Cricket League Season Starts……Rain Arrives!
With everyone looking forward to the first weekend of competitive league cricket…….shock, horror, the rain returned!
Sutton’s 1st XI fixture at Chessington CC fell victim to the inclement weather and was abandoned after just 23.2 overs of the Chessington innings.
In the first of the Surrey Championship, ‘Challenge Cup’, Group 5 fixtures for this abridged season, the hosts captain, Billy Taylor, won the toss and elected to bat. Playing under the fresh 40/40 rules, a bright opening stand of 33 was ended with a smart Dan Edwards catch behind the stumps off Sagar Joshi’s pace bowling to dismiss Anton Gowthaman for 5-runs; (33 for 1.) The Sutton duo replicated their initial efforts an over later, seeing off a skilful Karl Thorns innings of 26-runs, leaving Chessington on 40-runs for 2 wickets.
Aside from Rukshan Rajamanthri’s 19 not out off 40 balls, by the time play was abandoned at 2.52pm the pace of youngsters Sam Blake (7.2-2-21-4) and Reham Ratnasapabathy (6-1-14-2) had destroyed Chessington’s middle-order, leaving the home side struggling at 77 for 8 wickets.
Sagar Joshi delivered 6-overs, 2-wickets for 22-runs; Dan Edwards, and Chris Morris, shared the afternoon’s catches with 2 apiece.
For Saturday’s Group 5 results please click here.
All other Sutton CC league fixtures were also abandoned. The 2s had Chessington 2s on 120-7 (34.1) at Cheam Road; the 3s, Ewell CC, on 124-4 (24.4) at Ruxley Lane; and the 4s left Oxted & Limpsfield languishing at Holmwood Close on 117-9 (29).
Next weekend Sutton’s 1st XI are playing at Cheam Road, versus Leatherhead CC; 1.00pm start. Please come along to support the lads. The bar will open mid-afternoon and apparently, there is a mini-scorcher due towards the end of this week. Let us hope it includes next Saturday!
“There can be no summer in England without cricket,” wrote Neville Cardus.
Although not for the purists, (and I’m one of them, I think) the 40/40 format is huge fun. It is great for the rest of the season to see organised, competitive club cricket back on a Saturday afternoon, especially when only a few weeks ago there was every possibility we would not have any recreational cricket for the year, of any format!
Enjoy your season.
The Third Man.
Saturday 25th July 2020
The Third Man 