed in so many other ways off the field.

Will Frost
Will Thomson v Oxshott 2017

The Vice Presidents’ shield looks at overall contribution to the Club, either over a number of years, or for a standout contribution that makes a huge impact on the Club in any season. When looking at the longer-term contributors, having played for the majority of the last ten seasons that has seen our rise through the divisions, the latter half of them with responsibilities for coaching and pitch preparation & maintenance, Ian Hopton joins a list of names who over the years we simply couldn’t have done without.

Jo Drew Hoppy Jordan and Moeen

The Australia Cup for the best overall contribution to the 2nd XI saw ten different people receive votes. Patrick O’Neill was in the running again, as were Roddy Kelso and Duncan Elder; but by sheer weight of 3-vote allocations; Jase Earl gets to hold the cup for another year; although second place had only one fewer person vote for them.

League Dinner 2017 Jase Pub

It was a similar story for the England Cup for the best overall contribution to the 1st XI. Shawn Dyson polled over 40% but was one of nine players who received votes. There was a lot of love for Will Frost and Ian Hopton…and the variety of nominations saw James O’Gorman and Tim Handel receive votes too.

Shawn Dyson

So that left, (for awards to be handed out on Saturday), the Player of the Year. Currently with most runs and wickets, although we have friendlies left to play, Shawn won this one by a landslide – Robbie Blackburn was the only other player to receive a nomination in his first year back with us. We can’t do justice to Shawn’s contribution in this piece to capture his time with us so far. Hopefully he’ll be back next year and we can all congratulate him and thank him in person.

On Sunday the Surrey Trust League Player of the Year award was handed out. In a difficult year that saw us drop down to a Development League yet we seemed to come up against a lot of 1st XIs, and our own availability not being as good as anticipated pre-season, it would be easy to write this season off; but out of the wreckage one individual showed a heart if a lion, kept running in on unresponsive pitches…and was also victim of a lot of unresponsive fielding too. In years to come Ben Townsend may not look at his 2018 stats with too much affection, but we know we have a player who in less bat-dominated seasons such as this one and better fielders to take catches for him he will be leading our attacks for many years to come.

ben-t-and-jack-t-v-worcester-park-august-2016

Nominations were also received for the Derek Wellman Cup for the best player in the Colts’ section. This will be handed out at the Colts’ Awards night this coming Friday where we hope to see as many seniors as possible come along to support that event.

So for the record here are the results for your enjoyment. If you have a low percentage here, remember there were a lot of people who didn’t receive any votes at all…and everyone starts on zero again next year.

England Cup for the best overall contribution to the 1st XI
Shawn Dyson 41%
Will Frost 21%
Ian Hopton 15%
James Trower 9%
Will Gudgeon 5%
James O’Gorman 4%
Robbie Blackburn 3%
Will Thomson 1%
Tim Handel 1%

For Player of the Year Robbie Blackburn received one nomination, Shawn the rest.

Australia Cup for the best overall contribution to the 2nd XI
Jase Earl 30%
Roddy Kelso 21%
Duncan Elder 14%
Patrick O’Neill 12%
Andy Page 7%
Will Thomson 5%
Andy Berry 5%
Alex Clinton 2%
Max Subba Row 2%
Ben Townsend 2%

Bob Willis Cup for the Most Improved Player
Patrick O’Neill 40%
Alastair Curran 13%
James Corbishley 13%
Roddy Kelso 13%
Max Subba Row 13%
Will Thomson 8%

Hugh Dharmasena Spirit of Cricket Cup
Will Thomson 35%
Will Frost 35%
Jase Earl 6%
Duncan Elder 6%
Mike Enslin 6%
Chris Finch 6%
Ian Hopton 6%

Performance of the Season
25% – James Corbishley & Ian Hopton (Partnership) v Addiscombe – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302782
15% – Robbie Blackburn (Match Double) v Cheam – http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302762
15% – Andrew Klimcke’s last over v Weybridge O40s –

http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3686819 Read more





Narrow Defeat for the 1st XI

Saturday 1st September 2018
Travelbag Surrey Championship – Division 3
Old Rutlishians 220 for 6 (50 overs)
Stoke D’Abernon 214 all out (48.5 overs)
Old Rutlishians won by 6 runs

The previous week’s results meant this wasn’t the expected title decider, but Stoke and Old Ruts showed why they were the best two sides in the division by serving up a tremendous match to end the League season where all results were possible going into the final few deliveries.

Ruts won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch that played better than it looked. Will Frost and Robbie Blackburn kept things tight early and the pressure brought the first wicket when Bryan slapped a delivery from Frost to Ian Hopton at mid-off. 15 for 1.

Pemberton, (53), and Riches, (58), got themselves in and put together a partnership of 76 for the 2nd wicket, broken by Hopton who found the edge of the former’s bat and James Whitmarsh did the rest behind the stumps.

Riches and Sharples moved the total to 148 for 2; but they were unable to up the rate as much as they would like as all the change bowlers did well. Hopes of a big total were scuppered when Frost, (10-2-30-2), returned to the attack to dismiss Riches; then Hopton, (10-0-42-3), castled Sharples for 39 and picked up Trimmings for 4 courtesy of a good catch in the deep by Alastair Curran to make it 176 for 5.

Good bowling and intelligent field placements restricted the boundaries and Patel, (21 not out with just one four), Jones, (12), and Mude, (17 not out), could only get the total up to 220 for 6; Jones’s wicket late in the piece fell to Shawn Dyson who would end the season as joint leading wicket-taker in the division.

After tea Max Subba Row and James Trower gave Stoke a nice start by adding 31 for the first wicket. Subba Row looked in good touch before getting a life, but no reprieve in the next over when he was leg-before for 16. A ring-rusty Will Gudgeon steered the fourth ball he faced to slip; then Trower was bowled and Stoke suddenly found themselves 38 for 3.

Dyson and Curran re-built things with a fourth wicket stand of 33; Curran scored 15 of them before edging to the keeper standing up. Curran was one of a succession of batsmen to fall in the teens as Dyson looked on from the other end, but Stoke were very much in this if someone could stay with him.

James Corbishley, (14), and Hopton, (12), both perished when well set; and when Dyson, (65 from 76), steered one into the keeper’s gloves trying to run one through the vacant third man area it was advantage Ruts with the total on 144 for 7.

Whitmarsh and late call up Roddy Kelso added another 36 runs to take the game as deep as possible. Kelso struck the ball cleanly and pair ran well; but just as they looked to be putting Stoke back in control, Whitmarsh was bowled by sixth bowler O.Patel, (10-0-40-4), then Blackburn was leg before moments later.

Kelso now only had Frost left for company but the latter could easily command a position higher in the order if Stoke didn’t have so much strength in depth. The batsmen ticked off the runs, (30 needed when they came together), as the home side started to show signs of nerves having had few games this year where an opposition has continued to keep coming at them.

A good 48th over by the returning Sharples left fifteen needed off the last two overs; but more good running and a helping of four byes in the next added to the drama. With seven needed from the last eight deliveries this match was anyone’s, but Trimmings kept his cool and bowled Frost as he target a gap on the leg-side boundary. Stoke fell agonisingly short by 6 runs. Kelso finished unbeaten on 38 from 40 balls faced.

Credit to both sides for putting so much into a game that could so easily have been played as a dead rubber. Both should look forward to seeing each other again next season.

Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3302819





Long 1st XI Unbeaten Run Ends

Saturday 25th August 2018
Travelbag Surrey Championship – Division 3
Stoke D’Abernon 219 all out (43.5 overs)
Old Wimbledonians 223 for 7 (42.5 overs)
Old Wimbledonians won by 3 wickets

Stoke made good starts in both innings but lost both middle over sections, largely due to the opposition captain who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck to boost his own side’s survival chances, and an eleven game unbeaten run came to an end.

Batting first having lost another toss James Trower reached a short wide one, and Max Subba Row also nicked off inside the first six overs. The total was already 33 at this point, though, as Tim Handel made a fast start, taking advantage of some loose bowling by Neilsen who then settled down after taking his wicket. Fifty runs were added for the third wicket with Shawn Dyson before Handel was caught at the wicket for 40 off a wide-ish delivery from Gordon.

Dyson and Alastair Curran then put together a quickfire partnership either side of drinks to put Stoke in a great position. The pair added 109 in 15.2 overs as the change bowlers were given the run-around.

At 192 for 3 Stoke looked set for a big score but an epic collapse saw six wickets fall for the addition of just nine runs in the space of 46 deliveries. Curran, (44 from 44 with 5×4 and 1×6), smashed one to deep mid-on who will have a nice bruise on his chest to show off; Dyson was bowled by the returning Gordon for 90 from 88, (11×4, 2×6); James Corbishley was leg-before to the same bowler and ring-rusty James Whitmarsh fell in identical circumstances to Curran.

Gordon had rolled the dice, brought himself back early, and his gamble to leave lesser bowlers at the end paid off. He completed a second spell of 5-3-4-3, (10-4-19-4 in total), by collecting the wicket of Billy Zander with his final delivery. Jase Earl was ninth out next ball; so last pair Ian Hopton and Will Frost had 8.5 overs of batting left.

A few more overs were negotiated, during which Frost hit a glorious straight drive and another four over the ring; but he was leg before for 9 to close the innings on 219. No.7 Hopton was left stranded on 5 not out.

After a well received tea Thomas gave the innings a decent start with twelve off the first over, moving the score to 30 by the mid-point of the sixth before he was bowled by Frost for 27. During this time Handel pulled up chasing a ball to the boundary and was replaced by the home scorer who gave it a go despite being incapacitated himself. His presence did allow more capable fielders to stand in better positions, and three more quick wickets fell.

Frost snicked off Smith, Steyn mis-hit Dyson to Zander in the circle and Frost, (10-0-33-3), bowled Dartnell through the gate to make it 46 for 4. Very much advantage Stoke.

Once again Gordon took responsibility for the chase and struck the ball very cleanly from the off. Having pocketed a half-century by the drinks break, he went on to make 84 out of a partnership of 115 for the fifth wicket in less than 20 overs. He found support from No.3 Bedford who held up an end for him.

The partnership was broken when Earl judged a good high catch in the deep off the returning Hopton. Gordon had faced 68 balls for his runs and hit ten fours and four sixes.

In the next over Bedford’s knock of 29 from 71 that spanned nearly 30 overs was ended by the same bowler; Trower turning a dolly into a less than 50:50 chance but he held on a the sixth/seventh/eight attempt.

Zander had bowled well and got his reward when he trapped Majid leg before for 3 to make it 178 for 7; so this finely balanced game came down to whether, or not, the visitors had a tail.

They did indeed. Laycock was watchful and picked up runs off anything errant; but the match was finished in emphatic style by Neilsen who clubbed 36 off 20 with four fours and two sixes to complete a crucial three wicket victory with plenty of overs to spare.

The result handed Old Rutlishians the title as they completed an expected victory over Streatham & Marlborough, meaning the meeting between the sides next week has less on it than was originally thought.

The points for Old Wimbledonians, who played the game in a tremendous spirit and stayed back a long while after the game, were a much needed shot in the arm for them ahead of their final fixture where they now have control of their own destiny. We wish them well next week.

Thanks also to Sean Curran for taking over the scorebook for majority of the second innings, and to those who came along to support.

Scorecard : http://sdacc.play-cricket.com/website/web_pages/88646