Newdigate Dev XI 163-9 vs. Merrow Dev XI 164-6

After winning an important toss the Merrow skipper asked Newdigate’s Development side to bat first on a damp and slow wicket. Gate’s opening pair of Paul Bettesworth and Matt Clarke found that runs were hard to come by with the slow wicket and some very accurate swing bowling from Merrow’s Backer, whose first spell of four overs was all maidens. Bettesworth (22) was caught at point trying to push the run rate and was soon followed by his opening partner to leave the home side at 26 for 2 in the first ten overs. The prolific Matt Jee was joined by skipper Ruky Wickremasinghe and the pair started to push the scoring rate with some good running between the wicket and some aggressive shots from Wickremasinghe in particular. At the drinks break the home side had reached 74 for 2 and looked set for a solid second half but as it always happens the first over after the break Merrow’s skipper, Andy Windus, had his counterpart caught out in the deep for a well made 33. Richard Callcut then tried to keep the score moving with a quickfire 26 and with Jee falling for 38, any hopes of setting a formidable score looked grim. Newdigate finished on a par score of 163 in their allocated 40 overs. For the visitors Windus, Tyler and Corning all took 3 wickets a piece.

Merrow’s run chase started off by losing two early wickets to Ben Crook and Des Harris. Newman then came to the crease and stared to push to scoring rate up with some calculated risk shots. Gate’s young first change bowlers Jack Wylie (1 for 23) and Thomas Ball kept the pressure on the visitors with some accurate bowling, and at the drinks break the visitors were 70 for 4 and still needed 94 off the 120 ball to win the game. But with wickets in hand and a set batsman in Newman still at the crease they got home safely with 5 overs to go. Newman finishing on 73* to give the visiting side a much needed win. For Newdigate Des Harris (2 for 21) bowled well for the home team