Newdigate CC 258-7 beat Woodmansterne CC 229 all out

Bennett leads the way forward

This re-arranged ESCL fixture between two teams who'd recently clashed in their Cup semi final promised much action aplenty with visitors Woodmansterne definitely intent upon turning the tables on previous results. The recent dry weather had turned the Brocus into a fast running table top of a ground suggesting runs so it was a mild surprise upon winning the toss that Woodmansterne were happy to send the home team into bat. Excellent tight early bowling though underlined their decision. Newdigate openers Tom Quigley and Oakley Wheeler did a fine job starting off the batting without loss, adding a careful but well structured 13 runs under intense pressure. Following after these lads, Rufus Watson continued his good form with the bat alongside the reliable Frankie Shipton though Watson lost his wicket to a fine rising fast delivery, being caught at short mid off. As truly as Woodmansterne applied the pressure the game then changed with the advent of skipper James Bennett to the crease. Alongside debutant Matthew Appleton he struck 3 fours in a lovely crafted 18 not out and freed the lower order of Jack Butler (6) Oliver Turner (12), Salvage and Chambers to push the home team score to 258 at the break.  For Woodmansterne several bowlers excelled however De-Souza and Van Strip, the latter with 3 wickets clearly took the honours. Woodmansterne opening batting pair De-Souza and Coleman (6) looked comfortable, stroking the ball well, although Newdigate captain James Bennett signalled his intent with an excellent ball to remove De-Souza (9). Thereafter it was the reliable Newdigate application in the field led by Fenton Chambers and players such as debutant Matthew Appleton (1-5), Salvage (1-5), courtesy of a wonderful Jack Butler catch behind and Wheeler (1-7) who applied the pressure, ultimately forcing Woodmansterne back to 243-5. Come the final Woodmansterne batting pair, the visitors were only 16 runs shy of victory and tension clearly had built amongst the well attended crowd. However a superb Frankie Shipton in-swinger in his final over bowled Van Strip upon his arrival which visibly lifted the home team. With Shipton's wicket maiden, two fine wickets apiece from Oliver Turner (3-0-9-2) and skipper James Bennett who finished with an excellent 3-0-12-4 Newdigate had put the result beyond doubt. Overall and in hindsight it was a tremendously disciplined performance from Newdigate, truly inspired throughout by their skipper James Bennett.