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Midweek SMS – 16.05.2012

Dear all,
Let’s get on with it – there’s a Sagar Metha essay to read…
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Lassana Dias
Our overseas professional, Lassana Dias, has finally been granted his visa by the UK Border Agency and is currently awaiting clearance from the UK High Commission before booking his flights. Lass has already spent some time at the club (2007 & 2009) and we are glad to have him back with us. He is a player of some pedigree (http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/48498.html) and will captain the 1st X1 on his arrival. He is also available for one to one coaching sessions (payment and costs to be arranged direct with Lass) and will form part of our colts coaching team.
Scorer – 1st X1
The 1st X1 still require a scorer to avoid being fined by the league – the most pressing dates are 19 May, 2 June, 9 June & 23 June – if anyone is available to assist, please get in touch with me asap. The club is willing to offer a small payment to the right person.
Two tons!
Two exceptional batting displays on tricky wet wickets at home were the highlight of the weekend. Resident DJ and Pat Sharp lookalike, Martin Thompson, smashed the 3’s to victory with 12 sixes in his 102* whilst Kirk De Ruyter also plundered a quick 101 in the Sunday 1’s.
Fantasy Cricket
Once again, Chris Sowton has pulled out into an early lead. Martin Thompson is MVP of the week so far with his unbeaten 100, though Sunday’s league game is still to be loaded, watch this space (or, more accurately, the stat tables on the website that follows…)
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Last weekends results:
Saturday
Cancelled – again – rain
1st X1 League position – 5th / 9
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The 2nd team quickly put the first weeks damp squib behind them on a equally soggy S&M outfield. A good toss to lose was followed by a good opening spell from Sharad Patel, removing both openers cheaply. A seemingly dehydrated Sags kept the middle order in check with a tight spell alongside 2 wickets for Simon Stuart. Some late order hitting was kept to a minimum by 4 quick wickets between Patel and Corns. Ashford posting 126 all out. Sharad recording an excellent 10-5-20-4 return. In reply 3 early wickets for the visitors set a few nerves jangling, until Neil Shah and Blob came together and at first settled the ship and then set about making short work of the chase. Neil in particular punishing of any bad ball from Ashford’s bowlers. 126 was in the end comfortably reached in the 27th over. Shah with an 86 ball 78. A good ten points but still a few areas to improve on to get the 2’s playing promotion cricket. (P Corns)

2nd X1 League position – 4th / 10
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The first league game of the season ended in an emphatic win for the 3s. An excellent performance in the field and by the bowlers, especially the seamers who bowled accurately and aggressively, meant that Worcester Park were restricted to an under-par 126. Particularly impressive were Thomas (4-16), Safi (3-13) and, on debut, Bradley (2-27). In reply, Thompson was in blistering form as he decimated the opposition bowling attack. The target was chased down in just 18.1 overs with Thompson smiting the hapless bowling for the last of his 12 sixes and raising his unbeaten century. Hobbs (22*) played a steady hand in chasing down the target without loss, and ensuring that the 3s began their campaign with a 10-wicket victory. Sterner tests await us, but this was a strong and confident start to proceedings.
3rd X1 League position – 5th / 18
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Cancelled – again – rain

4th X1 League Position – 6th / 10

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Cancelled – rain
5th X1 League position – 5th / 10

Sunday

The first Sunday league game was definitely one to remember for many good reasons, even if the result suggests otherwise. Kirk De Ruyter and Dan Ellis’ opening stand a brilliant platform as they put on a total of 160 odd with some brutal hitting from Smeagal and some sensible batting from Senor Ellis. This meant all the other batsmen could come in and play aggressively with Neil “panther” shah, Shareef “Nintendo” Hassan and Jack Thomas could come in and guide us to a formidable 312 for 4 off 40 overs. At half time the home side were relaxed and to our detriment already believed we had the game in the bag, which in all fairness should have been the case.

The EKTA openers started off in attack mode as they had to, with the run rate required was more than 8 an over. After some close umpiring calls, poor fielding and long handle batting they were meeting the rate without losing too many wickets. Most of the runs were coming from one end, and with 100 needed of 10 overs and realistically just needing to get the attacking opener out the game was in the balance. After dropping him 4/5 times and having him caught off a no-ball it seemed inevitable that he would see the oppo home, and that is what happened in the last over. The reason why we lost the game was due to complacency, dropping off heads and poor fielding. This was a harsh lesson for S&M but I’m sure everyone is as eager as myself to put things right in the next league game, and stamp our authority in the league.

In conclusion to this fiery, and at times ill-tempered game, I would like to thank everyone for the effort they put in on Sunday, as there are only a few tweaks needed to make us a force to be reckoned with. (S Mehta)

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The Sunday 2’s lost by 9 wickets to Oakhill Taverners.

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The first Ladies game was disappointingly conceded by Lingfield – who were unable to put out a side.

This weekends games:
Saturday
1st X1 away to Chipstead, Coulsdon & Walcountians

2nd X1 home to Thames Ditton

3rd X1 home to Chertsey

4th X1 away to Wimbledon

5th X1 away to Catford Wanderers


Sunday

1st X1 home to Hobgoblin Nomads

2nd X1 home to Winds & The Willows

 

 

 

 

Best of luck to all the sides.
Dan
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