Day's day on a beautiful day at Farnham.

Jimmy Day produced a magnificent all-round performance to lead Camberley to an emphatic opening-day victory against Farnham on the hottest day of the year so far.

Day's 78-ball 109 not out anchored the visitors' innings of 317/9 from their 50 overs, before a sparkling new-ball spell helped reduce the hosts to 15/3.

Farnham did put up a spirited recovery, but Paul Stephens' four wickets saw Camberley to a comfortable 85-run win.

After a mixed preseason consisting of one win, one loss and one washout, captain Max Shoveller won the toss and elected to bat on a belting wicket with the sun beating down. He began the league season in typically Shoveller-like style, punching the first ball of the innings to the point boundary for four.

However, shortly after another delivery was sent to the fence, the skipper dragged one on to his stumps when looking for another booming drive and was dismissed for eight.

If Farnham thought the wicket would slow the run-rate they were sorely disappointed as Tim Burns came in and immediately took advantage of a quick outfield as he pierced the gaps at regular intervals.

Burns, along with the ever-watchful Todd Hutcheson, made the most of some extremely average fielding to push the run rate above six an over, before a rare slash outside off stump saw Hutcheson's demise for 34.

That wicket brought Day to the crease and he began in trademark style, picking off the singles with ease. While he saw himself in, Burns went through the gears at an almighty rate. Having already passed 50, the switch in Burns' head had most definitely been flicked.

All of a sudden it seemed that every ball deserved to go the distance. The 25-year-old Australian's innings comprised 12 fours and four sixes - the pick of which cannoned around a few trees before landing on chairman Keith Halsey's car.

As the ball disappeared to all parts, it looked like Burns was going to be the first beneficiary of the newly-introduced incentive scheme which rewards century makers with a £60 bar tab, but he fell just nine runs short when going for another maximum. Still, 91 from 65 balls was not to be sniffed at.

His dismissal at 155/3 was followed by partnerships of 41 and 40 as Day combined well with Marty Kain and Kyle Philander. Kain, returning as overseas pro after a brilliant season in 2010, displayed some quality shots before unfortunately getting bowled for 25 after inside-edging the ball into his pad.

Philander's dismissal for 14 was the first of five wickets for Farnham medium-pacer Ben Ungaretti, and saw the start of a spell where Camberley lost 4/37 to be pegged back to 273/8 with five overs to go.

Having serenely passed fifty at a run-a-ball, Day pressed the accelerator with devastating results as the innings came to a close. He brought up his century with a hammered boundary down the ground, and dominated a partnership of 44 with Chris Pike, who hung around gamely before being cleaned up on the penultimate ball of the innings for two.

Day had timed his knock perfectly and never looked in any real trouble as he guided his side to a very strong position at tea.

That position became even stronger shortly afterwards and Day was at the forefront once more. Sharing the new ball with the equally impressive Philander, Day beat the outside edge on numerous occasions as the hosts struggled to deal with both bowlers' pace and hostility.

It was Philander who struck first - the young South African taking the outside edge of opener Jonny Matthews' bat with the score on seven. No further runs had been added when Day nipped one back through the defence of James Berry, and when Day hung on to a sharp chance at slip to give Philander his second wicket, the hosts' innings was in tatters.

There then followed a partnership of 97 as Farnham threatened an unlikely comeback. Some positive strokeplay from George Hellyer and loose bowling from both Pike and Kain meant Camberley needed some magic.

And magic is what they got as Hutcheson produced a stunning stumping off Burns to remove the dangerous Hellyer, who had struck 11 fours and a six in his 55-ball 62.

Burns' bowling was almost as aggressive as his batting, but his spell of 1 for 15 from five overs had restored some control for the visitors.

While he whistled numerous deliveries past the batsmen's faces, Stephens settled into his usual mix of tricky length balls and deceptive yorkers.

Stephens, presumably buzzing off his tits after smashing a free hit into the car park when batting, produced a wonderful spell, taking three quick wickets to seemingly finish the match as a contest.

At 137/7, it looked as though the end was nigh, but a spirited partnership of 71 between George Dale and Chris Terry threatened one last twist.

The partnership was ended when Stephens, presumably still buzzing off his tits after his three wickets, took a quality running catch at long on to remove Dale for 64. The wicket was just reward for Sam Holmes who bowled with great control and probably deserved more than just the one wicket.

There was still time for Terry to launch Pike for an enormous six over the car park at square leg, however he could only skew straight up in the air next ball when trying to repeat the trick.

The game was brought to a fitting conclusion shortly afterwards as Stephens speared in a perfect yorker to clean up Rob Goldsworthy, giving him even more reason, as if he needed it, to buzz off his tits.

It should be noted that Farnham had a number of players missing and were slightly lacking in all departments as a result. Camberley can go away satisfied with a great result but will know there are certain aspects which need to be improved if they're to continue winning.

Honourable mention to Steve Hulks, who tried to protect his knee and hide on the boundary all day, but only succeeded in being the busiest fielder by a country mile.

Honourable mention also to Todd Hutcheson who managed to cock up the team song despite being the only person who knows the words.

All in all, a great start. Stand up for the Camberley.

Camberley 2nd XI v Sanderstead 2nd XI, 12/5/2012.

JP leads from the front.


New captain James Parrott was the star as Camberley made it two wins from two to begin the season.
The skipper smashed 12 fours and one six on his way to 91 from just 66 balls.
Mac Sayed also laid the foundations for a good score as his steady 56 set up Camberley's strong total of 233-8 from their 50 overs.
In reply, another strong all-round bowling performance was led by Lloyd Morris who bowled exceptionally, taking 3-14 from 9.3 overs.
James Reeves also impressed in his first game of the season as his left-arm spin took 7-1-29-4 in addition to a quick-fire 26 off 17 with the bat.
After losing the toss, Camberley were put into bat on a deck which featured both dry and damp patches.
Sam Holmes was promoted to the top of the order to partner Jordan Gibbs, but the partnership didn't last long as the latter was bowled by a sharp delivery from Scott Pettifor for four.
That brought Mac Sayed to the crease for his first knock of the season, and it was a carefully compiled innings as Camberley edged their way back into the game.
Holmes was decidedly more watchful than the previous week against Old Ruts as he struggled to 10 from 49 balls before a mid-pitch collision with Sayed led to him being run out.
James Harrison made a positive start but fell for 16 first ball after the drinks break as the hosts crawled to 64-3 after 25.1 overs.
That brought Parrott to the crease and he wasted no time changing the pace of the game. The ball disappeared to all parts as the skipper overtook Sayed and reached his fifty from just 36 balls.
Sayed continued to offer solid support at the other end and reached his own fifty shortly after as Camberley began to look set for an imposing total.
The former Bangladeshi under-15 batsman's innings came to an end in fitting fashion as he ran himself out, but he'd played an essential role in shoring up the hosts' middle order after a potentially dangerous start.
Reeves was then introduced and played a typically swashbuckling innings, hitting a four and an incredible flat six over the longest boundary on the ground.
But the innings belonged to Parrott who continued his strong start to the season, taking the visiting attack apart as Camberley smashed 140 off the last 20 overs.
Sanderstead needed a good start if they were to have any chance of overhauling Camberley's total, but they weren't allowed it as Morris began an outstanding spell by taking two quick wickets, trapping George Jackson LBW before cutting through the defence of Richard Young.
Holmes then struck a crucial blow as he tempted aggressive opener Johann Branch into one shot too many as he skied one to Chris Pike at mid on, before Dan Wakeling produced his standard inswinging delivery to bowl Jon Ghaemien.
Reeves then took centre stage as the Sanderstead middle order failed to deal with his left-arm darts. He bowled one batsman, had another caught at extra cover by Tim Hughes and trapped two LBW, the second of which was wannabe big-timer Josh Cox-Brooker who was finally taught a lesson for trying to play switch-hit after switch-hit when his side still needed comfortably more than a hundred runs.
Fittingly, Morris bagged the final wicket to improve his figures even further to complete a comprehensive 92-run win for the home side.
Other moments worthy of a mention were Scott Pettifor's dislocated finger which prematurely ended his game after a very good opening spell. As he passed the clubhouse, Nick Kempton caught a glance of the injured hand and said, 'I think I'm gona vom.'
Finally, purely for the banter, Morris' pick up and throw from point which slammed into the nether regions of umpire George Burden who seemingly had no idea it was coming. Cue fits of laughter all round.
Back to the serious business, Camberley look to continue their 100% record next week against the other newly-promoted side and bitter rivals Valley End.

Match report for Camberley CC v Old Rutlishians CC, 05/05/2012.

Camberley off to winning start.


A new-look Camberley 2nd XI made a winning start to the new season with a hard-fought win over Old Rutlishians on Saturday.
A strong all-round bowling display restricted the hosts to 133 all out, and, despite a middle-order collapse, Camberley scraped over the line for a pleasing two-wicket victory.
Dan Wakeling was the pick of the bowlers with 10-2-15-3, while other seamers Jon Cooles (10-2-33-3), Chris Pike (9.4-4-27-2) and Lloyd Morris (10-5-20-0) also impressed.
Sam Holmes took 6-0-23-1 and also joint top-scored with new captain James Parrott in the run chase as both made 38.
After a lengthy trip into South-West London, the visitors won the toss and Parrott elected to bowl on a track which was fairly soft and slow, but ultimately held up fairly well considering recent weather.
With Cooles and Dan Bowles stuck in traffic, Camberley played the first few overs with nine men, but that didn't trouble Morris, who began his customary tight spell with three straight maidens.
Cooles' absence meant Pike shared the new ball, and he also produced a useful opening spell which culminated in the first wicket of the new season as he cleaned up George Tidey for three.
Cooles and Wakeling replaced the openers and bowled equally as impressively, as the hosts lost wickets at frequent intervals and struggled to score at more than two an over.
After an indifferent first few deliveries, Cooles suddenly hit his straps with devastating effect. First, he induced an edge from one batsman, but although that catch was dropped, Cooles was not to be denied, striking with his very next delivery as Michael Dodd lobbed a simple catch to Jordan Gibbs at cover.
He followed that up in his next couple of overs by bowling two more batsmen, while Wakeling was also not to be denied, producing a superb inswinging delivery to remove Jon Mapp, reducing the hosts to 34-5 after 16 overs.
A small partnership was then formed as young Ryan Patel dug in and captain Liam Flanagan mixed defence with attack.
But, with the score on 73, debutant Bowles made his mark, taking a superb catch at slip to remove Patel. Off-spinner Sam Holmes induced a thick edge that looped up off keeper Mike Collins' pad and looked like it was going to drop to safety, but Bowles dived forwards and held on to a sharp catch.
Another 30-odd-run partnership followed, but it was broken by highly unusual means.
Searching for a breakthrough, Parrott introduced leg-spinner Gibbs to the attack, but, unbeknown to his captain and most of the rest of the team, Gibbs instead decided to bowl medium pace.
But, before anyone could question his decision, the visitors were celebrating as Holmes hung on to a spectacular catch at short cover, giving Gibbs a wicket with his first ball of the season.
New keeper Collins then produced a very good piece of work to stump Kamran Khan after Wakeling bowled one down the leg side, before the 15-year-old left-armer straightened his line to bowl Fawad Anis.
Pike finished off the innings by clipping the top of Richard Woolland's off stump to complete a very satisfactory bowling and fielding performance.
In reply, Camberley opened with Gibbs and James Harrison, but got off to a stumbling start as the latter left a straight one and was bowled by Khan for two.
That brought Holmes to the crease, and he wasted little time asserting himself as he struck five fours and a six in an innings that towered over all that came before it and most that came after.
Gibbs made a positive start to his innings but became bogged down and ultimately fell chasing a wide delivery, only succeeding in scewing a catch to point for nine.
Parrott came in at four, and, despite a slow start which included him being on three off 33 balls, the new skipper kicked on as the two of them made the first and only fifty partnership of the match.
With the score on 82-2, the visitors would have hoped to close out the game without alarm, but Anis made sure that wasn't the case as he produced a spell of highly unpredictable bowling to spark chaos in the Camberley changing room.
Despite bowling at least seven wides in his seven-over spell, he also came up with numerous jaffas to remove four of Camberley's middle order, beginning with Holmes in his first over.
Parrott's run-rate had increased dramatically after the introduction of Woolland, but the young spinner ultimately gained revenge as he held on to a very good return catch to turn up the pressure on the away side.
Nick Kempton also succumbed to Woolland before Anis took centre-stage. He removed both debutants Collins and Bowles before they'd troubled the scorers, before also taking care of Cooles for eight, as Camberley collapsed to 117-8.
Still needing 17 to win, Morris and Pike adopted very different styles in their efforts to get the runs. With 13 overs remaining, the latter chose to play straight and patient, while the former looked to attack at every turn.
It was a formula which worked in the end as Morris clubbed Patel to the mid-wicket boundary to wrap up the game and complete a win that was slightly more nervy than it could have been.
It was a win which took Camberley top of the table as no other match was completed, which should serve as a boost going into this week's home game against newly-promoted Sanderstead.

Match report for Camberley 2nd XI v Old Wimbledonians 13/8/2011.

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.

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.

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.

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.