Hook & Southborough 2nd XI 193-6 vs. Newdigate 3rd XI 191 all out.

 

This was a traditional friendly match played in an excellent spirit with the very young Newdigate side pitched against the experience of Hook & Southborough. The match was played at Manor Park in New Malden on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon.

 

Newdigate skipper, Stephen Kehl won the toss and invited the home team to bat. An excellent opening spell from Alex Miller and Stephen Kehl saw Hook & Southborough struggling on 68-3 but opener Dave Ambrose (44) stubbornly battled away and when the flambuoyant J.Vyas (53) came in  the score started to accelerate. Vyas timed the ball beautifully and Ambrose hit a couple of mighty drives but just when a big total looked in the offing Charlie Wyllie snared Ambrose and Stephen Kehl got Vyas out caught by his brother, Andrew at mid-wicket. After the designated forty overs Hook & Southborough were on 193-6.

 

John Callcut (24) opened the batting with David Atkinson (8) and put on a quick start but Atkinson was bowled and Callcut fell, caught behind, to a ball that flew off a length just as he was looking good. Mike Osborne (26) batted patiently as a couple of wickets fell but he was joined by Stephen Kehl (20) and at the half way stage the score stood at 86-4. Newdigate then developed partnerships and after Osborne was out, under 13, Andrew Kehl, then batted with great determination and scored an excellent 29 which was a superb effort as this was his first ever senior game. Bertie Edwards pushed the score along and when the Kehl's father, Ian, came in to bat the portents did not look good as this was his first match in 15 years. Playing with the same determination as his young son he scored 16 and suddenly the win for Newdigate looked possible. With nine wickets down, under 13, Charlie Wyllie (7 no) and under 15, Alex Miller (12) pushed for victory and they needed just five to win from the final over. The tension was unbearable as the first ball was a dot, the second ball a single, the third ball a single and on the fourth ball Miller hit a solid shot only to see it snapped up by deep mid off to give Hook & Southborough the narrowest of victories.