Reports July 17th

1st XI

 Cheam got back to winning ways on Saturday with a 7 wicket demolition of Normandy thanks to four wickets each from Steve Clark and Lee Harrison.  Winning the toss Normandy captain Michael Scott elected to bat first on a fast, true Peaches Close wicket. Home captain Danny Miller refused to let late selection issues, which effectively saw Cheam play with 10, effect the side as a Churchillian like speech roused the remaining troops.  

Hostile spells from Clark (4 – 51) and Harrison (4 – 41) and inauspicious shot selection from the Normandy batsmen reduced the innings to 62 – 6.  Only Ian Prowse, with a quick fire 34, seemed to come to terms with the extra pace and bounce but he fell after top edging a hook which was caught spectacularly by the returning Rob Hendry. A battling 48 run partnership either side of lunch between Chris Miles (25) and Matt Carter (19) saved Normandy from complete disintegration but the innings finally closed on 142 from just 30 overs. 

Despite the early loss of Dan Johnson, Cheam made light work of chasing the small target as a 127 run partnership between David Houpapa (59) and Danny Miller (80*), at better than a run a ball, saw Cheam home.  Miller in particular was harsh on the Normandy bowlers hitting 10 boundaries and 4 maximums, including once monstrous blow carrying fully 85m into Peaches Close.  Houpapa was slightly more sedate with just the 6 boundaries and 2 maximums as the target was over hauled with seven wickets remaining in just 25 overs.

Cheam visit Walton on Thames on Saturday with promotion still a possibility.

2nd XI

This week saw Cheam visit BoE in sunny Roehampton.  BoE have been on an excellent run of form since their thrashing at the home of cricket earlier this season and are hopeful of gaining promotion themselves.  Injuries plagued the side once more.  Circus injured his knee at training was hobbling around, Mini B pulled out, Mod went up and Smokey was still nursing his left arm.

An early meet for Cheam to ensure all were there on time, meant Cheam arrived at BoE at 9:30am!  Dylan dressed from the night before, still excited having got his first ever kiss off a 'real' female last night, dressed in a suit looked like a double glazing salesman!  Blackman with his Hitler like hairstyle and moustache was ready and raring after a week off, and JP borrowed a mates car for another away game that is nearer his home address than Peaches Close!  So all 11 are ready to go…  wait a minute, oh yeah , Marcus was late again!!  After taking Fiona out for a romantic meal at Burger King the night before he wasn't feeling too great during the evening, unable to be more than 10 feet away from a toilet, his ETA was half past 1.  The sun was shining, and the picturesque pavilion meant it was a popular venue for the WAGS (Wives and girlfriends / sisters [can't leave Claire Hope out!]).  

The warm up came and went with little of note, Cheam won the toss, but their opening bat hanging over Kew Bridge, elected to bowl.  Team talk was simple, "Keep working hard as a team, we've got the talent, we're going up!"

Blackman and JP started off well but some good resistance from the batsman left then 50-0 off 10 until Blackman got one to nip back and hitting the top of off stump splitting the bail!  MJ decided to join us, stood at mid off with a potty just in case.  Blackman struck in his next over and suddenly Cheam were on top.  Beefy who last week wasn't sure whether he bowled with his right or left arm, struck 1st ball.  A half volley the batsman looped straight to JP at mid off, JP admitted he was tempted to drop it out of spite!  3 balls later, Beefy struck again.  Beefy struck in his 2nd over to leave him with figures of 2-1-2-3 and BoE 85-5.  Now was the time to be ruthless so Smokey entered the attack.  A top edge from the batsman trying to cut one through point struck Circus in the chest, stood at 1st slip like a garden gnome.  He didn't even see it!  The next 15 over's went without much to shout about.  Cheam bowled tight lines, and the batsman dug deep getting them to 170-5 before JP was brought back into the attack.  2 wickets in his 1st over left him on a hat-trick.  Men were all around the bat as JP stormed in, struck the batsman on the pads.  All 11 went up, but Ian Hope standing in his 2nd consecutive game stood firm, "Not Out" was his answer.  Too honest for his own good if you ask me!!!  Cheam wrapped up the innings leaving them chasing 216 off 50 over's to win the game.

Tea was reasonable, Scones were on the menu, (big debate this, are they 'scones' or 'sconns'?  Let me know you thoughts).

MJ and Dylan opened up at BoE took the old ball and opened up with 2 spinners.  Dylan, looking as good as ever moved his feet well until trying to smash one of the ground and getting caught at mid off.  Dan Maycock came and went, as Circus limped to the crease at 30-2.  Circus' time at the crease was short lived as he was caught behind.  Batsman tried to hang around with MJ but through reckless shots, pressure from the fielders and an ever increasing run rate wickets fell as MJ reached his 50.  needing 9 an over MJ on 85 smashed the ball towards the tennis courts.  "6 or out MJ said to 1st slip".  He was right, "out" a good catch by long off and the game was no longer there for the winning.  Smokey and Erser did an excellent job of blocking out the last 4 over's, with Erser even taking a blow to the chest.  Cheam were 158-8 off 50 over's, a lot of effort for 1 point!

A heated team talk followed, with most players having something to say.  A side that cares is always a side that'll improve (once said a famous philosopher).  Time to move forwards and learn from mistakes.

Table looks as follows, Purley 95 points, Cheam 81 points, BoE 66 points. 

Next week Cheam are home to Egham, call the box office for your tickets at unbelievable prices.

In other news, the BoE changing room was broken into during the game.  The security 'who let the offender into the premises' whilst on their day off from painting and decorating found some CCTV of a white male wearing cricket kit enter the changing room at 15:05 and leaving at 15:08.  Do you know this man?  For more information please contact the local police.  If you can't get hold of them, it's because the government have cut their budgets!

Ps.  Don’t forget to let me know if you are coming to the golf day (26th) or the race night (30th).