Newdigate 265-6 vs. Broadbridge Heath 201-7

Newdigate travelled to Broadbridge Heath looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss in the cup match last week and was not disappointed as they beat Broadbridge Heath by 64 runs. After winning the toss and electing to bat on a slightly damp wicket due to the rain on Saturday, Newdigate were soon in trouble as they lost two early wickets. Hiten Patel and Matt Clarke then started to steady the ship and after a scratchy start started to find the runs coming much easier as the wicket started to dry out. They added 55 for the 3^rd wicket before Patel (20) was out trying to up the tempo. Mark Rance followed soon for 16 and at the 20 over drinks break Newdigate were 86 runs with Clarke still batting on 36. Allan Cooper joined Clarke and the two then started to push the scoring rate up with Clarke in particular severe on any bad balls that came, both batters running well and scoring freely. 16 year old Matt Clarke went on to bring up his maiden hundred for the club with a mighty six. Cooper (49) fell just short of a well deserved fifty before adding a match winning partnership of 139 for the 5^th wicket. Newdigate finished on 265 in their allocated 40 over with Clarke batting who had added 106 in the second half of the innings to his score finished on an excellent 139 not out to put the visiting side in control at the half way point. For Broadbridge Heath, skipper Dan Smith was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 33 and was supported by Patel 2/46.

 In reply the home team lost two early wickets to the bowling of Ben Crook (2 for 14) and only a stubborn innings from the home skipper Smith kept any hopes of winning with them. Newdigate rotated the bowling around and with the asking rate always rising the home team batters had to take more chances and in doing so lost wickets at regular intervals. Smith went on to bring up his fifty and looked good as he powerfully put any bad balls away to the boundary before being out to his counterpart Ruky Wickremasinghe (2 for 11) for an excellent 83. Once the skipper was out the home team fell way behind the rate and finished on 201 in the 40 overs to hand Newdigate a well deserved win by 64 runs.