Newdigate CC 270-7 beat Southern Rail & Kenley 245 all out

Newdigate U11 Colts returned to the business of their ESCL League fixtures, hosting visitors Southern Rail & Kenley on a still May evening at the Brocus cricket ground. Newdigate captain Finn Osborne won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, sending out openers Tom Quigley (3 no) and James Bennett to see off the new ball which they did admirably, although Kenley bowlers Edwards and Baker picked up several wickets to keep Newdigate in careful mode. Frankie Shipton followed and set a more attacking tone alongside Oakley Wheeler, hitting a valuable 9 and the Newdigate U11 middle order, fast becoming a feature of their batting line-up added 26 vital runs before George Warne again steered the total to a competitive 270. Pick of the batting was Oliver Turner (13 no) batting at number 7 who delighted the crowd with several lovely offside drives. At the turn a close game beckoned however Newdigate's James Bennett had other ideas and promptly allowed the home side to take a hold with good controlled opening bowling, returning with figures of 2-12. Although bowling wayward at times the Newdigate fielding kept the pressure on the opposition well and were determined to defend their total throughout the Kenley innings. Further wickets to Joe Teague (1-5) and Quigley (2-2) ensued and a superb cameo by Jacob Vaughan who in his only over took 2 wickets for no runs seemed to clinch this game by the 16^th over. However some excellent batting by Kenley's Freddie Edwards (8) and Oliver Baker (18) towards the end provided some nervous moments for Newdigate, who eventually prevailed and won with some to spare. It was a game played in good friendly and competitive spirit by both teams with Newdigate's overall consistency in all aspects of their cricket again delivering the points.