Wednesday 25 May 2011

Match report for Camberley Sunday 2nd XI v Woking and Horsell, 22/5/2011.

Camberley thumped despite Pike's new top score.
A young Camberley second XI were comprehensively beaten on Sunday, despite Chris Pike proving he is a genuine all-rounder.

John Hargan's brutal knock of 130 not out completely overshadowed Pike's innings, though, as Woking and Horsell chased down Camberley's total of 219-8 for the loss of just one wicket.
The visitors won the toss and oddly elected to field first, despite only having nine players for the first five overs, before Hargan rocked up late and joined the action.
George Crowdy and Dom Peter opened up for the hosts, and moved comfortably to 48 before the latter was bowled by Tom Harbour for 19.

Steve Hulks, Graham Lovell and Brad Stanley were all removed by Iqbal Ahmed for low scores while Crowdy fell three short of his half century.
The 17-year-old run machine was controvertially triggered by his opening partner after Peter had swapped his kit for the umpiring jacket.
Jordan Sturgess played in his typically aggressive manner while Charlie Peter reminded everyone of what a talented player he is, confidently stroking the ball around.
After Sturgess went for one shot too many, Pike was given the privilege of batting above captain Sam Holmes, and quickly set about his trademark defensive shots.
Knowing that attacking intent brought with it a horrible loss of shape and technique, Pike initially preferred to let Peter do the scoring, and the 15-year-old duly did so, combining five fours with some good running as the hosts passed 150.
Having made just one from his first 15 balls, Pike saw his opportunity to up the rate against captain Dave Lane, who introduced himself and bowled three overs of genuine dross.
It was as if Pike had been transformed into his 17-year-old self, looking to attack most deliveries, and he did so with surprising success, quickly moving to 20.
Lane was then replaced by Hargan, and Peter sacrificed himself for the team, looking to go on the offensive from the word go, only to be caught at mid off for 43, ending a mature and important knock; the main contributor in a partnership of 56.

Holmes immediately got into his stride, easily knocking the visitors' bowling around, as Camberley threatened to post a respectable total.
As for Pike, well, in a 13-year cricketing career, a top score of 31 not out in an under 17s game that was later abandoned due to rain wasn't particularly impressive. Thankfully for him, he cruised past that score and moved to 45 with a selection of clubbed boundaries and clips into the leg-side for singles, before finally perishing in the final over, desperately looking for the big hit which would take him to the promised land of a Sunday second XI fifty.

In reply, Crowdy and Charlie Peter took the new ball, as Pike donned the keeper gloves, and Peter made an impressive start, taking a sharp return catch to remove Azhar Mohammad for six.
But that's as good as it got for the hosts, as Max Carter, Hulks, Holmes, Pike, Blake Howell and Lovell all tried in vain to break the partnership of 212 which eventually saw the visitors home.

While James Wolfe's innings of 60 not out may have been scratchy and dogged, Hargan's savagery and ability to pick up on anything short was as impressive as it was destructive, completely taking the wind out of the hosts' sails.
Camberley will hope the inclusion of messrs Dawes, Burns and Smith will inspire the first XI to victory next Sunday away to Reading.

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