Report 08/05/10

Cheam vs Epsom: 8/5/10

Cheam 1^st XI managed to pick up where they left off last summer by defeating local rivals Epsom by 9 wickets.

After having gained promotion in 2009, Daniel Miller’s side where looking for a positive start to their time in Surrey Championship Division One. This was managed with a convincing victory on what can only be described as a miserable day at Peaches Close.

With constant delays throughout the day caused by the rain, there was a lack of fluidity to the standard of play as the conditions did not lend themselves particularly well to cricket. Miller won the toss against Epsom captain Danny Secchi and unsurprisingly chose to have a bowl on a damp pitch.

The Epsom top order found it hard to score against Cheam opening bowlers Steve Clarke and Leigh Harrison. Harrison toiled away running up the hill bowling very economically and can count him-self very unfortunate not to have picked up a wicket or two. However, it was Clarke who prospered with the combination of some very fast bowling and a seaming wicket proving to be too much for the Epsom batsmen as he finished with three wickets.

Miller then introduced himself and off-spinner Tim Scott in to the bowling attack which had an immediate effect. They managed to maintain the pressure that had been put on the Epsom batting line up as Cheam continued to take wickets at regular intervals. Epsom were eventually bowled out for 90 off 33.4 overs with Miller proving to be the most successful bowler with 5 wickets for 18 runs from his 8.4 overs.

Due to the amount of play lost because of the rain, Cheam’s target was revised to 81 from 41 overs. The innings suffered an early setback for the home side when Mark Burns was caught superbly in the slips for 0 off the bowling of Stan Somerford. The play after this was dominated by Cheam’s batsmen with New Zealand overseas player David Houpapa and Chris Salmons batting patiently and effectively to reach the target. Houpapa finished on 39 not-out and Salmons on 38 not-out to seal a comfortable victory.

Elsewhere, Cheam’s 3^rd and 4^th XI both recorded comfortable victories but the 2^nd XI fared less well after being beaten by Old Rutlishians by 204 runs.

Next week Cheam 1^st XI travel to East Molesey on Saturday and welcome Lordswood from Kent to Peaches Close on Sunday in the ECB National Club Championship.

Mike O’Donnell