Mac and Shaq get the job done.A superb partnership of 106 by Mac Sayed and Phil West was the difference as Camberley defeated Old Wimbledonians on Saturday.
Sayed's second knock of 60-odd in successive games was typically obdurate, while West combined good attacking intent with better judgement as he made 57 to see the hosts to the brink of victory.
There was a brief scare as both batsmen fell just four runs short of the target, but Chris Pike and Sam Holmes successfully managed to scramble over the line and secure the win.
The chase came after Camberley bowled well as a unit again, as the five who bottled up Trinity's batting the week before were further strengthened by the addition of Lloyd Morris, and all six bowled well to restrict the visitors to 172-9 from their 50.
A new-look batting order then limped to 30-4 and 63-5 before the Sayed/West combination took the game away from the Old Wimbledonians.
Despite losing the toss, Camberley made the perfect start as Morris, fresh from a month's holiday in the USA, produced an absolute ripper to bowl Grant Deg with the first ball of the day.
The visitors immediately fought back with two substantial partnerships but, after West and Holmes removed the only three batsmen to put up any resistance, they crumbled from 112-3 to 123-8.
The hosts' varied attack proved too much for the London-based team's middle order as the off-spin combination of West and Holmes returned figures of 10-2-24-3 and 8-1-37-2 respectively, while the pacemen also fared well.
Dan Wakeling went wicketless but bowled typically economically as he impressed with the new ball, going for just 21 off his seven overs, while Jon Cooles and Pike produced almost exactly the same figures, the former taking 7-1-25-1 and the latter 8-1-29-1.
But it was Morris who was the pick of the quicks, as he impressed once again, taking 10-3-26-2.
Having restricted the away side to a very achievable total, Camberley got off to a shaky start as, after Jordan Gibbs fell with the score on 26, they lost four wickets for four runs to crumble to 30-4.
Cooles steadied the ship with Sayed momentarily, but he was dismissed for 16 with the hosts still 110 runs short of the target.
West came in at seven off the back of a varied season with the bat, but chose a good time to stand up and be counted as he quickly turned the game in the home side's favour.
Both he and Sayed looked assured, playing an array of strokes, as Camberley got within touching distance of the win.
But with just four runs to get, Sayed's vigil came to an end, leaving Holmes to see out the game with West.
Then, some might say predictably, with the win just one shot away, West tried to blast the winning runs in style, but only succeeded in ballooning a catch to point, ending a superb return to form for the captain.
After Holmes then played out a maiden, Pike smited the winning runs to give Camberley their second win in a row.
With a relatively easy run in, Camberley will be hoping to end the season on a high, starting with Esher at home next week.
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Friday, 19 August 2011
Match report for Camberley 2nd XI v Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian 6/8/2011.
Strong bowling performance sees Camberley topple the table-toppers.
A superb showing from all five bowlers saw Camberley run out clear winners over a weakened Trinity side on Saturday.
Jon Cooles wrapped up the win with three late wickets as he returned 8.1-1-27-4, while Phil West provided strong support and was typically economical as he bowled 10-0-23-3.
They were ably supported by Dan Wakeling and Sam Holmes, who returned almost exactly the same figures, taking a wicket each and going at around three an over from their ten.
Chris Pike was the final component in the quintet and, even though he went wicketless, he bowled impressive away-swingers and conceded just 11 runs in eight overs.
Mac Sayed's gritty 64 was the base for which the visitors' total was built around, with Dom Peter adding a scratchy but effective 45 not out towards the end of the innings.
Both knocks were vital as Camberley struggled to score runs quickly on a tough track, posting 192-6 off their 50, before the suffocating nature of the bowling held the hosts to 140 all out from 46.1 overs.
After winning the toss, captain West decided to bat first, despite the weather being changeable.
Unfortunately his decision didn't immediately pay off the away side lost three wickets relatively quickly.
Firstly, George Crowdy missed a straight one, then James Reeves, who'd taken 14 off the previous over, missed a short ball that got stuck in the track, before Tim Hughes was bowled for three, leaving Camberley in trouble at 25-3.
There then followed a tortuous period of hard-fought play where Stuart Gilchriest and Mac Sayed battened down the hatches and ground out a partnership of 82 before the former fell for 32 off 90 deliveries.
Dom Peter, fresh from not batting in the first team every week, was the new man and his lack of form was apparent as he struggled to get into flow.
But the talented youngster eventually got going, making the most of some awful fielding and good running between the wickets to finish unbeaten on 45.
Sayed eventually fell for a well-made 64, trapped LBW by Charlie Filmer-Court after being dropped multiple times.
West came and went first ball as he attempted a hopeful heave but was left disappointed, before Cooles clubbed the last ball of the innings for four as the visitors posted a tough but achievable total.
Cooles took the new ball but struggled to find his rhythm early, while Wakeling took no time finding his range as he bowled Graham Cobbett with his fifth delivery.
This brought captain Robert Warne to the crease and he looked to stamp his authority early as he crunched Wakeling straight down the ground for four first ball. The shot offered a chance of a catch to Pike at mid off but his effort resembled more of a fall rather than a dive, and the chance was missed.
It quickly became apparent that the visitors hopes lay with Warne as he looked much the more assured of the batsmen, but he was superbly caught down the leg side by keeper Reeves off the bowling of West for 25.
Trinity's batsmen struggled from that point forth, with no player other than opener Nick Trend making it past seven. Trend did battle his way to 73, but the fact that it came from 137 balls meant the hosts were always struggling to keep up with the rate.
Wickets came at regular intervals for the away side as pressure was applied from all five bowlers, despite the fielding sometimes not reaching the same standards.
West picked the up the prize wicket of Trend but it was Cooles who profited from some dire batting as he mopped up the tail to close the game and earn Camberley the bonus point.
Camberley face an interesting task next week as they play Old Wimbledonians for the first time this season, as the reverse fixture was abandoned due to rain earlier in the year.
A superb showing from all five bowlers saw Camberley run out clear winners over a weakened Trinity side on Saturday.
Jon Cooles wrapped up the win with three late wickets as he returned 8.1-1-27-4, while Phil West provided strong support and was typically economical as he bowled 10-0-23-3.
They were ably supported by Dan Wakeling and Sam Holmes, who returned almost exactly the same figures, taking a wicket each and going at around three an over from their ten.
Chris Pike was the final component in the quintet and, even though he went wicketless, he bowled impressive away-swingers and conceded just 11 runs in eight overs.
Mac Sayed's gritty 64 was the base for which the visitors' total was built around, with Dom Peter adding a scratchy but effective 45 not out towards the end of the innings.
Both knocks were vital as Camberley struggled to score runs quickly on a tough track, posting 192-6 off their 50, before the suffocating nature of the bowling held the hosts to 140 all out from 46.1 overs.
After winning the toss, captain West decided to bat first, despite the weather being changeable.
Unfortunately his decision didn't immediately pay off the away side lost three wickets relatively quickly.
Firstly, George Crowdy missed a straight one, then James Reeves, who'd taken 14 off the previous over, missed a short ball that got stuck in the track, before Tim Hughes was bowled for three, leaving Camberley in trouble at 25-3.
There then followed a tortuous period of hard-fought play where Stuart Gilchriest and Mac Sayed battened down the hatches and ground out a partnership of 82 before the former fell for 32 off 90 deliveries.
Dom Peter, fresh from not batting in the first team every week, was the new man and his lack of form was apparent as he struggled to get into flow.
But the talented youngster eventually got going, making the most of some awful fielding and good running between the wickets to finish unbeaten on 45.
Sayed eventually fell for a well-made 64, trapped LBW by Charlie Filmer-Court after being dropped multiple times.
West came and went first ball as he attempted a hopeful heave but was left disappointed, before Cooles clubbed the last ball of the innings for four as the visitors posted a tough but achievable total.
Cooles took the new ball but struggled to find his rhythm early, while Wakeling took no time finding his range as he bowled Graham Cobbett with his fifth delivery.
This brought captain Robert Warne to the crease and he looked to stamp his authority early as he crunched Wakeling straight down the ground for four first ball. The shot offered a chance of a catch to Pike at mid off but his effort resembled more of a fall rather than a dive, and the chance was missed.
It quickly became apparent that the visitors hopes lay with Warne as he looked much the more assured of the batsmen, but he was superbly caught down the leg side by keeper Reeves off the bowling of West for 25.
Trinity's batsmen struggled from that point forth, with no player other than opener Nick Trend making it past seven. Trend did battle his way to 73, but the fact that it came from 137 balls meant the hosts were always struggling to keep up with the rate.
Wickets came at regular intervals for the away side as pressure was applied from all five bowlers, despite the fielding sometimes not reaching the same standards.
West picked the up the prize wicket of Trend but it was Cooles who profited from some dire batting as he mopped up the tail to close the game and earn Camberley the bonus point.
Camberley face an interesting task next week as they play Old Wimbledonians for the first time this season, as the reverse fixture was abandoned due to rain earlier in the year.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Match report for Camberley 2nd XI v East Molesey, 30/7/2011.
West gets five again, but again it isn't enough.
Phil West's fifth haul of five wickets or more this season was the highlight but Camberley couldn't bowl out the opposition for the second week in a row.
West took 5-73 from 20 overs against a tough East Molesey side who stayed second in the table.
George Crowdy was the stand-out performer with the bat, making 65 from 88 balls, as the home side amassed 220 all out from their 55 overs.
Stuart Gilchriest, James Parrott and Mac Sayed all got in but got out as no other batsman provided a substantial score.
Having lost the toss, Camberley were sent in to bat on a hot summer's day.
Jon Cooles departed for an early duck before a partnership of 98 between Crowdy and Gilchriest put the hosts back on track.
Both then fell in the space of 11 runs before Sayed and Parrott put on 47 for the fourth wicket.
But from 159-3, the hosts lost five wickets for 37 runs as the lower middle order failed to fire.
A late barrage from West helped the total past 200 as Camberley posted a competitive score.
In reply, both visitor openers got a start before the Phil West James Parrott combination removed both, the latter taking both catches at mid on.
A partnership of 99 then appeared to take the game away from Camberley, but Chris Pike then struck with possibly the worst ball of an otherwise strong bowling performance to remove Adam Potter for 58.
Chris Haynes was well caught by Gilchriest at long on to become West's third victim, before Pike bowled Neil Campbell as the home side threatened a comeback.
That cause was further helped by a Parrott run out, before West claimed two further wickets, completing his five-for and leaving Camberley just two short of victory.
Disappointingly from a hosts' perspective, the wickets came too late, and the East Molesey tail-enders comfortably played out the remaining over or so to finish the game in a draw.
Camberley battled hard for what was ultimately only one point, but they fought well to restrict the visitors from gaining the extra nine points for a win.
Another tough test follows next week as they travel to table-toppers Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian.
Phil West's fifth haul of five wickets or more this season was the highlight but Camberley couldn't bowl out the opposition for the second week in a row.
West took 5-73 from 20 overs against a tough East Molesey side who stayed second in the table.
George Crowdy was the stand-out performer with the bat, making 65 from 88 balls, as the home side amassed 220 all out from their 55 overs.
Stuart Gilchriest, James Parrott and Mac Sayed all got in but got out as no other batsman provided a substantial score.
Having lost the toss, Camberley were sent in to bat on a hot summer's day.
Jon Cooles departed for an early duck before a partnership of 98 between Crowdy and Gilchriest put the hosts back on track.
Both then fell in the space of 11 runs before Sayed and Parrott put on 47 for the fourth wicket.
But from 159-3, the hosts lost five wickets for 37 runs as the lower middle order failed to fire.
A late barrage from West helped the total past 200 as Camberley posted a competitive score.
In reply, both visitor openers got a start before the Phil West James Parrott combination removed both, the latter taking both catches at mid on.
A partnership of 99 then appeared to take the game away from Camberley, but Chris Pike then struck with possibly the worst ball of an otherwise strong bowling performance to remove Adam Potter for 58.
Chris Haynes was well caught by Gilchriest at long on to become West's third victim, before Pike bowled Neil Campbell as the home side threatened a comeback.
That cause was further helped by a Parrott run out, before West claimed two further wickets, completing his five-for and leaving Camberley just two short of victory.
Disappointingly from a hosts' perspective, the wickets came too late, and the East Molesey tail-enders comfortably played out the remaining over or so to finish the game in a draw.
Camberley battled hard for what was ultimately only one point, but they fought well to restrict the visitors from gaining the extra nine points for a win.
Another tough test follows next week as they travel to table-toppers Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian.
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Match report for Camberley 2nd XI v Bank of England, 23/7/2011.
West haul in vain as Camberley come up just short.
Another monumental spell from captain Phil West didn't quite prove enough on Saturday as Camberley came up just short at the Bank of England.
West's return of 7-52 from 24 overs included the first seven wickets to fall, but ultimately wasn't quite enough as the final pair survived the last five overs.
James Harrison was the stand out performer with the bat as his 95 led the visitors to a substantial first innings total.
After winning the toss, West decided to open the batting himself, and he and George Crowdy got the away side off to a good start before West was bowled for 15.
BoE had an aggressive opening bowler who made a point of staring down any batsmen who he felt struggled against his pace, but Crowdy took the initiative, hooking him for six in an over that went for 19.
Crowdy looked very impressive he made his way to 39, but a short delivery that kept low proved to be his downfall as he was trapped lbw.
His dismissal brought Jon Cooles to the crease, and he almost departed straight away as he lined up a heave through the leg side. The ill-advised shot caught the outside edge and looped to cover, but the young fielder underneath it proceeded drop the easiest of chances. Cooles went on to make 18 before he was bowled by Matt Cannon. Mac Sayed then came and went for eight and Scott Reeves for nought, as Harrison struggled but knuckled down at the other end. After a pretty dreadful first 40 runs, with most coming through third man, the Camberley number three relaxed into it as he and Alex Boorman put on 86 for the sixth wicket.
Harrison played with renewed confidence after passing fifty, and hit a six and 15 fours before he fell agonisingly short of his century.
Boorman played aggressively for his 30 before his departure sparked the beginning of the end for Camberley's innings as Jordan Gibbs, Chris Pike and Dan Wakeling all succumbed for single figures, leaving Blake Howell as the unbeaten man in Camberley's total of 240 all out.
In reply, BoE got off to a shaky start, with both openers edging between keeper and first slip in the first three overs.
Despite this, they managed to survive the initial tough period, as both West and Gibbs bowled impressive opening spells.
With Camberley needing a moment of inspiration to break the deadlock, it was provided by Sayed as he took a remarkable reaction catch at short leg.
West then doubled his wicket tally shortly after, removing the other opener as Camberley broke the game open.
A partnership of 37 threatened to take the wind out of the visitors sails, but West was having none of it; the one-man wicket machine trapped Tim Hoolahan lbw for 20.
Two balls later another wicket fell, but it will always be remembered for what happened in the aftermath rather than the wicket itself.
Having taken a fairly good catch above his head, Pike threw the ball up in the air and made his way back to his team mates to celebrate. But seemingly out of nowhere, the ball fell out the sky and made a resounding clunk on Pike's head. Cue lots of laughter at his expense.
After the jokes died down, West got right back on his mark, taking three more wickets relatively quickly.
Another superb close catch by Sayed was sandwiched between the Camberley captain hitting the stumps twice, as BoE teeterred on the brink.
Mouthy paceman Kasheef Hassan was then given a taste of his own medicine by Cooles as he was bounced out and caught at fine leg by Boorman, which was followed by a send-off from pretty much every visiting player.
As the game reached crunch time, Gibbs took the wicket his earlier spell deserved, bowling Joe O'Gorman for two, leaving Camberley just one wicket away from what would have been a very well-earned victory.
But despite a time limit extending the innings by five overs, the visitors couldn't prise the final wicket and had to make do with a winning draw.
It was a result that left the away side feeling a little deflated that they couldn't take the last wicket, but should take heart from the fact that they got so close as they face a tough test against East Molesey next week.
Another monumental spell from captain Phil West didn't quite prove enough on Saturday as Camberley came up just short at the Bank of England.
West's return of 7-52 from 24 overs included the first seven wickets to fall, but ultimately wasn't quite enough as the final pair survived the last five overs.
James Harrison was the stand out performer with the bat as his 95 led the visitors to a substantial first innings total.
After winning the toss, West decided to open the batting himself, and he and George Crowdy got the away side off to a good start before West was bowled for 15.
BoE had an aggressive opening bowler who made a point of staring down any batsmen who he felt struggled against his pace, but Crowdy took the initiative, hooking him for six in an over that went for 19.
Crowdy looked very impressive he made his way to 39, but a short delivery that kept low proved to be his downfall as he was trapped lbw.
His dismissal brought Jon Cooles to the crease, and he almost departed straight away as he lined up a heave through the leg side. The ill-advised shot caught the outside edge and looped to cover, but the young fielder underneath it proceeded drop the easiest of chances. Cooles went on to make 18 before he was bowled by Matt Cannon. Mac Sayed then came and went for eight and Scott Reeves for nought, as Harrison struggled but knuckled down at the other end. After a pretty dreadful first 40 runs, with most coming through third man, the Camberley number three relaxed into it as he and Alex Boorman put on 86 for the sixth wicket.
Harrison played with renewed confidence after passing fifty, and hit a six and 15 fours before he fell agonisingly short of his century.
Boorman played aggressively for his 30 before his departure sparked the beginning of the end for Camberley's innings as Jordan Gibbs, Chris Pike and Dan Wakeling all succumbed for single figures, leaving Blake Howell as the unbeaten man in Camberley's total of 240 all out.
In reply, BoE got off to a shaky start, with both openers edging between keeper and first slip in the first three overs.
Despite this, they managed to survive the initial tough period, as both West and Gibbs bowled impressive opening spells.
With Camberley needing a moment of inspiration to break the deadlock, it was provided by Sayed as he took a remarkable reaction catch at short leg.
West then doubled his wicket tally shortly after, removing the other opener as Camberley broke the game open.
A partnership of 37 threatened to take the wind out of the visitors sails, but West was having none of it; the one-man wicket machine trapped Tim Hoolahan lbw for 20.
Two balls later another wicket fell, but it will always be remembered for what happened in the aftermath rather than the wicket itself.
Having taken a fairly good catch above his head, Pike threw the ball up in the air and made his way back to his team mates to celebrate. But seemingly out of nowhere, the ball fell out the sky and made a resounding clunk on Pike's head. Cue lots of laughter at his expense.
After the jokes died down, West got right back on his mark, taking three more wickets relatively quickly.
Another superb close catch by Sayed was sandwiched between the Camberley captain hitting the stumps twice, as BoE teeterred on the brink.
Mouthy paceman Kasheef Hassan was then given a taste of his own medicine by Cooles as he was bounced out and caught at fine leg by Boorman, which was followed by a send-off from pretty much every visiting player.
As the game reached crunch time, Gibbs took the wicket his earlier spell deserved, bowling Joe O'Gorman for two, leaving Camberley just one wicket away from what would have been a very well-earned victory.
But despite a time limit extending the innings by five overs, the visitors couldn't prise the final wicket and had to make do with a winning draw.
It was a result that left the away side feeling a little deflated that they couldn't take the last wicket, but should take heart from the fact that they got so close as they face a tough test against East Molesey next week.
Friday, 8 July 2011
Match report for Camberley Surrey Trust Development XI v Maori Oxshott, 3/7/2011.
Pike effort in vain as youngsters lose thriller.
Chris Pike's maiden Test match fifty was not enough to ensure victory for a very young Camberley development side at Oxshott on Sunday.
Pike's innings of 60 was the only score above 12, however a considerable amount of extras saw the away side to 174 all out.
In reply, Josh Halsey was the star with the ball, taking 4-31 from seven overs as the home batsmen struggled to deal with his areas and skiddy deliveries.
Despite a late rally, Camberley came up just short, as Oxshott captain Humayoon Nasir hit the winning runs in the penultimate over with his side nine wickets down.
Having won the toss, captain Sam Holmes elected to bat on a very dry track with short boundaries.
George Crowdy took his customary position at the top of the order, but his partner was slightly less experienced in the trade.
You could have got very good odds on Pike outlasting Crowdy and Dom Peter at the crease, but that's exactly what happened. Crowdy looked like he meant business in the first over, crunching three fours, but he added no further score before top edging an attempted clip through the leg side in the second over.
Peter was then the victim of what looked a harsh LBW decision, but he had to go for a duck.
While all the carnage was going on at the other end, Pike also could have fallen; dropped at slip while still on nought.
Captain Holmes came in to steady the ship at four, and, after a shaky start, Pike started to resemble more of a batsman.
Some good shotmaking and running, combined with some horrific fielding meant that Camberley continued to score at a good pace, until Holmes was trapped LBW for 12.
Dan Wakeling was next up the ramp, but after looking fairly solid at the crease, he was deceived by a good delivery from Nasir which spun back between his bat and pad.
With all the wickets falling at the other end, the innings became increasingly dependent on Pike getting a good score - something he wasn't particularly adept at.
But, after a mix of streaky edges, well-judged singles and the occasional good shot for four, the man who batted number eleven the day previously found himself on 49 for the first time.
A quick single to point was taken and once Harry Green made his ground at the striker's end, Pike had achieved the unthinkable.
Cheers from the boundary would have been in disbelief as much as appreciation that Pike had actually done a half-decent job.
Green played nicely during his short stay at the crease before he was well caught and bowled by Oliver Pike for six.
Pike fell shortly after, as he missed an agricultural swipe at leg-spinner Meesome Hussain and was bowled. Despite being annoyed at having thrown away a good position, he would definitely have settled for 60 before the game, and especially after being dropped on nought.
Shaan Joshi looked good at the crease, slashing one four through backward point, before he tried to repeat the trick and dragged on.
Toby Woodland looked untroubled against people many years older, and even managed to get off the mark with a reverse sweep before being stumped off Hussain.
Blake Howell added some valuable late runs as he struck two fours before he was run out by the superb fielding of Oliver Pike.
Halsey then defied his position at number eleven by crunching a backfoot drive through extra cover for four, before he was well caught by Oliver Pike off the bowling of his twin brother Alex, leaving Max Carter unbeaten at the crease.
In reply, Wakeling bowled his customary good areas, while Pike bowled his customary wayward areas, but neither could prise a wicket out of the Oxshott openers.
Both were replaced by spin, and Holmes' off-spin took the first wicket, well caught by Peter at mid-wicket.
Peter himself bowled a very good spell of 8-0-20-1, ragging his left arm variations all over the place. His deserved wicket came courtesy of a good catch by Joshi at mid-off, before Halsey took centre stage.
With the score at 103-2, the young medium-pacer took four of the next five wickets to haul his side back into the game. First, he bowled Alex Pike, shortly before having Phil Salt well caught behind by Crowdy, who performed admirably in his first game behind the sticks.
Halsey continued to bowl superbly, and he bowled two more Oxshott batsmen, with Holmes claiming also claiming a wicket between the two.
Halsey's efforts balanced the game nicely, with 39 runs or three wickets required for either side. But a partnership of 27 between Nasir and Oliver Pike seemed to have settled the game, before Pike was bowled by Pike (lol).
Peter's superb pick up and throw from mid-on then ran out Jo Lidbetter, meaning the game would be settled by a six or a wicket.
Halsey was brought back to bowl the penultimate over, but sadly for Camberley his fantastic effort didn't quite have the fairytale ending, as Nasir smeared him through the leg side twice in succession to finish the game in the hosts' favour.
It was a tense game that was ultimately decided by Camberley's poor batting display, but provided good experience for a side with an average age of just over 16, and only two people older than 17.
Next Sunday will likely provide a similarly inexperienced side as Camberley have to field sides for two games. So far this season finding eleven players on a Sunday has been tough enough, so it'll be interesting to see what availability is like this week.
Chris Pike's maiden Test match fifty was not enough to ensure victory for a very young Camberley development side at Oxshott on Sunday.
Pike's innings of 60 was the only score above 12, however a considerable amount of extras saw the away side to 174 all out.
In reply, Josh Halsey was the star with the ball, taking 4-31 from seven overs as the home batsmen struggled to deal with his areas and skiddy deliveries.
Despite a late rally, Camberley came up just short, as Oxshott captain Humayoon Nasir hit the winning runs in the penultimate over with his side nine wickets down.
Having won the toss, captain Sam Holmes elected to bat on a very dry track with short boundaries.
George Crowdy took his customary position at the top of the order, but his partner was slightly less experienced in the trade.
You could have got very good odds on Pike outlasting Crowdy and Dom Peter at the crease, but that's exactly what happened. Crowdy looked like he meant business in the first over, crunching three fours, but he added no further score before top edging an attempted clip through the leg side in the second over.
Peter was then the victim of what looked a harsh LBW decision, but he had to go for a duck.
While all the carnage was going on at the other end, Pike also could have fallen; dropped at slip while still on nought.
Captain Holmes came in to steady the ship at four, and, after a shaky start, Pike started to resemble more of a batsman.
Some good shotmaking and running, combined with some horrific fielding meant that Camberley continued to score at a good pace, until Holmes was trapped LBW for 12.
Dan Wakeling was next up the ramp, but after looking fairly solid at the crease, he was deceived by a good delivery from Nasir which spun back between his bat and pad.
With all the wickets falling at the other end, the innings became increasingly dependent on Pike getting a good score - something he wasn't particularly adept at.
But, after a mix of streaky edges, well-judged singles and the occasional good shot for four, the man who batted number eleven the day previously found himself on 49 for the first time.
A quick single to point was taken and once Harry Green made his ground at the striker's end, Pike had achieved the unthinkable.
Cheers from the boundary would have been in disbelief as much as appreciation that Pike had actually done a half-decent job.
Green played nicely during his short stay at the crease before he was well caught and bowled by Oliver Pike for six.
Pike fell shortly after, as he missed an agricultural swipe at leg-spinner Meesome Hussain and was bowled. Despite being annoyed at having thrown away a good position, he would definitely have settled for 60 before the game, and especially after being dropped on nought.
Shaan Joshi looked good at the crease, slashing one four through backward point, before he tried to repeat the trick and dragged on.
Toby Woodland looked untroubled against people many years older, and even managed to get off the mark with a reverse sweep before being stumped off Hussain.
Blake Howell added some valuable late runs as he struck two fours before he was run out by the superb fielding of Oliver Pike.
Halsey then defied his position at number eleven by crunching a backfoot drive through extra cover for four, before he was well caught by Oliver Pike off the bowling of his twin brother Alex, leaving Max Carter unbeaten at the crease.
In reply, Wakeling bowled his customary good areas, while Pike bowled his customary wayward areas, but neither could prise a wicket out of the Oxshott openers.
Both were replaced by spin, and Holmes' off-spin took the first wicket, well caught by Peter at mid-wicket.
Peter himself bowled a very good spell of 8-0-20-1, ragging his left arm variations all over the place. His deserved wicket came courtesy of a good catch by Joshi at mid-off, before Halsey took centre stage.
With the score at 103-2, the young medium-pacer took four of the next five wickets to haul his side back into the game. First, he bowled Alex Pike, shortly before having Phil Salt well caught behind by Crowdy, who performed admirably in his first game behind the sticks.
Halsey continued to bowl superbly, and he bowled two more Oxshott batsmen, with Holmes claiming also claiming a wicket between the two.
Halsey's efforts balanced the game nicely, with 39 runs or three wickets required for either side. But a partnership of 27 between Nasir and Oliver Pike seemed to have settled the game, before Pike was bowled by Pike (lol).
Peter's superb pick up and throw from mid-on then ran out Jo Lidbetter, meaning the game would be settled by a six or a wicket.
Halsey was brought back to bowl the penultimate over, but sadly for Camberley his fantastic effort didn't quite have the fairytale ending, as Nasir smeared him through the leg side twice in succession to finish the game in the hosts' favour.
It was a tense game that was ultimately decided by Camberley's poor batting display, but provided good experience for a side with an average age of just over 16, and only two people older than 17.
Next Sunday will likely provide a similarly inexperienced side as Camberley have to field sides for two games. So far this season finding eleven players on a Sunday has been tough enough, so it'll be interesting to see what availability is like this week.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Match report for Camberley 2nd XI v Worcester Park 2/7/2011.
Shaq shines as Camberley get back on track.
Captain Phil West bowled a typically mesmeric spell as Camberley got back in the promotion race on Saturday.
The off-spinner raced through the visitors' top order to return 18.5-7-29-6; remarkable figures for anyone other than West, whose last three games have seen him take 17 for 83 from 46.4 overs.
Jon Cooles and Sam Holmes also bowled impressively and took two wickets each as Camberley recovered from a tough position to eventually run out easy winners.
Having won the toss, West elected to bat first on a good looking track, and George Crowdy took it upon himself to see that the hosts got off to a strong start.
With Cooles and James Harrison falling cheaply at the other end, 17-year-old Crowdy looked in as good a touch as he has done all season, playing a series of masterful strokes as he made his way to fifty.
Unfortunately for him and his side, Crowdy was run out shortly after, before Mac Sayed also fell, halting the hosts' progress.
At 100-4, the innings could have gone either way, but a solid partnership from Nick Kempton and Scott Reeves laid the foundations for a strong late-innings push.
Jordan Gibbs also played a fine knock coming in at seven, but his dismissal sparked a mini-collapse, as West was adjudged LBW first ball, and Morris also fell quickly, meaning Camberley were still short of 200.
It was left to Holmes to see out the last few overs with Chris Pike, and while the former added some valuable late runs to the total, the latter fell cheaply, leaving Camberley on 201 all out.
In reply, Worcester Park got off to a strong start, Ian Burrows in particular pouncing on Lloyd Morris' pace by creaming him for a succession of boundaries in the sixth over.
At 65-0, Camberley needed some inspiration, and West was the man to provide it, striking twice in quick succession.
But while the hosts had made the breakthrough, the key to the innings lay with opener Dom Fell, who had battled to his fifty. It wasn't the smoothest knock, but if remained at the crease Camberley would have found victory hard to come by.
Thankfully for the hosts, the introduction of Holmes' spin brought about Fell's downfall, as he looked to attack but only succeeded in looping a catch to West at extra cover.
Seemingly annoyed that someone other than himself had taken a wicket, West took it upon himself to take the next three on his own, bowling John Drake and Mark Turner before having Jordan McLaren LBW as the away side collapsed.
Holmes then gratefully accepted a return catch from Josh Longhurst before Cooles ensured the pacemen had something to savour, taking two quick wickets to speed up the inevitable.
Fittingly, the last wicket belonged to West, when he bowled James Cameron for a drawn out duck from 18 balls.
Having been in an initial position of strength, the visitors lost all ten wickets for just 54 runs, meaning Camberley ran out clear winners and avenged their defeat on the opening day of the season.
The win moves Camberley up to fifth in the table, and a win against third-placed Old Rutlishians would put them level on points with next week's opponents.
Captain Phil West bowled a typically mesmeric spell as Camberley got back in the promotion race on Saturday.
The off-spinner raced through the visitors' top order to return 18.5-7-29-6; remarkable figures for anyone other than West, whose last three games have seen him take 17 for 83 from 46.4 overs.
Jon Cooles and Sam Holmes also bowled impressively and took two wickets each as Camberley recovered from a tough position to eventually run out easy winners.
Having won the toss, West elected to bat first on a good looking track, and George Crowdy took it upon himself to see that the hosts got off to a strong start.
With Cooles and James Harrison falling cheaply at the other end, 17-year-old Crowdy looked in as good a touch as he has done all season, playing a series of masterful strokes as he made his way to fifty.
Unfortunately for him and his side, Crowdy was run out shortly after, before Mac Sayed also fell, halting the hosts' progress.
At 100-4, the innings could have gone either way, but a solid partnership from Nick Kempton and Scott Reeves laid the foundations for a strong late-innings push.
Jordan Gibbs also played a fine knock coming in at seven, but his dismissal sparked a mini-collapse, as West was adjudged LBW first ball, and Morris also fell quickly, meaning Camberley were still short of 200.
It was left to Holmes to see out the last few overs with Chris Pike, and while the former added some valuable late runs to the total, the latter fell cheaply, leaving Camberley on 201 all out.
In reply, Worcester Park got off to a strong start, Ian Burrows in particular pouncing on Lloyd Morris' pace by creaming him for a succession of boundaries in the sixth over.
At 65-0, Camberley needed some inspiration, and West was the man to provide it, striking twice in quick succession.
But while the hosts had made the breakthrough, the key to the innings lay with opener Dom Fell, who had battled to his fifty. It wasn't the smoothest knock, but if remained at the crease Camberley would have found victory hard to come by.
Thankfully for the hosts, the introduction of Holmes' spin brought about Fell's downfall, as he looked to attack but only succeeded in looping a catch to West at extra cover.
Seemingly annoyed that someone other than himself had taken a wicket, West took it upon himself to take the next three on his own, bowling John Drake and Mark Turner before having Jordan McLaren LBW as the away side collapsed.
Holmes then gratefully accepted a return catch from Josh Longhurst before Cooles ensured the pacemen had something to savour, taking two quick wickets to speed up the inevitable.
Fittingly, the last wicket belonged to West, when he bowled James Cameron for a drawn out duck from 18 balls.
Having been in an initial position of strength, the visitors lost all ten wickets for just 54 runs, meaning Camberley ran out clear winners and avenged their defeat on the opening day of the season.
The win moves Camberley up to fifth in the table, and a win against third-placed Old Rutlishians would put them level on points with next week's opponents.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Match report for Camberley 2nd XI v Pyrford, 11/6/2011.
Camberley break the record.
Phil West and Lloyd Morris were the stars as Camberley completely annihilated Pyrford on Saturday.
The pair combined to take all ten wickets as the visitors were bowled out for an all-time league-low score of 25.
Morris' pace was too much for Pyrford's batsmen to handle as he returned figures of 7-1-16-4, while West had a field day. Despite being hit for four with the first ball of the innings, the Camberley captain recorded incredible figures of 7.5-3-9-6.
Prior to the carnage in the field, Jon Cooles was the stand-out performer with the bat as his 69 was the main contribution to Camberley's total of 215 all out.
George Crowdy and West both made 27, with Scott Reeves adding 20, but the hosts didn't make the most of a promising start, having been 85-0 and 125-1 before wickets tumbled.
Morris' quickfire 14 at the end of the innings was the only other score above eight, but it all proved academic as Pyrford's batting later resembled a house of cards.
Having lost the toss, Camberley's tried and trusted opening pair of Crowdy and Cooles were sent out to bat on a testing track, but capitalised on some wayward bowling to get the hosts off to a positive start.
Cooles in particular hit some lusty blows, a straight six being a particular highlight. In addition to the regular flow of boundaries, due to the track being right to one side of the square, there was a lot of good running as balls failed to reach the boundary on one side of the wicket.
Cooles' innings contained four threes and, remarkably, a five, as the visitors' attack continued to struggle.
After a slow start, Crowdy's innings gathered pace as he went on, and even he notched a six with a trademark pull stroke, before going after one shot too many; only succeeding in edging through to the keeper.
His dismissal brought Stuart Gilchriest to the crease, fresh off his half century on debut last week, but he struggled to find a rhythm early on.
But despite his struggles, Cooles continued to attack and reached his fifty with an angled glance to the third man fence for four, which he immediately followed up with a powerful drive down the ground for four more.
His attractive innings was brought to an end when he was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Ahmed for a well-made 69 off just 50 balls.
Cooles' dismissal was instantly followed by Gilchriest's as he fell in the same fashion, this time off the bowling of Oyitch for six, before James Reeves' ill-advised aggression saw him fall soon after, caught behind off the impressive left-arm spin of Oyitch.
From a position of dominance, Camberley had lost three wickets for three runs and needed to rebuild with two new batsmen at the crease.
Mac Sayed and Scott Reeves were given the task of doing it, and a partnership of 26 had Camberley back on track, Reeves in particular looking in good touch.
A long six from the powerful younger Reeves brother was the highlight, before both batsmen fell in the space of five runs, handing back the initiative to the away side.
Nick Kempton looked to play sensibly on his first appearance for the twos this season, but he also fell soon after, as Camberley were in danger of being bowled out well short of their allotted overs.
This brought Sam Holmes to the crease to partner his captain, and although Holmes' 30-ball innings of eight contained just two scoring shots, he did the job the situation required of him, as West looked to attack from the other end.
West typically took little time in clubbing a pull through the leg side, however, instead of watching it sail for four or six, he must have been distraught to have to run the second five of the innings.
Later he did pick the shorter boundary, however, and there was very little running required as the ball cannoned back off a tree having gone miles over the rope for six.
A partnership of 30 between the two ended in the 41st over as the captain was caught, then Holmes was given LBW just an over later, meaning the contrasting styles of Morris and Chris Pike were brought together for the end of the innings.
The latter stuck around while Morris wasted no time getting into it, striking three fours in a brief cameo of 14 off nine balls, before being bowled by a peach of a delivery by Oyitch.
Indeed, Oyitch proved to be the difference for the visiting side, as he returned figures of 14.2-4-37-6, helping recover the situation after some indifferent bowling from his team mates.
Having been bowled out after 44.2 overs, Camberley had 56 overs to bowl out the opposition, but got off to a poor start.
Mindful that clouds were closing in and that Oyitch had been successful, West decided to open with himself, but his first delivery was cut for four.
A signal of intent from Pyrford? No. That was as good as it got for the away side, as an incredible bowling display commenced.
Oyitch was the first to fall, trapped LBW by West, quickly followed by Sellick, who was deceived by the same bowler. Morris then took J Lipscombe's off stump out of the ground as 5-0 quickly became 5-3, and the hosts were rampant.
The following over saw Hashmi play a horrible slog off West, only to be comfortably caught by Pike running around from mid-on, before Morris bowled Woolley, meaning that in the sixth over the scoreboard read a remarkable 7-5.
It was clear that the Pyrford top order was weak, but they weren't allowed to settle as Camberley's two bowlers ran riot. West's control of area, spin and and pace tied the batsmen up while Morris bowled even better than he did last week against Esher, constantly beating the edge and narrowly missing off stump as the visitors appeared clueless.
Even more amazing than the scoreline was the fact that a smile actually appeared on Morris' face as he knew he was too much for the opposition to handle.
A partnership of 12 was as good as it got the visitors as a mini-recovery looked on the cards, before Camberley's deadly duo resoundingly slammed the door.
First West bowled Aughterson, before Morris had Jones caught behind by Scott Reeves. Jones' score of seven would normally be one of the lowest on a team's scorecard, if not the lowest, but on this occasion it was the highest on a scorecard which included an impressive six ducks.
One of those ducks belonged to I Lipscombe as he was plumb LBW for Morris' fourth wicket, before West picked up his fifth wicket of an unparalleled spell, Clewlow also falling LBW.
That sequence of events meant Pyrford had incredibly lost four wickets for a total of no runs, and were 19-9.
The tenth wicket partnership of six was amazingly only the fourth partnership to get beyond zero, but any thoughts of the visitors getting anywhere near a respectable total were dashed when West ended the match in fitting style, bowling Coleman for nought.
It was a match that defied belief, and also defied the weather conditions as the rain started to fall just after the tenth wicket fell.
While Camberley can be proud of such an achievement and can bask in the glory of bowling a team out for 25, it shouldn't be forgotten that the batting failed to achieve its potential after a strong start for the second time in three matches, and next week's match won't be as ridiculously easy as this.
Next week's opponents, Old Wimbledonians, are just one point behind Camberley in the table, and this week suffered at the hands of the weather, having been 86-2 after 27 overs chasing just 135 to win against Esher, before rain stopped play.
But if Camberley can replicate this week's bowling performance in all forms of the game next week, the result should be inevitable.
Phil West and Lloyd Morris were the stars as Camberley completely annihilated Pyrford on Saturday.
The pair combined to take all ten wickets as the visitors were bowled out for an all-time league-low score of 25.
Morris' pace was too much for Pyrford's batsmen to handle as he returned figures of 7-1-16-4, while West had a field day. Despite being hit for four with the first ball of the innings, the Camberley captain recorded incredible figures of 7.5-3-9-6.
Prior to the carnage in the field, Jon Cooles was the stand-out performer with the bat as his 69 was the main contribution to Camberley's total of 215 all out.
George Crowdy and West both made 27, with Scott Reeves adding 20, but the hosts didn't make the most of a promising start, having been 85-0 and 125-1 before wickets tumbled.
Morris' quickfire 14 at the end of the innings was the only other score above eight, but it all proved academic as Pyrford's batting later resembled a house of cards.
Having lost the toss, Camberley's tried and trusted opening pair of Crowdy and Cooles were sent out to bat on a testing track, but capitalised on some wayward bowling to get the hosts off to a positive start.
Cooles in particular hit some lusty blows, a straight six being a particular highlight. In addition to the regular flow of boundaries, due to the track being right to one side of the square, there was a lot of good running as balls failed to reach the boundary on one side of the wicket.
Cooles' innings contained four threes and, remarkably, a five, as the visitors' attack continued to struggle.
After a slow start, Crowdy's innings gathered pace as he went on, and even he notched a six with a trademark pull stroke, before going after one shot too many; only succeeding in edging through to the keeper.
His dismissal brought Stuart Gilchriest to the crease, fresh off his half century on debut last week, but he struggled to find a rhythm early on.
But despite his struggles, Cooles continued to attack and reached his fifty with an angled glance to the third man fence for four, which he immediately followed up with a powerful drive down the ground for four more.
His attractive innings was brought to an end when he was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Ahmed for a well-made 69 off just 50 balls.
Cooles' dismissal was instantly followed by Gilchriest's as he fell in the same fashion, this time off the bowling of Oyitch for six, before James Reeves' ill-advised aggression saw him fall soon after, caught behind off the impressive left-arm spin of Oyitch.
From a position of dominance, Camberley had lost three wickets for three runs and needed to rebuild with two new batsmen at the crease.
Mac Sayed and Scott Reeves were given the task of doing it, and a partnership of 26 had Camberley back on track, Reeves in particular looking in good touch.
A long six from the powerful younger Reeves brother was the highlight, before both batsmen fell in the space of five runs, handing back the initiative to the away side.
Nick Kempton looked to play sensibly on his first appearance for the twos this season, but he also fell soon after, as Camberley were in danger of being bowled out well short of their allotted overs.
This brought Sam Holmes to the crease to partner his captain, and although Holmes' 30-ball innings of eight contained just two scoring shots, he did the job the situation required of him, as West looked to attack from the other end.
West typically took little time in clubbing a pull through the leg side, however, instead of watching it sail for four or six, he must have been distraught to have to run the second five of the innings.
Later he did pick the shorter boundary, however, and there was very little running required as the ball cannoned back off a tree having gone miles over the rope for six.
A partnership of 30 between the two ended in the 41st over as the captain was caught, then Holmes was given LBW just an over later, meaning the contrasting styles of Morris and Chris Pike were brought together for the end of the innings.
The latter stuck around while Morris wasted no time getting into it, striking three fours in a brief cameo of 14 off nine balls, before being bowled by a peach of a delivery by Oyitch.
Indeed, Oyitch proved to be the difference for the visiting side, as he returned figures of 14.2-4-37-6, helping recover the situation after some indifferent bowling from his team mates.
Having been bowled out after 44.2 overs, Camberley had 56 overs to bowl out the opposition, but got off to a poor start.
Mindful that clouds were closing in and that Oyitch had been successful, West decided to open with himself, but his first delivery was cut for four.
A signal of intent from Pyrford? No. That was as good as it got for the away side, as an incredible bowling display commenced.
Oyitch was the first to fall, trapped LBW by West, quickly followed by Sellick, who was deceived by the same bowler. Morris then took J Lipscombe's off stump out of the ground as 5-0 quickly became 5-3, and the hosts were rampant.
The following over saw Hashmi play a horrible slog off West, only to be comfortably caught by Pike running around from mid-on, before Morris bowled Woolley, meaning that in the sixth over the scoreboard read a remarkable 7-5.
It was clear that the Pyrford top order was weak, but they weren't allowed to settle as Camberley's two bowlers ran riot. West's control of area, spin and and pace tied the batsmen up while Morris bowled even better than he did last week against Esher, constantly beating the edge and narrowly missing off stump as the visitors appeared clueless.
Even more amazing than the scoreline was the fact that a smile actually appeared on Morris' face as he knew he was too much for the opposition to handle.
A partnership of 12 was as good as it got the visitors as a mini-recovery looked on the cards, before Camberley's deadly duo resoundingly slammed the door.
First West bowled Aughterson, before Morris had Jones caught behind by Scott Reeves. Jones' score of seven would normally be one of the lowest on a team's scorecard, if not the lowest, but on this occasion it was the highest on a scorecard which included an impressive six ducks.
One of those ducks belonged to I Lipscombe as he was plumb LBW for Morris' fourth wicket, before West picked up his fifth wicket of an unparalleled spell, Clewlow also falling LBW.
That sequence of events meant Pyrford had incredibly lost four wickets for a total of no runs, and were 19-9.
The tenth wicket partnership of six was amazingly only the fourth partnership to get beyond zero, but any thoughts of the visitors getting anywhere near a respectable total were dashed when West ended the match in fitting style, bowling Coleman for nought.
It was a match that defied belief, and also defied the weather conditions as the rain started to fall just after the tenth wicket fell.
While Camberley can be proud of such an achievement and can bask in the glory of bowling a team out for 25, it shouldn't be forgotten that the batting failed to achieve its potential after a strong start for the second time in three matches, and next week's match won't be as ridiculously easy as this.
Next week's opponents, Old Wimbledonians, are just one point behind Camberley in the table, and this week suffered at the hands of the weather, having been 86-2 after 27 overs chasing just 135 to win against Esher, before rain stopped play.
But if Camberley can replicate this week's bowling performance in all forms of the game next week, the result should be inevitable.
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