Great Match, Great Teas!

Dorking 3s made the journey over to Chessington CC on Saturday. With Halliday back in charge, it was an inevitable win at the toss where he invited the home side to have a bat on an ok looking deck.

G Edwards and Phillips opened up the bowling. Both bowling very tightly with wides being the top score off the first five overs due to some very strict and dubious one-day rules being implemented. With the score at 39/0 off 10 overs, it looked like 150 would be a decent score. Some missed chances in the field meant both bowlers were wicketless. Jack Homewood came on and started brilliantly, bowling a couple of maidens and putting some pressure on the hard hitting left handed opening batsman. Who eventually succumbed to the pressure chipping straight to Phillips at cover. Unfortunately he wasn’t supported well at the other end as McKay and Dixon took a liking to pace on the ball. McKay in particular slog sweeping the fast bowler.

Andy Walker and Jack bowled well in tandem through the middle overs with good control. Jack picking up the useful wicket of no. 3 slapping his worst ball of the day to Walker at point. Halliday brought himself onto bowl (the only way he gets a bowl these days) and was greeted with a large six early on. This didn’t deter him as he picked up the vital wicket of the opening batsman for 66; due to some great F&G and a sharp stumping by Robbie. Walker picked up number four bat and Halliday gets a second wicket with a very plumb LBW. Chessington finishing on 221/5 off 45 overs; including a disappointing 18 wides.

Tea had disappointingly not arrived! So we agreed to bat for 50 minutes first. Barney and Jim opened up the batting and both started very well. Barney playing his usual stroke play despite some accurate bowling. He was eventually out done and nicked off for 14 which was followed by two massive and inappropriate send offs from Mahad Qazi! A newly mature Barney ignored the pathetic Qazi. Pestifield in at 3 steadied the innings and saw us through to tea.

Tea was taken and worth the wait!

Nigel and Jim put on 75 for the second wicket before Nigel pulled straight to square leg for 26. Horton back from injury was number 4. He saw off the decent spin bowlers though soon fell for 8. Meanwhile Jim had reached his 50. Walker came and went and left Dorking on 120/4 off 28 overs. Robbie joined Jim in the middle and made sure to get himself in before playing a couple of nice shots. Jim then fell for a well made 71. DCC were 141/5 off 31 overs. Jack joined Robbie at the crease; they put on a handy 32 run partnership. Robbie (28) fell in the 39th over with the score at 173-6. That meant 48 runs still needed off only 6 overs and only 4 wickets in hand. Surely, DCC were dead and buried at this stage….

Halliday in at number 8 joined Jack. Halliday smashing his first ball for four, next ball bringing Jack back on strike who hit one of the shots of the day smashing McKay through extra cover for four all along the deck. Jack was next to make the walk back to pavilion for 17. 182/7 off 40 overs. Shrives was next in and ran brilliantly between the wickets to remain at the non-strikers end before getting a rather decent nut. 195/8 off 42 overs. Halliday was then clean bowled by the opposing skipper for 16. Leaving the field at 196/9 in the 43rd over. Chessington buoyed by this and Dorking looking desolate on the sidelines. However, George and Will had a different idea. Both running superbly between the wickets, managed to get us up to 205/9 at the end of that over. 10 runs off the 44th over meant we needed 6 runs off the last over.

45th over - dot ball, George takes a single, Will smashes it over cover for four… incredible celebrations on the boundary as we are now at 221. 1 run needed from 3 balls. Will smashes it to mid off, runs… direct hit from the throw… and out! Unbelievable cheers from the crowd that had gathered at Chessington. It ends a tie. Will run out for 13, George 8*.

What an incredible game of cricket. Dorking never giving up. Special mention to the youngsters who are maturing into very decent cricketers! We only take 10 points, although Chessington are top of the table so not a bad feat.