Leatherhead CC secured a 25-run victory against Dorking CC in their Surrey Slam T20 clash, despite a spirited batting performance from Dorking’s Chris Ward.
Leatherhead won the toss and chose to bat first, setting a challenging total of 176/6 from their 20 overs. Oliver Berryman led the charge with a powerful 52 off just 36 balls, featuring 6 fours and a six, before retiring not out. Captain Tom Baldwin matched his teammate’s effort with a blistering 52 from 29 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes, also retiring not out. Tom Myers contributed a swift 13 off 5 balls late in the innings. For Dorking, bowlers Jack Street, Max Ridler, Jack Homewood, George Edwards, Ian Gregg, and George Nott each picked up one wicket, but Leatherhead’s batting proved resilient and aggressive throughout.

Chasing 177, Dorking fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, ending on 151/6 in their 20 overs. Chris Ward delivered an exceptional innings, finishing unbeaten on 53 from just 39 balls, which earned him the Man of the Match accolade. Ward’s knock included 5 fours and 2 sixes. He received significant support from George Edwards, who struck an aggressive 41 off 33 balls, and William Edwards, who added 29 runs from 33 deliveries. However, Alex Waterman (2 wickets) and Aydin Huseyin (2 wickets) were pivotal for Leatherhead, effectively containing Dorking’s chase.

Despite the defeat, Chris Ward’s impressive performance stood out, highlighting his ability to anchor the innings under pressure. Leatherhead's balanced bowling and strong batting performance proved decisive, securing them the win in this exciting T20 contest.