Surrey Cricket Championship | ECC Week 3 Report

Effingham CC’s 1st XI picked up their first victory of their campaign in the Surrey Championship Division 4 West, claiming the spoils in a close encounter with Woking & Horsell 1st XI.

Batting first at home, the Ships struggled to ever get their innings motoring against a strong bowling attack, with early and frequent losses of wickets hamstringing any momentum that a partnership would have brought.

Although Benji Thomas managed a vital 33, and there were contributions from Will Farnsworth (23) and Chris Fewson (19), Effingham limped to a total of 135, batting only 40 of their 50 overs.

In response, a new look bowling unit were immediately able to make inroads into the oppositions’ top order. Anthony Brown removed their opening batter with the score just on 1, and similarly to Effingham, Woking & Horsell were unable to string together any partnerships that would have allowed them a foothold in the fixture.

Ex-1st XI skipper Adam Burlison, having been called up from the 2nd team, and George Noble, each claimed 3 scalps as a dominant bowling performance enabled them to claim the Ships’ first 20 points of the season, dismissing the opposition’s final batter with 19 runs still to play with.

Second XI

The 2nd XI’s fortunes weren’t as positive. Travelling away to play a Guildford 3rd XI who they had beaten late last season, Effingham were asked to field first on a scorching day and a track that looked good for runs.

The opening bowlers, Will Darby and 14-year-old Connor James, restricted the Guildford batters well in the early overs, before Effingham’s spin bowling cartel got into their work on a brutal day in the sun.

With Mark Ransom picking up the first wicket just after the first drinks break, Effingham ably stemmed the role of runs throughout the Guildford innings, relying on tight bowling and hard work in the field, eventually restricting their opposition to 185.

Ethan Harding was the pick of the bowlers, the young left arm spinner picking up three wickets in his spell.

In response, Effingham started well, making their way to 95-2 before another all-too-familiar collapse saw them lose six wickets for just 35 runs.

Dom Carpenter, last years’ top run scorer, made a measured 38, but unfortunately even with a spirited effort from the tail, marshalled by Duncan Mitchell (24), Effingham still fell 18 runs short of picking up their first win of the season.

Effingham 1st XI 135 all out beat Woking & Horsell 1st XI 116 all out by 19 runs

Effingham 2nd XI 167 all out lost to Guildford 3rd XI 185-5 by 18 runs