Mac makes his mark.
MAC SYED was the difference as an impressive Camberley defeated Leatherhead on Saturday.
The diminutive batsman's unbeaten innings of 77 included 12 fours and a six as he steered his side past the hosts' total of 213-8.
The attacking Syed was complimented at the crease by the watchful James Harrison, who made 54 on his first appearance of the season, as the two put on 125 for the third wicket.
It had looked as if the two would see the visitors over the line, but Harrison's departure prompted a slight collapse before Syed hit the winning runs in typically aggressive fashion.
With the ball, Sam Holmes starred as some bizarre dismissals led to Camberley restricting the home side well short of what they might otherwise have achieved.
On a sunny but breezy afternoon, Leatherhead won the toss and quickly set about the Camberley pace attack. Morris started accurately, but Clamp and Pike were too wayward as the hosts passed 50 without loss.
The introduction of spin had an immediate effect, as captain Phil West had James Musgrave well caught down the leg side by wicket keeper James Reeves.
But still the runs flowed, and it wasn't until Holmes was brought into the attack that the visitors started to restrict the runrate. The off-spinner controlled his areas well for the mostpart, but, ironically, his first wicket came from a rank full toss. With the score at 115-1, David Gillott rightfully tried to open his body and free his arms, but he lost his footing and was trapped LBW as he fell over.
There then followed an extraordinary passage of play where David Baker seemed determined to give his wicket away. In three consecutive Holmes deliveries, he contrived to be dropped at deep-backward square by Morris, then by Reeves behind the stumps, before he finally perished, West taking the catch at mid-wicket following an ugly swipe across the line.
Anthony Joblin came in at five, but instead of looking to rebuild, he followed the pattern of giving his wicket away, missing a straight one as he looked to thump it over mid-wicket, reducing his side to 128-4.
After Holmes completed his superb spell of 9-3-16-3, and with Syed bowling economically at the other end, Dom Peter continued the spin theme, and didn't waste time making his mark, having Stephen Burgess caught by Syed at cover with his first delivery.
Morris and Pike were then reinstated to the attack in an attempt to wrap up the hosts' innings, and while Morris was unlucky, Pike managed to pick up three late wickets, as Leatherhead were restricted to 213-8 off their 45.
In reply, Camberley got off to a positive start as West played his customary attacking shots; a couple of straight sixes and a glorious cover drive were the highlights as he raced to 48 before being adjudged LBW.
Dom Peter was also given LBW, allowing Harrison and Syed to combine to take the game away from the hosts. Syed played an array of attacking shots while Harrison was content to wait for the bad ball, hitting eight fours in his innings.
It had seemed as if both would be at the crease for the end of the game, but Harrison's knock came to a slightly premature end as he was bowled by Joblin, but it only served as a delay on the inevitable.
Ollie Pollard and Tom Green were both dismissed cheaply, but those wickets only took a hint of gloss off an otherwise very impressive display which was completed when Syed thumped Rich Roy over mid-off for four.
The former Bangladesh under-15 had looked in good touch but failed to compile a meaningful innings in the two previous friendlies, so his return to form bodes well for the opening league encounter away at Worcester Park on the 7th.
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