2nd XI Match Report - Home to Cranleigh 3rd XI

Following a comprehensive win at Albury, the confident 2’s hosted league newcomers Cranleigh not knowing what to expect.

Skipper Jimbo, buoyed by the strongest 2’s selected in living memory, won the toss and had no hesitation in putting Cranleigh in. We then witnessed the best batting display we have seen in this league with the youthful Cranleigh top six putting the South bowlers to the sword.

Openers Anderson and H Stiles started with a rapid rate scoring heavily in the first few overs. The unlucky Sulaiman bowled well and had another difficult chance put down by Simon at 1st slip.

The introduction of Damo who bowled beautifully not only stemmed the flow of runs, but he picked up 2 wickets in the process as South pegged back Cranleigh. At one stage it looked as if a total of 270 plus was on the cards but Damo 2-33 and Fazzy tightened things up.

South’s felt aggrieved when No 3 Andrews who scored 94* seemed to be run out by Fazzy/Courts combination by at least 2 yards but was not given.

Unknown to us at the time, Dylan was struggling with injury but came back well from his 1st unDylan like spell. Simon bowled well without any luck. All 5 bowlers bowled their maximum 8 overs - an admirable effort in the circumstances. Cranleigh amassed a competitive 220 as the innings closed.

Whilst South had the luxury of a deep batting line up, it was apparent that we would have to bat properly to get the runs. A disastrous start however with last year’s VC calling his successor through for a single in the 2nd over only to be sent back and run out by 8 yards without facing. Matt then joins Simon and they get the score ticking over before the latter hooks a ball to square leg off the middle of his glove. 36-2 as Fazzy walks in and then walks back after a poor shot that he may have got away with against a different fielding side. Leighton comes and goes quickly but Chucky and Matt take the score to a respectable 80-4 with plenty of overs left and plenty of quality still in the shed.

At the halfway point we lose Matt for 34 but then a fluent Courtney and Chucky start to increase the run rate and we are still in it. Just as Courts was finding the boundary he got a leading edge on one that stopped a bit and was brilliantly caught and Bowled for 21. Chucky and Damo carry on the fight before Chucks holes out for a well complied 43.

After losing Damo and the Skip batting at 9 it is only a matter of time and last man Dylan holes out Cranleigh seal the 30 points.

Cranleigh are a very very good side but the underlying feeling is if we had had a better first 10 overs bowling and especially fielding like we know we can, they would not have got away. Our shot selection at times was average and if we are to be in the mix at the end of the season we need to do better. Apart from the run-out, every member of the team was caught, which shows both that we hit the ball too much in the air, but also what an athletic and agile team we were facing.

Lesson learnt and his week the 2’s head to Ockley and will be looking to bounce back. The skipper said that would be our only loss of the season and I believe him.