Claygate v Woldingham - 17th July
On a cloudy and windy day, Claygate won the toss and elected to bat first at the beautiful Woldingham Cricket Club Ground. The damp wicket at Croft Road did not hold back Claygate's aim for a maximum 40 points from the game.
On a pitch offering some assistance and overcast skies, Woldingham's opening slow medium bowlers bowled a good line and length to restrict Claygate to 32 for 2 after 15 overs. With Sahan Wijesekera's arrival the scoring rate picked up and after the fall of the consistent Ross Carmichael (29) at 76, he added 104 runs in a fourth wicket partnership with Chris Howe (38). Chris showed signs of returning to his form of old with some lovely drives either side of the wicket. With the pitch easing substantially as the moisture dried out, 53 further runs came in the last 7 overs as Claygate declared at 246 for 8 off 43 overs. Sahan scored his third ton in six appearances in a classy 139 consisting of 19 fours and 5 sixes. Michael Crane (4-54 off 10 overs was the pick of the bowlers.
The butter in the quaint mini croissants served at tea had their effect as Claygate started badly by dropping four regulation catches in the first 10 overs. From the beginning, Woldingham looked as if they were playing out for a losing draw and three negated close LBW shouts helped further their cause. Woldingham crawled to 71 for no loss after 25 overs. Opener Hugo Wymer top scored with 73 as Woldingham held out to a draw at 167 for 8 after 47 overs. As has been the case for a majority of the games this season, Simon Pitt (4-54 off 13 overs) was the pick of the bowlers. Luke Webb (2-31 off 10 overs) got some purchase from the wicket but a fifth dropped catch in his return spell laid to rest Claygate's hopes of snatching a win.
With this draw and other results being favourable, Claygate are still at the top of the league with 279 points. Claygate need to garner as many points as possible from their next three games before the crunch games against Tadworth on August 14 and North Holmwood on August 21 which will decide the outcome of the second division league this year.
|
|
