2nd XI promotion chase gains pace

Effingham 2nd XI .v. Hook & Southborough 2nd XI

Sat.5^th August 2017 – Fuller’s Brewery Surrey County League – 3rd Division

Sunshine welcomed the players to the Calburn Cricket Field, formerly known as the ECG, and Effingham won the toss and chose to bat first. An excellent opening partnership of 58 between Adam Iqbal and Harry Mead, two of the youngest teenagers in the club, was suddenly brought to an end with both of them caught for 20 and 33 respectively. This fall of two quick wickets was followed by a promising stand of 24 between Jordan Bond and Iqbal senior, but Bond was also caught for 18.

With the score on 95-3 after 26 overs, the sunshine was rapidly replaced with dark clouds and a long spell of thunder, lightning and torrential rain. Effingham’s home ground has never been one to drain quickly, but after less than two hours and some conscientious work to mop up, the game re-started, the newly acquired covers having done their job.

The rain interruption reduced the match to a 36 over contest and the home side immediately picked up the tempo, despite losing their captain, Asim Iqbal for 20, shortly after the resumption. Having come in at No.5, Josh Farrell had started with a steady 10 off 19 balls, but then accelerated at such a rate that he finished with an excellent 67 off 45 balls, which included six fours and two sixes. Rob Gibbons, at No.6, kept the scoring rate going with a swift 23 not out from 16 deliveries and his partner, Dave Roberts lost no time with 10 not out from the only 4 balls that he faced, before the innings closed on 198-5.

Hook and Southborough got off to a bad start, losing their first three wickets for just 12 runs in 6 overs. Opening bowlers Alex Cooper (1-14 in 7 overs) and Joe Roberts (3-16 in 7), both bowled very accurately, which made it very difficult for the visitors to reach the required run rate. A few bowling changes kept the pressure on and although the scoreboard had recovered to 73-6, 33 overs had gone and time was running out. Ambrose batted well at No.4, his 57 not out keeping the innings going, but it was not enough to get anywhere near the target. Having reduced the visitors to 97-5 in their 36 overs, Effingham claimed the important 20 points with a 101 run victory, keeping them in sight of possible promotion to Division 2.

Ray Pritchard