Claygate
just fail to repeat last week’s heroics!
One week on and the same situation! Visitors
East Horsley were nine wickets down with just four overs to go and Claygate had
a real chance of repeating the thrilling last ball victory of last week. But
Horsley managed to play out the innings - ending twenty runs short but with
that all important last wicket still intact.
Earlier in the afternoon, a lost toss
quickly turned into 22-3 and a bad start for Claygate, on a track seaming due
to initial dampness and bounce thanks to excellent preparation.
Nuwan Jayasena (26) and Chris Howe with a second
successive seventy (74) repaired the damage. With the pitch easing, Sahan
Wijesekera then took the bowling apart with a terrific 93, including 16 fours
and 2 sixes in a 146 run sixth wicket stand with Howe. A late order
flourish by the tailenders including 22 not out from Joel Watkins helped
Claygate to 295 in 42 overs.
The home side started with the spinners who provided a
couple of initial breakthroughs as East Horsley managed only 14-2 after 8 overs. However Claygate returned the compliment with some
inept fielding, letting at least half a dozen chances slip by and enabling them
to build an excellent third wicket century stand and at the midway stage needing
7 runs an over with 8 wickets in hand.
However Duncan Murphy (3-33) and skipper Vikram
Prabhakar (3-48) pegged them back as Horsley lost regular wickets chasing the
target.
With one wicket remaining and four overs to go Claygate
had a chance, but two difficult chances were dropped late in the innings
ensuring that Claygate couldn’t repeat last week's performance, as East Horsley ended at 275-9.
Meanwhile the 2nd XI had an excellent victory
against Brockham Green which takes then to third in the table. On an unpredictable wicket, Claygate bowled
first, restricting Brockham to a very slow start. A terrific run out from Adrian Smith changed
the pattern of the game and prompted bringing on the spinners who then worked
their way through the batting order. Finding both turn and spin, Dillon Woods (2-46)
and Scott Kanther (3-14) reduced the home side to just 155.
Claygate were always up with the run chase with
Peter Andrew hitting a forceful 44 and Steve Salmon (47). But it was left to Russ Guyatt to take
Claygate to victory with 24 not out and a three wicket margin.
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