Surrey Slam Match Report

The Mavericks rocked up to the glorious Master Park which was bathed in sunshine to take on Oxted & Limpsfield Grasshoppers of Surrey Championship Division II in round 2 of The Surrey Slam determined to put right the loss to Outwood Outlaws 2 weeks ago.

Well rocked up isn’t quite accurate, it wasn’t looking good with just Marusy and The Colonel on the ground at 5.46 and whatsapp messages warning of traffic carnage in Redhill, Courts & Lewy still at Fairall's in Gatwick. Fortunately the skipper arrived followed by Dylan, Mark, Damo, Wigs & Smithy and the rest of the gang......Phew.

Jack won the toss............it is an absolute road declared the skipper, "WE WILL BAT" was heard all over the parish and off went Walks and Smithy to face the new ball.

A good start, Smithy taking a liking to OLCC 2nd XI opening bowler Glancy who was dispatched for 16 in over 2 before bowling Alex with the last delivery of the over. JB & Walker got their heads down and batted very well. Fair play to Oxted, their fielding placements were spot on with a number of certain boundaries saved. The score ticked along nicely with a partnership of 62 before Walker was caught for a well-made 33, South 80-2

Wigs showed his intent lacing his first delivery for 4 and kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely. The OLCC skipper bought himself on bowling darts at double 19 & double 17 which proved economical pegging back South’s run rate and building pressure. JB then holed out to a very good catch on the boundary for 33. Wigs continued to keep the scoreboard ticking before missing a slower one and went for 25 with Marusy, Lewy, Courts, Damo & The Colonel taking the score to 154-7 innings closed.

Was it a par score? Were we slightly shy?.....Time would tell but as the boys got together there was no doubt that there was absolute belief that if we bowled and fielded well we were right in it!!

What followed was absolutely astonishing. Wigs set the tone in over one showing the OLCC skipper that decent spinners actually bowl their darts with drift, loop and turn at double top. Then South through the inspired Lewy and Smithy tore through OLCC. Danger man Cleaver was snapped up behind by the skipper from a real peach by Lewy, Smithy cleaned up fellow opener Korea and had Miller caught at point by Dylan and in the very next over Woodward went hard at Lewy who took a sensational one-handed return catch. OLCC Grasshoppers 21-4.

Dylan comes into the attack and gets a wicket with his first ball then OLCC attempt a single to Smithy who swoops at extra cover back to the Skip 26-6......South are absolutely on fire, bowling great line and length and backed up by brilliant fielding and superb catching. Damo is next up and picks up a wicket courtesy of a Smithy catch.........another one gone!!!

OLCC are on the ropes and as we change ends, Smithy picks up 2 in and 2 and then has a massive shout for LBW with the hat trick ball......"HOOOWWWW...PLEASE.....ZAAAATTTTTTTT....PLEASE"!!!! Unfortunately not out but then VC Wigs finishes proceedings with a caught and bowled. OLCC 58 all out off 12.2 overs. Smithy finished with a sensational 4-10, Triple Points Lewy 2-11, Wigs 1-8, Dylan 1-11, Damo 1-16.

In summary, we batted well, but our bowling and fielding performance was absolutely first class..........faultless, building pressure, all catches taken with everybody contributing. The standard has been set, we know what we are capable and if we reach the same heights we will be very difficult to beat!! Well done South, this one will live long in the memory.
COYSNCC