Winning start for 1st XI

Effingham 1st XI v Claygate 1st XI

Sat.6th May 2017 – Fuller’s Brewery Surrey County League – 1st Division

On a chilly May afternoon, Effingham Cricket Club’s 1st XI started their campaign in the Fuller’s 1st Division against familiar opposition, both teams having been promoted last season. Claygate won the toss and chose to bat first on an unusually dry wicket for May. Their run rate settled down to between three and four an over for the whole innings and despite some tight bowling from Effingham’s attack, the home team found it difficult to dismiss Claygate’s batsmen early on. A 66 opening stand was finally broken when Dom Brown destroyed Ross’s stumps, but the visitor’s score moved on to 105 in the 27th over before the next wicket fell. Gradually, Effingham worked through the order and their most successful bowlers were Dom Brown with 2-25 and Matt Dixon’s 2-31. Claygate’s innings came to a close on 184-8 following a most intelligent and accurate long throw to the furthest wicket from Cameron Walters out on the boundary.

Effingham’s openers moved comfortably past the first two overs without troubling the scorers, but suddenly the task of scoring 185 for victory looked a huge target when the score moved to 0-1, 0-2 and 1-3 before the end of the fourth over, all victims having been bowled. Three of the home side’s leading batsmen back in the pavilion just five minutes after the tea interval, without a run between them! This called for some extra concentration to prevent any more wickets tumbling cheaply and the only opening batsman who had survived, 16 year old Cameron Walters, was joined by Farid Butt, making a welcome return to Effingham after missing the last three seasons. They batted very sensibly together to lift the score to 54, before Cameron Walters was bowled with a very creditable 21 to his name.

This brought Chris Fewson to the wicket and with his score on 7 after 10 balls, there was little indication of what was to follow. He hit 32 off the next over – 646466 – which made the scoreboard look a great deal healthier at 100-4, after just 20 overs. Farid Butt continued to bat in his usual calm manner and kept the score moving, although not quite at the same rate as his partner and early in the 28th over they clocked up their 100 partnership. This immediately brought the departure of Chris Fewson, beaten by Howe’s well disguised slower ball, for an unforgettable 79 in 40 balls. With 31 runs still needed for victory and 5 wickets in hand, Effingham had enough overs remaining to continue at a steady rate. Jake White joined Farid Butt, who continued to bat with ease and reached a well deserved 50, before Jake White was bowled by Howe for 13, with the scores level.

Captain Adam Burlison hit the winning run with his second ball, which left Farid Butt not out on 59, to record a well deserved Effingham win by 4 wickets.

Ray Pritchard