Effingham on the edge of glory

Worplesdon and Burpham 2^nd XI .v. Effingham 2nd XI

Sat.26^th August 2017 – Fuller’s Brewery Surrey County League – 3rd Division

The Effingham 2XI arrived at Worplesdon and Burpham CC on a glorious day for the penultimate game of the season and with the hope of securing promotion into Division 2 for next season. After observing a minute’s silence in memory of Mark Collin, Effingham 1^st XI’s No.4, who tragically died a week ago, proceedings began with Effingham electing to bat first.

The young opening partnership of Adam Iqbal and Harry Mead began the innings steadily, although runs were difficult to make due to the sluggish outfield. Mead was the first wicket to fall, caught behind for 6. This brought the captain Asim Iqbal to the crease and he began to stabilise the innings. Early into the partnership, Adam Iqbal was dismissed in almost identical fashion to Mead for 22. Coming in at number four, Mike Fenwick set about batting with determination to avoid a collapse. Fenwick and the senior Iqbal batted with a certain amount of caution and the runs began to flow more freely, forcing the home side to use some increasingly defensive field placing. Fenwick began to play his shots before being trapped LBW for a useful 21, bringing Ben Couzens to the crease. Asim Iqbal continued his innings in which he had fought hard and was rewarded with his maiden fifty of the season, eventually being caught for a patient and hardworking 64. Andrew Mead stayed for a brief cameo before being bowled for 7, during which Ben Couzens had quietly accumulated an excellent 43 not out as the innings drew to a close with the score on 197-6 from 45 overs.

Worplesdon and Burpham knew it was a tall order to chase Effingham’s total down and the batsmen struggled as early wickets fell. Their batsmen were unable to attack the accurate opening bowling partnership of Joseph Roberts and the young Ollie Tebbits, with both bowlers picking up a wicket each. Following a short spell from Adam Iqbal, Harry Mead came on and quickly ripped through Worplesdon’s batting order, finishing with impressive figures of 5-17 from 6 overs. Asim Iqbal completed the task with 2-2 from 2.5 overs as Worplesdon & Burpham were bowled out for 84.

Effingham’s 2nd XI need just 6 points from the final game of the season to be sure of promotion.

Adam Iqbal