Dear all,
We have reached the business end of the season. Congratulations to the 4s who were promoted as Champions last weekend having narrowly missed out on promotion last season. The 3s are currently sitting at the top of their league with two to play and could be promoted this week with a bonus point win whilst the 1s have their destiny in their own hands. Unfortunately, it’s not been all good news as the 5s drop back down a league having been promoted in 2013. In other news…
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News & Events
Lashings
As you may have already heard, we have taken the decision to postpone the Lashings event to next summer. There are a variety of reasons which have forced this decision but essentially we want to put on an event which is a fantastic experience and we fear that the event will fail to live up to expectations if we continued as planned. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope you will be able to join us in 2015 for the game. If you have any questions, would like to get involved with the planning or have any comments, please feel free to contact me.
Club Treasurer
As reported earlier in the season, we are on the search for someone to assist Eddie Goodchild with the Treasurer’s position, particularly on the electronic side. If anyone is interested, please let Eddie or a member of the Executive know.
Martin Thompson Party – This Saturday
Kiwi club stalwart, Martin Thompson, is having a birthday party at the club on 30th August. There will be food and live music as another club member (Justin Sbresni) will be performing with his band. All are welcome to attend and celebrate with him. Pretty sure he still needs to do his leaving yard of ale…
End of Season Dinner & Dance
Always a popular end to the season and arrangements are underway. Details will follow but if you would like to help with the organisation, raffle prizes or have an ideas for improvements to the evening, let me know.
Pool Competition
There are only a few left in the competition so can you please arrange those games this weekend so we can set a date for the finals.
Surrey Championship Dinner – 3rd October
Normally a very enjoyable evening. The club have already purchased four tickets, but it would be great to get a table together, especially considering the number of teams pushing for promotion and could be in with a shout of receiving an award!
Dates for the diary
3rd October – Surrey Championship Dinner
18th October – End of season Dinner & Dance ———————————————————————————————————
Last weekend’s results:
Seniors – Saturday
1st XI
This week saw the 1st XI host Bank of England in a must win game for both sides. After winning the toss, skipper S Hassan had no hesitation in batting first. Thomas joined Ellis at the top of the order as the pair looked to build a good platform for the rest of the team. Both batsmen scores freely and quickly took the score up to 100 for no loss. Ellis and Thomas both passed 50 and looked in complete control until Thomas eventually departed for a well-crafted 68 with the score at 177. Ellis was the next to fall, 14 short of a well-deserved 100. What happened next is surely the biggest batting collapse of our season – 177-0 to 218-7 and finally 265 all out. James Blackburn (33) provided some late order runs, finding the gaps on the off side with his trademark cover drive to take us up to a respectable total.
SMCC set out to take early wickets, creating pressure and making it hard for Bank to chase down the score. Haughton got the breakthrough on the 6th ball of a perfect over after taking the batsman’s glove to the keeper. Blackburn followed this up with the wicket of the dangerous O’Brien, and after Raj Singh ran the number 3 out from 2/3rds of the way to the boundary the fielding doubled in standard. Thomas produced possibly the best bit of fielding he has ever done which for some reason wasn’t given out. Mortimore was introduced and managed to return figures of 3-44 from his 10, despite not being at his best. A few more quick wickets and Bank found themselves 125-8. Moffat then took 2 wickets in his only over to finish off the game. A win by 130 runs but no bonus point as overs had been reduced. Without a doubt the best fielding display from the 1st XI this year and just 2 more wins will see us promoted. Many thanks to Tina for scoring and Roger for preparing the wicket. Home to Staines & Laleham as the 1s will aim to take all 10 points (S Hassan)
1st XI League position – Joint 2nd / 10
2nd XI
Won by 9 wickets
Maori Oxshott 67ao (21.3) / SMCC 70-1 (8.4)
Highlights: Sarwavkhan 5-21
2nd XI League position – 4th / 10
3rd XI
Won
Thames Ditton conceded
3rd XI League position – 1st / 10
4th XI
No game for 4s blah blah blah….league structure rubbish blah blah blah…usual moaning as the 4s again no game. BUT, with Worcester Park losing over the weekend the 4s are now CHAMPIONS! League win and promotion. Congratulations to Skipper Jack. More details to follow after the final league game this weekend away to Surrey Colts, and much chat and Jugging back at the club. Phew, thank goodness that’s nearly all over! (D Gladstone)
4th XI League position – 1st / 8
5th XI
Another pleasant ground in South East London with stunning views of London offered the less stunning view of the V’s going down by 92 runs in a one-sided contest. In truth, after the top order was blown away at 24 for 5, it was a miracle that we got to 163 all out and batted for 40 overs. The track was probably the best we have played on and the bowling was league standard but we looked awful tired and despondent. There were a couple of bold LBW decisions but no excuses really. Paul Henly batted well for his 19 before being adjudged LBW. Shiraz Sheikh hit some lusty blows in his 22 before suffering the same fate. Mark Davis again treated us to some powerful hitting in his 27 and then Barrington Wilks with a wonderful 42 before he was last out caught at long-on. The backfoot punch through extra cover will live long in the memory. Earlier we had bowled well at the top of the innings with both Shiraz Sheikh and Mark Davis bowling well at a strong Hayes batting line up. Saahil Lodha on debut took 5 for 58 and looks a very useful player, took a good catch as well. Stan Barrett-Johnston relieved some of his frustrations with a fine fielding display crowned by a glorious, one stump to aim at, run out of cathartic power. One game to go. (L Johnston)
5th XI League position – 10th / 10
6th XI
Lost by 8 wickets
SMCC 189-6 (36.2) / Catford and Cyphers 191-2 (34.5)
Highlights: Choudry 51 & van Aswegen 53
6th XI League position – 4th / 9
7th XI
Lost by 212 runs Bank of England 223-4d (31) / SMCC 11ao (12.2)
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Ladies
Won
Guildford conceded
Ladies League position – 4th / 5
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Trust
Trust League position – 3rd / 7
http://stmcc.play-cricket.com/subsite/web_pages/130967 ———————————————————————————————————
Colts
A full season report will appear soon.
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Upcoming games:
Saturday 30th August
1st XI home to Staines & Laleham
2nd XI away to Stoke D’Abernon
3rd XI home to Merstham
4th XI away to Oxted & Limpsfield
5th XI home to Caribbean Mix
6th XI away to Roan & Lambethans
Sunday 31st August
TBC
http://stmcc.play-cricket.com/subsite/web_pages/130966 ———————————————————————————————————
Best of luck to all the sides.
Dan
Streatham & Marlborough Club Captain
