Double disappointment for Claygate

Claygate 1 st and 2 nd XI both lost by the narrowest of margins to West End Esher in the Surrey Downs League: by 2 runs at home in the 1 st XI and 1 run away in the 2 nd XI.

A solid start for the 1 st XI after winning the toss restricted West End during the first hour, but the early penetration faded as the wicket flattened out and West End ground out 213 for 6 from 44 overs, with Dave Watkins top scoring on 55 not out. The highlight of the innings was a superb one-handed caught & bowled by Mark O'Connell. In response, Claygate were going well in the first hour with Matt Weston (30) and Chris Howe (44), but a steady stream of wickets began to tumble, until Tom McKinley went in to smash 38 in the gathering gloom. Needing 3 runs to win at 8.15pm, West End's oldest player pulled off a superb one-handed diving catch at gully to take the last wicket with Claygate on 211.

At West End, Claygate 2 nd XI bowled poorly to let West End score 205 for 6, Wyatt top scoring with 47 and Dick Murphy the only bowler to exert real control with 3 for 16 off 10 overs. Claygate looked out of it at 45 for 3 but Chris Lewis hit a powerful 61 and Rufus Legg a determined 53 to bring Claygate back into the game but the lower order could not quite get them home in the gloom at 8.30pm with a sad run out leading to captain James McPhail being left stranded on 18, Claygate 204 all out and just 1 run behind West End.

The Sunday 1 st XI held out for a hard fought draw at Old Woking. Chasing a formidable 260 (David Wright 2 for 43), they ended on 184 for 7 with Rufus Legg batting through for 73 not out but there was little support at the other end. The Sunday 2 nd XI fared worse against Hersham. Hersham rattled up 289 for 2 and Claygate could only muster 120 with Andy Spector continuing his recent fine form with 47.