Reports 28th Aug

1st XI

Cheam secured their promotion back to the Premier League with a victory over Purley built on the back of a magnificent 125* from Cheam Captain Danny Miller. It was Miller’s 3^rd century of the season and took his season’s tally to 777 runs. Add in 25 wickets and Miller must be considered one of the best all rounder’s in the county. 

Purley Captain Keith Medlycott won the toss and surprisingly elected to bat first on a wet, green pitch.  The early loss of Balasubramaniam for 2 suggested that batting would be difficult but the pitch played well justifying Medlycott’s decision.  Poor Cheam fielding allowed Fuaad Syed to continue his excellent run of form and in partnership with Adam Windlay the pair moved the score on to 66 before Syed, lucky to survive a confident appeal for caught behind, fell LBW to Miller. Windlay continued to attack, frustrating the Cheam bowlers with his unorthodox but effective method.  

Miller turned to spin in the form of Mark Burns and Tim Scott and in tandem the pair reduced the Purley run rate.  Scott eventually made the break through and then took the prized wicket of Medlycott two balls later as the former Surrey coach picked out the only boundary fielder on the park.  Windlay rode his luck to reach 85 before being caught at long on off the bowling of Lee Harrison with score on 170 -6.  The Purley tail wagged to take the score to 201 from 50 overs, a more than competitive effort. 

In reply Cheam were always in control as Miller and David Houpapa set the foundations with sensible batting against disciplined Purley bowling.  The loss of Houpapa for 19 and Chris Salmons quickly after buoyed the Purley team but Miller stood firm.  Medlycott shuffled his bowlers around with some success picking up the wicket of Steve Clark and raising the run rate, but with 2 power plays to take there was no need to panic.  Paul Cohen joined Miller and the pair played superbly to see Cheam home with 3 overs to spare with Miller completing his hundred from just 120 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes. 

Cheam visit Pyford on Saturday still just one point behind leaders Normandy.

2nd XI

2 games to go and it was 1st Vs 2nd in a battle for the title.  Cheam keen for revenge after getting a winning draw against Purley earlier in the season, Purley looking to prove they are rightly at the top of the league.  MJ was away in Ireland, and Caddy was chasing an egg around a field somewhere so in came Machine on the back of his 7 wicket haul and "The Punisher" following last weeks 70 in 10 balls!!!  Early starts too now due to the fading light and upon arrival at the club the 1st team were having their team photo for next years handbook.  A closer examination of the team showed Rat to be in there for his fielding outings this season.  Rumour has it that the England Cricket Team were having a team photo at Lords, does anyone know if he managed to slip into that one?  This does pose the question I brought up earlier in the season… Has he paid he subs?  Hydo, get onto him!!!

Upon arrival at Purley it looked like the grounds man had been sacked earlier in the week!  The outfield remisent of a meadow meant a high scoring game was off the cards.  A decent enough wicket though considering the weather this past week.  It was quite refreshing having all 11 players arrive on time in Mj's absence, however, Smokey was suffering with his worst hangover of the season and Drib's after a night out in Croydon was on the phone to the police reporting the evenings events to a police officer after being threatened with a knife.  They don't like pretty boys there Drib's!!

The crowd wasn't up to it's usual numbers.  The Jones' in Ireland, Dribble's, Manvilles, Hope's and Johnson's all on the Isle of Wight together.  Not sure what exactly they were doing there, I thought it would have been totally under water by now?  Hydo popped down though, glass of wine in his hand at 3pm set the tone for the rest of his day!

Circus won the toss for the 1st time in 8 weeks and elected to bat thinking anything around 200 with his bowling attack would pass as a decent score.  MOD and Dylan opened the batting, whilst Blackman's lover opened the bowling.  In normal fashion, Mod batted sensibly, whilst Dylan and the bowler spent half their fighting with their handbags in the middle of the wicket.  Lets face it, Dylan was a class above this guy but the bowler refused to accept it, deciding on a lifeless deck to start bowling the ball shorter and shorter.  Just so everyone is aware Dylan can play the pull shot, the bowler never quite got the hint!!!  From the 'stump cam' you could hear the bowler saying, "just one call, just one call bruv."  Eventually Dylan was out bowled for 47 the opening bowler running from fine leg to advise him where he had gone wrong in the shot.  "Thanks for the net" was Dylan response.  Callum came and went, as did Circus who was unable to carry on his form from the last few weeks and at 100-4 when MOD was out Cheam had to do some serious rebuilding.  The Punisher walked into bat.  Anything could happen lets face it.  After he had bowled full and short to see the ball disappear to all areas, he tried a yorker, The Punisher trying to pull it saw his middle pole vanish!  Max and Beefy rebuilt until a Beefy on drive came off the bowler and re-bounded onto the stumps to run Max out.  A few balls later, Drib's who had to be woken up to go and bat was run out by Beefy who tried to take a single hit to 1st slip!  Beefy then worked out he had to bat the over's.  This was his chance, the day Stuart Broad stepped up for England was the day Beef was to step up for Cheam.  The drives were flowing, there was a gap at extra cover, that was slightly beyond him, but he hit a pull shot higher than Tiger Woods hits his lob wedge, the ball pitched just short of the boundary before trickling over.  JP hit a 6 to the longest boundary ever, then next ball was caught trying to do the same again.  Smokey staggered out to bat, 2nd ball received a bouncer, he didn't move until it struck him on the helmet!  He and Beef got the score to 205 off the 50 over's with Beefy hitting 36 not out. 

Cheam defending a decent score came out full of confidence.  Bowling is all about building pressure, making the batsmen wonder where their next run is coming from.  JP took the new ball and bowled a couple of beauties, passing the outside edge on a couple of occasions to complete his maiden over.  2nd over went to Beefy who dished up 3 wide's and a half volley!  There was a chance of a run out though as both batsmen fought to get to Beefy's end!!  JP got the early breakthrough and after a 15 ball duck from Blackmans lover Cheam were up and running. Purley then rebuilt well to get the score up to 60-2 so Circus turned to Max and Smokey.  Smokey had just about sobered up now and was confident he could make it to the stumps without falling over.  A couple of tight over's from both bowlers started to build the pressure.  Then all hell broke loose.  Max flighted one to the opening batsmen's pads, he tried to play against the spin and hit the ball straight to Callum at midwicket.  That catch meant he has now taken more catches this season than made runs!!!!  Next ball an uppish drive went to Beefy at extra cover who dived forward taking a great catch and suddenly they were 82-4.  Smokey kept it tight, Max didn't get his hat-trick but took 2 wickets in as many balls again to leave the Purley's innings in tatters!  The rest on the innings followed a similar pattern.  Max tearing them apart to finish with figures of 7-14 off 7 over's.  Unbelievable Jeff!!  10 points to Cheam and the league still up for grabs.

Man of the Match is getting a bit boring but Max once again for his performance with the ball.  If he gets in the nets over the winter he will prove a huge asset with the bat also. 

Next week Cheam play Pyrford at home.  A win may see the Surrey Championship officials attend Peaches Close to present the league trophy.  It'll be squeaky bum time at Purley who have to play Camberley, only the 2nd team to have beaten them this season.  Tickets are still available as ever from the box office.  Come down and support your club. 

In other news, it's been a busy one this week.  PC's race night raised some money for the club, JP and Beefy spent the whole of Sunday night trawling the bus stops on the anniversary of Beef's finest hour, and PC was removed from McClusky's for preventing / starting a fight.  The top headline though is that following the revelations about the Pakistani cricket team bowling no balls at will in exchange for large sums of money has caused the ICC to look all forms of the game for corruption.  I can confirm that the ICC have contacted me regarding the number of no balls bowled by Drib's this season and at this stage I am only willing to comment by saying that I will assist the police and ICC with their investigation.