How’s school going, got a bit of peace & quiet at last?
With one school year starting, we liken the last Saturday of the league season to the last day of year 11 - mufty day, players moving around different “classes“, rucks with the rival school (just a Magna thing no?) last ditch attempts to be top of the class before saying goodbye to your mates, that kind of thing.
This season has obviously been very different (due to that thing we don’t mention), and with no promotion or relegation on the cards, for most of the players it was a chance to get one last game in before they say goodbye and disappear into the Winter abyss.
We rocked up to Kempton to check on the 1s and 3s after doing our Chertsey rounds fairly early on and were very confused (as per), there were a smattering of 3s over at the main 1s pitch. I mean we know it was the kind of day you could get away with anything but... there was a logical explanation. They were on their BYOTB having bowled their Kempton counterparts out for 70 in double-quick time. They’d obviously had their mint magnums on the journey over, and we actually thought the 3s may have finished their batting innings too by the time the 1s came back on to field after their BYOTB but they took their time to get the win, 21.2 overs to be precise, which as you can imagine frustrated Cap'n Lloydy, the first time we've seen him un-serene-like all season. The 3s pitch was chilly, and reminiscent of Shepperton's Halliford ground for those who have attended said field, but also having the luxury of a floodlight about 2m in from the boundary (not for them, for the main pitch). The 1s over on the main pitch certainly had the spotlight on them, having an eventful first batting innings, with Cap’n Bogey being sent on his way by the opposition's umpire who was then overruled and retrieved back by the opposition Cap’n, going on to 23 in his “second” innings. The 1s needed to fight for the win by return, and we thought the game had started to go out of reach (spectators had started to depart) in the middle overs, but the bowlers worked extremely hard to make a breakthrough and perseverance came off at 112-6, when we could see there was a glimmer of hope. The scorecard then goes like this: 112-7, 114-8, 115-9, and with just five runs for Kempton’s lower order to win, who themselves battled hard to get over the line, Chertsey finally triumphed, much to the elated crowd.
Over in Chertsey, at the Club the 2s had a couple of firsts, our first five-fer of the season, claimed by John Bailey, and Arthur Walmsley leap-frogged from the 4s to make his 2s debut behind the sticks, a very competent performance we hear. The 2s set a respectable 167 for Kempton to win, but were just pipped at the last.
We thought the 4s were in for a bumper day compared to the week before, judging by the first few overs, Ed Marsh opening proceedings with the experienced Martin Allen. Ed played some lovely shots, and was unlucky to be out for just 10. Experience ruled though, with Boasty top scoring on 63, and Ethan Austin top-biffing on 18 for the Colts brigade. We went all misty-eyed before the match after finding some old 4s scorebooks from years gone by, some notable names in there you know - John Bailey and Troy Bolger making appearances not so long ago (wonder what happened to them?) along with a one Harrison Barnard, who’s Dad Martin, usually a self-proclaimed T20 specialist for Dad’s Army, was just entering his second 4s “long” game ever, going on to take 2-30. We managed to run back from Kempton just in time to see the last ball of the game, but unfortunately not in Chertsey’s favour.
As you would expect with all that’s going on with the P or C word, the usual end of season party was kayboshed so it was a quieter send off than usual, no gossip, no sight in the theme of Kobe throwing his drink over himself rather than down his gob at fines this time. We’ll still be having a little something though to see the season off in style, all will be revealed in the next few days.
Saturday 5th September
Challenge Cup Group 2 - Kempton 119 a/o v 1st XI 123 a/o (A - Main Square)
Jamie Anthony 25, Jacob Loveridge 3-15, Luke Westcott 3-29
Challenge Cup Group 15 -2nd XI 166 a/o v Kempton 167-7 (H)
Matt Wiggins 40, John Bailey 5-37
Challenge Cup Group 28 - Kempton 70 a/o v 3rd XI 73-4 (A - Avenue Square)
Liam Fisher 28, Joe Clarke 4-10
Challenge Cup Group 41 - 4th XI 128-9 v Kempton 131-6 (HRec)
Phil Boast 63, Ed Marsh 2-25, Martin Barnard 2-30
Sunday 6th September
We have to admit the Sunday side are our guilty pleasure. There, its out there. After a fast and furious Saturday it’s a gentile way of winding down the weekend, and there’s been some games to give the old ticker a jump too, Sunday’s being one. Authors started productively, losing their first wicket in the 12th over, but once the top two had departed, it crumbled a bit from there onwards, setting Chertsey 152. Chertsey pretty much matched Author’s innings run rate by return, Joe Clarke beating his personal best CCC batting score in the process, and it was left to birthday boy Dylan Pandaya and “Beardy Steve” Reynolds to push through and see the team home much to the relief of some frazzle-nerved Colts parents.
Sunday XI 151-5 v Authors 152-8
Ravi Patel 53, John Bailey 3-17, Steve Reynolds 3-23
Ladies
The Ladies travelled over with a crowd to Walton for their last Surrey Slam game on Sunday afternoon, hungry to end the season with a victory. Walton set 120, with Amy and Beth Bailey a bowled and lbw respectively for Walton’s 2 wickets. In return opener Carli Weston shone in her second top-scoring performance of the season, going on to finish the game not out, and just shy of retirement on 36. 32 was put on for the first wicket, and they were controlled with the score moving to 102-4, but unlucky to miss out on the victory, by just 6 runs after their 16 overs.
The Ladies capped off their season with possibly the biggest inter-club friendly ever (we hear 17 v 14 at one point) last night, against returning opposition, Social League’s Dad’s Army, who set 124-4 after their 16 overs, with the Ladies 115 in reply. Chin chin!
Sunday 6th September
Surrey Slam - Walton Pens 120-2 v Chertsey Challengers 114-4 (A)
Carli Weston 36*, Beth Bailey 1-16, Amy Bailey 1-17
Colts
The U13s continued their summer tour of the best out grounds in Surrey with a visit to Brewery Road, Woking on Sunday, having racked up 400-odd miles each on their 17-ground tour so far. They found themselves short for this game however, so called up three U12s – Jack Reisch, Maff Barnes, and Aidan Cassin… and they weren’t just there to make up the numbers. Oh no. Maff finished on 28*, Jack 19*, backing up Thijs Wjingaarden and Ed Marsh who both added 31 into the mix, setting Woking & Horsell 161-1. Side notable for Ed, who passed 340 runs & 24 wickets for Chertsey during this match. Bowling in return was tight, Thijs, Will, Aiden, and birthday boy Ben Chapman restricted W&H to 113-8 and a 48-run victory.
Dates For Your Diary
Now the league has ended we move into what we like to call the “bonus” part of the season, where those who would not usually get the opportunity to lift their bat at the Edward Stern can have a go. We're never quite sure how long it's going to last, but it’s cricket for those who can’t put the kit back in the loft until there’s snow on it. For those watching these scenes unfold, our advice - bring a coat.
First up is the fixture that’s been teased in the Club for weeks, featuring everyone’s favourite old people, the Strollers. To get into the Strollers’ merry band, apparently you need to be beautiful (they have that ticked in Phil Jay natch), and be over 40 (this has to be vetted though, someone usually tries to check in with a fake ID). The team sheet (pending interment to the CCC nursing home) denotes such CCC legends as Chenery ©, Bussey, Boast, Ley (making his debut), Grieb, Raeside, Barnes, Beer, Jay, Ballerino, and that well known “A.N. Other” (thought they’d sneak that one in, got ringer written all over it). Late note: “A.N Other“ is another debutant, Felix Reisch... Cap’n Chenery advises he brings “diversity”. Here’s what you’re in for Felix and Dickie - expect verrrrrry slooooow cricket, lots of complaining (mostly about hurting body parts or each other), and players who should definitely know better. 1st XI - if you want a glimpse of what you’ll be like when you hit 40 (that’ll be decades away for us btw) take a look and shudder.
Very Seniors
Saturday 12th September
Strollers v Egham (H) – 12.30pm start
Seniors
Sunday sees an interclub match between the Sunday XI and Academy so could be an early spot for any nuggets of playing gold for next season. This may be your last taste of cricket for a while too (all kinds of things pending obvs).
Sunday 13th September
Sunday XI v Academy – 1pm start
Colts
Saturday 12th September
U13s dev v Shepperton (H)
Sunday 13th September
U13s v Long Ditton (A)
U12s v Blackheath (A)
and finally…
The 2020 ECB playing survey has been landed, so to have your say on your cricket in 2020 please follow this link (https://ecb.tell-us-what-you-think.com/s3/Cricket-Playing-Survey-2020-RCCBCLB) to complete. This is your opportunity to feed back to the ECB anything you feel needs tweaking, so v. important.
Subject song: “The Show Must Go On” by Queen
