Match Report
Late withdrawals meant that we started this game with only 9 men, hardly ideal against a club like Claygate who play league cricket and are therefore perennially strong. Nevertheless, we looked to have a reasonable batting side and had no qualms about batting first. However, the Claygate opening attack proved to be a great deal better than most we have faced this season and whilst some resistance was offered, we found ourselves looking down the barrel at 90 -7 after only 25 overs. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, in this case in the form of a young man. Ben Westen stood tall and drove the ball down the ground and pulled with power on his way to 42 assisted by the best no 11 in the business in the shape of Cudders who made an excellent supporting 12 in dragging our score up to 136 – 8.
On Bens dismissal, James Briley and Seb Berry arrived from their morning age group match and hurriedly padded up and were able to assist Ian in advancing the score to an unimpressive though better than expected 146 all out.
Faced with a small total, Claygate drew their batting positions out of a hat, a tactic which did not look so clever when Ben continued his man of the match performance in firing out the first three in the order for 66 being strongly supported by some very tight bowling from his Father at the other end. A stand then took the score to 108 when Cudders came on and had a catch taken off his first ball and then bowled the new batsman with the third ball of the same over. When he followed this up with a third wicket, the Claygate innings looked in some disarray at 118 for 6, and an unlikely win looked a possibility. When Phil Hall knocked over another wicket with the score on 131 – 6, it began to look a probability but alas, it was not to be and Claygate cruised home without further alarm.
A disappointing batting effort but some honour was restored by a very good bowling effort supported by some good ground fielding and catching.
ConcordeClaygate CC 