1st XI vs Beddington (Away)

On a glorious day in Beddington, the on looking park goers marvelled at a the spectacle of a
game that was Leatherhead CC vs Beddington CC.
Winning the toss, Beddington elected to field, opening up with tight spells from both
openers, the match was finely poised at 43-0. Two quick wickets fell, Leatherhead CC’s
number 3, who has requested for his identity, to remain anonymous, was cleaned up for a
golden duck, middle stump sent cartwheeling, a highlight for the Beddington team and fans.
Leatherhead’s innings then continued to follow a pattern of recovery… followed by wickets
at regular intervals. Scores of 11, 9, 24 and 18 from the middle order left Leatherhead 130-
7, wickets shared between a number of the Beddington bowlers, Leatherhead with some
work to do at the back end of their innings.
Arguably, the match defining partnership of 86 followed, a patient yet positive recovery
effort from Jonathan Tribe (52 n/o) and Simone Roberts (34 n/o). Milking the 1’s and 2’s on
a deceptively slow outfield in the most part, the pair sweating their way to the end of the
Leatherhead innings at 216/7 from their 50 overs.
Spin was the order of the day for Leatherhead who employed off spin for 38 of their 48
overs. Scurrying through overs with a rodent like aplomb and picking up wickets regularly
meant the Beddington side never really got going with their run chase.
Their openers came out looking to be watchful, and the rest of their side followed suit,
remained on the side of watchfulness, throughout their innings. Not keeping with the run
rate at any point during their chase, meant the pressure continued to grow as the rate crept
up, eventually being bowled out, in the 48th over, for 139, Tommy Roy top scoring with 24.
Special mention to Michael ‘the squirrel’ Nicol who bagged 3/25 from his 10 ‘overs’.