Surrey Cricket Championship | ECC Week 14 Report

Winning the toss and choosing the field, the 1st XI came up against a staunch opening pair who put on a measured 81 for the first wicket before Ben Shaw broke the partnership.

Although the Ships took two more in quick succession, Old Hamptonians put on 106 for the fourth wicket, leaving them on top at 207-4.

Fortunately, Effingham managed to inject some momentum back into their bowling effort, Dom Brown (4 for 51) starring with the ball as the Ships took the final seven wickets for just 58 runs.

Although a chase of 265 looked to be a tricky one, and despite the loss of an early wicket, Effingham got off to a good start, with skipper Benji Thomas and Jordan Bond (47) putting on 138 for the second wicket.

Thomas fell agonisingly close to what would have been his second century of the season with a fabulous 98, cementing his position at the top of the run scoring charts for the entire Surrey Championship, a remarkable feat.

From there, the 1st XI lost consistent wickets trying to keep in touch with the run rate, and despite an explosive late salvo from Brown (21* from 15) and George Noble (16* off 7), Effingham finished just six runs short of the target, leaving them fifth in the table.

Second XI

The 2nd XI, off the back of four wins in a row, won the toss and chose to bowl first on a deteriorating Outlaws 2.0 deck.

This decision was immediately proven correct, with opening bowlers Nick Bond and Ishtiaq Muhammad continuing their fine form, rattling through the top order with the new ball to leave the home side 54-7 before there was a change in the attack.

Despite a slight recovery led by the Outlaws’ number eight and nine, the pace of Sam Cobb again proved too much as he mopped up the tail to bowl them out for just 102.

Bond was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 28, while Muhammad (3 for 22) and Cobb (3 for 18) provided clinical support.

With the pitch crumbling, it was never going to be an easy chase. That said, an assured opening stand of 66 from James Blair (34) and Dom Carpenter (35), put any Effingham nerves at ease.

Although the Ships lost a couple of late wickets, victory wasn’t in doubt and 14-year-old Connor James was on hand to hit the winning runs away for four, giving the 2nd XI their fifth win in as many games.

Still sitting just above the relegation zone, it is shaping up to be a three-way scrap between Guildford, Godalming and Effingham for the final relegation spot, with just eight points separating the three teams.

Effingham 1st XI 259-8 lost to Old Hamptonians 2nd XI 265 all out by 6 runs

Effingham 2nd XI 103-4 beat Outlaws 2.0 1st XI 102 all out by 6 wickets

Thomas tops the run scoring charts for the entire Surrey Championship