Unfortunately the senior sides lost their unbeaten run this weekend, only for the colts to take up the mantle and record 3 wins!
Having won the toss for a second consecutive week, Ilbers decided to have a bat first against Metropolitan Police. After losing Ellis early, Thomas and Stephens batted well to take the score up to 50 with MP still extracting movement out of the surface. SMCC lost Thomas for 24 before Stephens (33) fell LBW, leaving SMCC needing to rebuild at 90-3. Unfortunately a procession of wickets followed with no one able to support the in-form Fernando. MP bowled good areas and got a little assistance from the pitch, with 5 caught behinds in the innings. Fernando was the 9th man out for a fine 76. SMCC bowled out for 173 from 40 overs.
SMCC came out determined to make up for a sub par batting display and McGill delivered a quick opening spell. He soon found the edge of Turner’s bat only for the sharp chance to be put down at slip. From there, MP left the ball well and took advantage of the loose deliveries. Good fielding from SMCC meant that MP had to work hard for their runs. Talbot and JC took the first two wickets but it was the return of Danny Davenport which caused some concern in the home team ranks as 3 wickets fell in 5 balls. 118-2 had become 123-5. However, MP recovered to chase down the necessary runs from 48.3 overs with 5 wickets in hand. A good bowling and fielding display, but more required from the batters. (D Ellis)
- 1st X1 League position –8th / 10
- 1st X1 League position –8th / 10
A good win for the 2’s against Woking and Horsell keeps them in second place. Hassan (4-17) and Cruttwell (5-56) did the damage with the ball to bowl W&H out for 143 in 35 overs. SMCC wobbled in the chase and lost 7 wickets in the process, but achieved the target in 43 overs; Bush (42) and Blob (44) the main contributors.
- 2nd X1 League position – 2nd / 10
The 3’s just missed out on the full 13 points this week as a last wicket partnership saved Hampton Wick Royal from defeat. Having recovered from 4-2, SMCC posted 187 with Vidler (78) and Knott (44) doing most of the run-getting. HWR were on course to chase this down until a spell from Greg Zelent (5-26) turned the game back to SMCC’s favour.
- 3rd X1 League position – 8th / 18
- 3rd X1 League position – 8th / 18
Steph Ball’s first league ton was not enough to chase down Sanderstead’s 224. Henderson (3-33) and Metha (3-83) did the damage with the ball but were unable to break the key 5th wicket partnership for Sanderstead. In reply, Steph Ball smashed the ball to all parts in his 108 but there were no other significant contributions and the 4’s fell 23 runs short.
- 4th X1 League Position – joint 4th / 10
Sayif Sarwan bowled well and troubled their batsmen. Skipper Roddie Bell took our only wicket (though he had a catch dropped as well) when he had the opening bat well caught behind by rookie keeper Stan Barrett-Johnston. A poor day for the 5th X1 succumbing to a 9 wicket defeat.(L Johnston)
- 5th X1 League position – 9th / 9
Under 15’s
Wunderkind Sayif Sarwan certainly made his mark on this game with able support from many others. Sayif opened the bowling and his fast and hostile bowling earned him 3 for 18 off 5 overs. He was well supported by Jamie Davorn (2 for 22 off 4), Peter Clarke (3 for 16 off 5 overs) and Vinay Patel (2 for 20 off 4). Backed up by tight fielding and only two dropped catches (down from 4 last week) meant that Spencer were bowled out (and every wicket was clean bowled to the delight of the team manager) for 82 in 19 overs. We were far more professional in the field and Spencer had to bat well to get to 82.
In reply Sayif opened for us as he had to catch the Sunday XI bus and I told him he had license to attack. This he proceeded to do in awesome fashion. Sayif used his feet to get down the track to all the bowlers in a premeditated and highly impressive manner. Amongst the most memorable shots, on his way to 54 runs, were two massive sixes and a reverse hit four from half way down the track. Even more impressive was the fact that he did most of this with a broken bat which sported a large red mark on the reverse of the face where he clubbed another one to the ropes. Sayif was ably supported in an opening stand of 78 by the classy Ben Church who played the anchor role resolutely, calmed Sayif’s more extreme suicidal running and played (for me, the purist)shot of the day – a delightful late cut for four.
It would not be S and M Colts if we did not manage to lose 4 wickets from 78-0 to 86 for 4. Sayif was stumped after a canny bit of bowling from J. Roberts, bowling the ball wide to Sayif outside the off stump and eventually having him stumped after threatening to do so several times. Ben was then adjudged caught behind, Stan decided to add to his collection of comedy dismissals and Vim was unlucky to see a dug out length ball spin back on to his stumps. Peter Clarke calmed my nerves by thumping a short ball to the boundary.
A good team performance with bat and ball and great support from the parents once again. Particular thanks to Mark Eldridge for selecting me 14 boys for an 11 a side game, Claire for her wonderful hospitality, Gordon, Bhavin and Kevin for their invaluable assistance in helping these boys get cricket on a Sunday and to Spencer for playing the game hard and well in a very good spirit.
(L Johnston)
Sunday
This weekends games:
Saturday
1st X1 home to Ashford
2nd X1 away to Brook
3rd X1 away to Merstham
4th X1 home to Chessington
5th X1 home to Bexley
Sunday
1st X1 TBC
2nd X1 TBC
Under 15’s away to Beddington
Best of luck to all the sides.
Dan