3s beaten by weather!

Sinjun Grammarians vs Dorking, 12/05/2018

Sinjun 98 all out, match abandoned

Dorking 3rd XI made the long trip to Wandsworth in high hopes after cruising to victory in their first game of the season, but with one eye on the miserable weather forecast. Stand-in skipper, Andrew ASH Hallas Halliday, won the toss and put the hosts into bat.

Willips got Dorking off to the perfect start with a first ball half-tracker that their opener lobbed up to mid on. Will - sharing the new ball with Travis Blood - had the ball swinging nicely and got the second wicket soon after. Travis got hit for a couple of sixes by a “burley” South African but he got his man eventually when he holed out to Dave Young at long off - who took a cracking catch out of the sky. Rain had been drizzling down throughout and we eventually went off after 14 overs with Sinjuns on 54 for 3.

After an hour the rain hadn’t really abated but Sinjuns insisted on us carrying on - which proved to be unwise. Within another 16 overs they were all out for 98 after Conor Myers and Dave Young got 3 wickets apiece and Dale Godfrey picked up one (which broke leg stump). Myers had a couple of nicks behind well caught by Dan Chave with the gloves, and got given Dorking’s first and probably last LBW decision of the season (although it was plumb). Dale bowled well and could have had more (we won’t mention his dropped catch off Myers though). DY bowled an excellent nagging line and length to knock over 3.

Dorking enjoyed some samosas and custard creams over tea, looking forward to knocking off the low total. Unfortunately despite zero change in weather or pitch conditions compared to when Dorking were fielding, Sinjun decided not to come out to field. Despite all reasonable attempts to agree to continue playing, including pointing out that Sinjun had skittled their opposition last week for under 100, Sinjun reeled off excuse after excuse not to play. So we shook hands and headed back to Dorking. Lovely 40 mile round trip.