Yoo hoo. Ah a fresh league season. It's good to be back isn't it. New gear, new hopes and dreams, new haircuts. You will find dear reader as we go along we didn't completely make good choices on some or all of the above on our opening weekend...
Opening the Batting
Our annual Ladies & Girls Open Evening took place on Monday evening, and it was a resounding success - lots of new faces, energy, and ideas, so many thanks to those who came down.
If you couldn’t make the evening and would like to join one of our female teams please drop us an email at comms@chertseycc.org.uk. You can find all the info you need on age groups here.
We're also still on the lookout for a new 1s scorer - with the league season begun we incur a fine every time one is missed, so its a very important job. You will be rewarded with £30 in reddies per game - apply within if interested.
Notable Mentions
We started our league weekend over at semi-sportsground Ewell with the 3s in the land of the portacabins and terrifyingly locks on fridges. Openers Jack Harris and James Wooltorton had to withstand a vociferous Epsom attack from the get-go, Harris looking in Captain Boast's words "class" for his 23. The mysterious Ammad Zulfikar finally made his club debut after a couple of attempts, and impressed with the ball (3 wickets), but it was the cricketing lunatic that is Kevin O'Flynn who despite having had a dodgy ACL in recent times was collecting his runs like a man possessed, biffing himself a 56* - would have been more but he ran out of partners. 187 to defend for the 3s. Things didn't start too well, with both opening bowlers being removed for being a bit too keen, which left Captain Boast with a bit of a headache, and newly-qualified umpire Martin Allen, see we knew he couldn't keep away. Causing everyone one problem already was the wicket, which despite looking like a road played all kinds of tricks on everyone involved. Epsom wickets were shared around, two for Dylan Pandya, three for Captain Boast, two of them frighteningly c&bs, sadly no video footage, the aforementioned Ammad with three, and Vishnu Remesh got in on the action too with one. So its normal service resumed for the 3s. Oh its going to be carnage isn't it...
Over at the well attended Edward Stern (nice to see some old faces by the way) the social tribe clearly heeded our battle-cries and popped their heads in, and they were witnessing a cracker. The 1s were hosting Woking & Horsell, who had invested in some very interesting haircuts over the off season - just as a side note by the way if any of you lot are thinking of going full afro mullet too, we will disown you. The 1s found themselves in a bit of strife at 12-2 with both openers departed, but in Karthik Menon we trust, and he banged in 81 runs, kept company with the middle order for a time before he and Jamie Anthony went on to form a solid partnership, Jants scoring a quarter of his total from last league season in one game. 182 was the target for Woking & Horsell, which was turning into an intense affair for Captain Hanger and his team in his first league game at the helm. We had a top W&H order digging their heels in (Elliott Bloomfield's redeeming catch broke that one up), and at around the 100-4 mark the intensity level was turned up to 11. We had a rescinded mankadding via Shyam Patel, and for the next forty or so runs the balance swung either way between the teams. W&H required 30-odd from the last ten overs, and things got a bit squeaky bum, but a low catch at point by Jacob Loveridge via Shyam Patel's bowling saw the beginning of the end of the tail, and it was down to two bowldeys by overseas spinner Eric Osner that finally saw them off, and the demons of last week banished. We're up and running.
The 2s had primed themselves for a trip to the bright Hollywood lights of Sanderstead, and our counterpart Dave the YouTube man wasn't in attendance so all the pre-match preening was for nothing sadly. These volunteers eh? We watched the live-scoring with intent over at Ewell as the 2s were in a new division, new beginning, new challenges. They started really well bowling first, Josh Fyfe removing the first opener and going on to claim 4-27 through the innings. Cade Skelton finds himself on a hat trick next game too. In reply Paul Hardwick showed his class again with 22 off 28, and Captain Wiggins underpinned things with 37. Curiously Hugh Aish-Lyons was out three times before he was finally caught for 19 and after a mini collapse they ended just short of the requirement by 30, but some really positive stuff on show.
Captain Mukund Vichantangal Pritivatibayangram aka Mukund courteously put his hand up to be in charge of the 4s at our favourite house of fun, Chertsey Rec, taking on newly-promoted Esher, and despite a low-scorer you know we'll find some light amongst the darkness. Jonny Dorfman, fresh from a Dad's Army club debut at the Rec on Thursday, found himself back there (we do play at other grounds Jonny don't worry) with Army team-mate "Beardy" Steve Reynolds for company, who biffed 19 from 21 himself, 16 of those fours. The fan club went wild. Esher made light work of the chase though and the 4s go again Saturday against usual suspects Shepperton at the out school ground. Did well in that fixture last season so everything crossed for you that there's more of the same. Qudos to coming back to the club post-defeat for a net too...
Sunday saw the Ladies' first foray into the league, taking on Godalming. We had a couple of firsts - Lucy Weber was in her first game as Captain, and it was Talia Packham's Ladies debut, both doing a fabulous job. The Ladies put on 127 off their 30 overs, an excellent par score for the experienced Godalming to get their teeth round, but Chertsey were busy in the field and toiled in the bowling innings, unable to make the breakthrough and Godalming came up trumps. Newbies Horley & Outwood are next up in ten days, so plenty of cricket to come.
Sunday also saw the Blueberries make their first ever competitive hardball appearance against Reigate Priory, Jess and Sienna putting on 43 between them (Sienna with some lovely fours), and a great stand from Captain Freya, retiring and top scoring with 25. Reigate were set 120 for the win from the sixteen overs. In reply it was between Lottie and Sienna to see how many wickets they could each get as they whipped through the Reigate attack, who ended their tenure on 104-7, earning the Berries their first ever win in their first ever game. Fist-bump also to Lottie who took over the gloves so Edie could bowl, who also nabbed a wicket along the way. All the above earns them a coveted Bluecaps Champagne Moment of the Week (lemon Fanta and a Simpsons chicken in this case), here's to a productive and successful season.
In the fantastic place that is Colts-land, there was plenty to keep us busy and lots of landmarks. The U8s played their first ever game of cricket on Sunday against Englefield Green (we hope you had lots on fun), the U10s had their first ever WIN against behemoth Weybridge no less, which earns them a 50% investment share in a Bluecaps Champagne Moment of the Week with the Berries (i know, we're feeling frugal). And those U12 devvers beat against Walton by 137 on the par score, nabbing their first win of the season.
So as we sifted through the wreckage of the weekend (on a personal note TWO deckchairs broken, one wrong turning down the M25 which meant we missed the 4s - for a brief moment we thought we wouldn't make it out of Cobham services alive) we mulled over previous thoughts about having a nice quiet, drama free season, that would be great wouldn't it... Then realised that we're clearly not in for that if week one is anything to go by. Bring it we say.
Also little pep talk to those who felt their week hadn't quite gone as they'd wanted. Look at me - remember these things: there's plenty of cricket to come, so don't be disheartened; get amongst it, your time will come, and we've got your back baby.
Check out our televisual highlights of the weekend over on our YouTube channel.
Thursday 5th May
U12s 102 a/o v Staines & Laleham 132-5
Lola Hubbard 20, Findlay Fortescue 1-8, Jasper Henton 1-10, Josh Keefe 1-10, Luke Woodham 1-16, Lottie Sewell 1-17
Saturday 7th May
1st XI 181 a/o v Woking & Horsell 166 a/o (H)
Karthik Menon 81, Jamie Anthony 3-29
2nd XI 137 a/o v Sanderstead 167 a/o (A)
Matt Wiggins 37, Josh Fyfe 4-27
3rd XI 186 a/o v Epsom 129 a/o (A)
Kevin O’Flynn 56*, Ammad Zulfikar 3-6, Phil Boast 3-17
4th XI 67 a/o v Esher 70-0 (HRec)
Steve Reynolds 19
Sunday 8th May
U15s 94-9 v East Molesey 97-5
Arthur Walmsley 23
U14s 123-7 v Cranleigh 157-4
Adam Thaliwal 43 (ret), Adam Thaliwal 1-25, Edith Schofield 1-22
U13s 49-6 v Woking & Horsell 130-2
Sienna Austin 17*, Sienna Austin 1-15, Adam Osborn 1-23
U11s 72 a/o v East Molesey 84 a/o
Theo Edwards 17, Zach Edwards 2-2
U10s 84-2 (net score 274) v Weybridge 88-4 (net score 268)
U8s 70-6 v Englefield Green 79-4
Ladies 126-5 v Godalming 127-0 (H) (League)
Amy Bailey 30, Beth Bailey 2 wickets
Girls U13/U14 119-7 v Reigate Priory 104-7
Freya Edwards 25, Sienna Austin 3-8
Monday 9th May
U12 dev 148-1 (net score 343) v Walton on Thames 76-14 (net score 206)
Kit Schofield 24, Enan Parmar 3-6
Fixture Card
Tonight sees the second round of the Social League, Pirates v Salesians the feature match at home. Saturday sees the 1s make the trip to Cheam's sportsground (hopefully they remember our tea this time), and its the battle of the A30 with the 2s & 3s taking on their Camberley counterparts. The 4s are in action away to Shepperton, quick note: before you get lost, come off the dual carriageway take the third exit off the roundabout, then first right. We don't want to see any of you wandering up and down the road again.
Sunday sees the Blueberries hopefully continuing their winning run against Horsley & Send at Abbeyfield, and the Sunday team are back at the Edward Stern, Thames Ditton the oppo there. Its a full quota of Colts games too, the U11 devvers are our feature Monday Match at home - the bar will be open for that one you'll be pleased to know...
Thursday 12th May
Social League - Pirates v Salesians (H)
Social League - Academy v Vet Labs (Habb)
Social League - Otters 11 v Woking Council (Hrec)
Saturday 14th May
League - 1st XI v Cheam (A) 12pm
Peaches Close, Sutton, SM2 7BJ
League - 2nd XI v Camberley (H) 12pm
League - 3rd XI v Camberley (HRec) 1pm
League - 4th XI v Shepperton (A) 1pm
Halliford School Pitch, Church Road, Shepperton, TW17 9AD
Sunday 15th May
Sunday XI v Thames Ditton (H) 2pm
U15s v Guildford
U14s v Crown Taverners
U11s v Barnes
U10s v Leatherhead
U2s v Woking & Horsell
Girls Under 13/U14 v Horsley & Send (Habb)
Monday 16th May
U11 dev v Cheam THE MONDAY MATCH
U9s v Valley End
Tuesday 17th May
U15 dev v Camberley
U13s v Bagshot
Wednesday 18th May
U12s v Woking & Horsell
Girls U11 Smash It
Dates for Your Diary
29th May - CPL100 Round 1
12th June - 19th June - 100 Years at Grove Road Celebrations Week
26th June - CPL100 Round 2
10th July - Colts Day
17th July - President's Day
24th July - CPL100 Round 3
28th August - CPL100 Finals Day
2nd October - Cowpat Day
We're off to invest in some solid portable garden furniture, see you at the weekend.
