Bond nicks 007 for 38 as funky gibbons swings into form

Ham & Petersham 2nd XI .v. Effingham 2nd XI

Sat.24^th June 2017 – Fuller’s Brewery Surrey County League – 3rd Division

Ham & Petersham won the toss, and invited Effingham CC to bat first. Tom Risby and Josh Farrell appeared to get Effingham CC off to a confident start, on a ground which had a very fast outfield, but with the score on 5, Risby was clean bowled by Reedish. Rob Gibbons came in at No3, making his first appearance for ECC this season and he proceeded with care. In the 21st over, with the score on 59, Farrell was caught at point, but captain Asim Iqbal and Rob Gibbons continued to battle against some fine bowling from Ham & Petersham. Gibbons was now striking the ball well, and brought up is half century. The score passed the 100 mark in the 34th over, but with a further 30 added, Iqbal was caught on the mid wicket boundary for 33.

Rob Gibbons continued to accumulate the runs and Mal Russell also helped the run rate by blasting 40 runs from 23 balls, providing the acceleration ECC needed, but his dismissal meant that their partnership fell one short of 50. The opening bowler Sharef then came back into the attack and took two wickets with two balls, including bowling Gibbons for a well crafted 83, and Sandford-Marshall for 0. Effingham declared with the score at 214-8 from 49.5 overs.

In reply, Effingham CC chose  to bowl with the old ball, and Nick Bond and Asim Iqbal soon got into the wickets. Once the openers had been dismissed, there was a stubborn partnership of 59 for the 4th wicket. Alex Cooper broke the partnership with his fine spell of 6 overs and took 2-2, including 5 maidens. Bond continued to bowl with great control, and ended the innings with superb figures of 7-38. Keeper Mal Russell had a good afternoon, taking four catches, all standing up to the slow bowlers.

Ham & Petersham were dismissed for 130 in 30.3 overs, completing a comprehensive victory for Effingham CC, who now move put to 4th in the league.

Roll on next week, when Effingham CC welcome 3rd place Old Tennisonians to Effingham.

Asim Iqbal