20/06/09 Old Woking (A)

Old Woking 1st XI – 228 for 5 vs Newdigate – 190 all out

Newdigate went to Old Woking still searching for their first league victory of the season but didn’t find it in a game that could have gone either way.

Old Woking won the toss and elected to bat.  They lost a wicket early however, with Rees edging one from Craig Jones to slip after a period of pressure bowling. This turned out to be the only positive for a while as M Prisco (86) was joined at the crease by Hughes (56) and they accelerated the proceedings considerably.  Both players enjoyed the short ball and unfortunately, Gate bowled too many of these and the duo put on a 120 run partnership.  It was a very difficult day in the field for Newdigate and only Jones (1 for 51 from 14 overs) and leg spinner Matt Dilger (1 for 36) managing to go for less than 6 an over.  With the score on 228 from only 35 overs, Old Woking made the gutsy move of allowing Newdigate 55 overs to try and chase the target down.

Due to the early finish of the first innings, the second innings was split into 2 by the tea interval and skipper James Penfold made a tough decision to protect his higher batsmen from the break by using “night watchman” Will Bowley to assist regular opener Bill Turner. This decision was justified with both openers lasting to the interval before departing the crease in quick succession immediately afterwards.   Simon Capel was joined at the crease by Tim Pople, who have both experienced Division 1 cricket this year, and they put on a remarkable 134 run partnership to push Gate back into contention. It was this partnership that held the key for the result of this game and when Pople departed for 71, the innings went downhill from there.  Capel departed for 51 a few balls later and the fabled Newdigate collapse was on the cards.  Youngster Chris Fox tried to push the game back into Gate’s hands but he was helped very little at the other end and the innings closed with Newdigate all out on 190.