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3^rd/4th May 2008

Claygate start positively

Claygate started their campaign in Division One of the Surrey Downs league in positive style with a winning draw at Capel. Batting first on a very wicket, Claygate made 176 with Vikram Prabakar 46, Dan Maskell 30 and Henry Vincent 29. Retrieving his whites from his car in the car park, new vice skipper Duncan Murphy experienced one of the more bizarre cricket moments extraordinarily being hit on the head by a huge six. It seemingly had a beneficial effect, as Murphy, on his league debut for Claygate went on to take 7- 47 leaving Capel on 162 – 9 at the end of the 90 overs.

The seconds were less fortunate on a badly behaved wicket at Dalmore Avenue. North Holmwood made 111 for 6, Chris Lewis taking 2-20 and Nigel Abbott 2-42. In reply Claygate slumped to 44 all out with Cheeseman taking 8 for 13 exploiting the worsening conditions to the full.

On Sunday, and with no game for the seconds, the firsts faced a competitive all Asian side Ace Arrows. On a more benign wicket, Arrows posted a competitive 184 for 6, with Luke Webb taking 2-31. After a solid start with opener Matt Holmes posting a useful 34, Claygate accelerated at just the right time with Guyatt and Webb putting on a half century stand for the 5^th wicket with Guyatt making 25. Chris Lewis and Dan Maskell then finished off the chase with Lewis nearly reaching his half century with 46 not out.

Conditions generally favour bowlers at the start of a season and that was exactly the case in Claygate’s opening sequence of friendly games this weekend.

There was a double header against local rivals Thames Ditton with the firsts visiting Giggs Hill Green. On the warmest day of the year so far, and in a 45 over game, Ditton scored freely to make 233/5 with their South African professional making 129. There were two wickets for Claygate skipper Henry Vincent and two for Chris Howe. In reply Claygate were only able to reach 178 with Dillon Woods reaching a fine 50 not out.

The seconds however put in a winning performance at Dalmore Avenue with Justin Hannaford taking his first ‘5fer’ for Claygate, finishing with excellent figures of 6 for 31. Mark O’Connell also took 3 in Ditton’s 97 all out. In reply, Claygate looked in trouble at 38-5 but Dick Murphy (17 not out) and Dan Wells (22) put on the runs steering Claygate to a 3 wicket victory.

The Sunday firsts also won, this time by 34 runs against Horsley and Send. Again the bowlers ruled the day with Claygate batting first making 112 all out with Paul Burt scoring a vital 67.

Claygate then proceeded to bowl out the opposition for just 78 with Chris Howe doing damage for the second day in a row (3 for 9) together with Joel Watkins (3 for 11).

Claygate’s U14’s had their game against Avorians abandoned due to rain after Claygate had scored 132 for 5 from their 20 overs with Ben Woods retiring on 50 not out. Claygate had Avorians in trouble at 38 for 2 at the half way stage when the rains came.