Report: An under-strength Stoke Row outfit managed to claim a creditable losing draw against an increasingly impressive Sandhurst side at Yorktown Road last Saturday. On an absolute belter of a track, the ever-reliable Graham Sanders provided the backbone to Sandhurst’s 239-7, before Stoke Row managed to amass 200-7 from their 45 overs.
Having won the toss, Stoke Row captain Rich Ashton elected to field first despite clear blue skies and the prospect of an archetypal Sandhurst batting track – that is to say, the equivalent of batting on the M4. With the pitch as true as expected, Sandhurst’s openers Graham Sanders and Adam Birch were able to negotiate the early overs and proceed to 29-0 after 7 overs before Birch was unfortunate to glove a ball to debutant keeper Rich Ashton off the bowling of Dion Sampson.
After this fine early catch, Ashton’s inexperience then surfaced as Sanders enjoyed a life when an inside edge was shelled by the keeper with the batsman on just 17. However, Nick Howell responded positively to dismiss Aron Shallom with an absolute beauty, before deceiving the experienced Des Sussex with a slower ball – Sandhurst stood at 62-3 after 15 overs.
With a decent partnership building between Sanders and Anthony Clapham, a stroke of extreme good fortune befell Row as an under edge from the latter nestled in Ashton’s pads off the bowling of Darren Clark. After a period of consultation between the umpires, Sandhurst’s young number 5 had to head back to the pavilion. When Sanders marvellous innings was curtailed with a wonderful catch on the boundary by Sam Smith shortly after, Sandhurst stood on 129-5 after 29.4 overs when drinks were taken.
Yet if one thing has been proved in the Premier Division over the past 15 months, it is that depth is everything. Mortimer West End displayed this last season (and continue to do so in 2009), whilst Sulhamstead have emulated their local rivals. Thus it will have been of great encouragement to the hosts that skipper Chris Pharo and the experienced Andy Tutty were able to add 84 for the sixth wicket. The pair batted with poise and intelligence, initially manipulating singles around the ground before latterly opening their proverbial shoulders to smash the bowling to all parts. Pharo recorded a deserved half century before being stumped, whilst Tutty’s 41 was only ended when he was again magnificently caught by Smith on the boundary.
Despite these two wickets, a late order flurry by Ashfaque Rahman, combined with some excellent running between the wickets by the nippy Samit Malla, ensured a decent total of 239-7 was posted by Sandhurst.
In reply it was imperative that Stoke Row secured a steady start. However, taking the old ball, Rahman was able to make two early breakthrough’s – a ball that popped somewhat caught the shoulder of Ashton’s bat to see Row’s skipper caught behind for 1, before a fabulous yorker accounted for Tom Stockings. Row were 11-2 and staring down the barrel.
However, a gutsy third-wicket stand between the dominant Nick Howell and the more introspective Will Macdonald helped the Maharajas move back into the game until the post drinks break dismissal of Macdonald to a fine catch at short leg by Clapham saw the visitors stand at 63-3.
Another all ex-Oratory stand between Howell and Sam Boughton moved Row clear of the previously impending danger, and Howell in particular appeared in magnificent form despite a barrage of appeals for caught behind. Eventually, after recording a fine 53, the 22 year old was adjudged caught at slip, despite the ball striking his wrist – the third occasion in five innings that his dismissal has occurred in less than satisfactory fashion. Stoke 89-4.
The ever-reliable Darren Clark then joined Boughton and the Nottingham University student proceeded to move from looking clearly out of knick to his usual all-powerful self. After scoring just 2 runs in the first 9 overs that he was at the crease, Boughton then went on one of his emblematic surges to smash his way to 47 in rapid order – Tutty taking the brunt of the Row man’s wrath before bowling him following an attempted sweep.
With Stoke now in a position to claim ever more losing draw points (the win was never a realistic option), Dion Sampson was buffeted up the order to try and maximise this opportunity but he too was quickly dismissed by Tutty. Thus it was left to Clark to again prove his considerable credentials and a maiden Stoke Row fifty was brought up with a marvellous straight driven six.
Despite the best efforts of Clark, Row were only able to close on 200-7, four runs short of the 204 needed to snatch another point. However, with the side that Stoke Row were able to put out, these 10 points must be seen as a major bonus, whilst Sandhurst, albeit devoid of Simon Massey, may rue failing to claim the 35 points they perhaps deserved and desired.
Thus Stoke Row remain in seventh place, but will be bolstered significantly in the coming weeks by the return of no less than six university players. Whether they can gel will be another story, although it is ironic that their upcoming two games are against the early-season pace-setters Sulhamstead and Mortimer West End - much will depend on how these next two weeks go for the Maharajas.
On the other hand, Sandhurst sit pretty in fourth place and appear genuine contenders for the title. They possess an outstanding player in Sanders, who provides that ‘X-Factor’ necessary to win a title, and are solid throughout the side. If Massey plays regularly, they are only strengthened further, and they retain a multi-dimensional bowling attack.
In other games last weekend, leaders Sulhamstead were stunned by a Jags Dhillon inspired Pinkneys Green. The aforementioned claimed 3-21 with Ufton being dismissed for 129, before his 43 helped the hosts home by 3 wickets.
Second placed Mortimer West End recovered from their shock defeat to Emmbrook the previous week to annihilate Swindon NALGO by 101 runs. Jono Bray led the way with 94 for the visitors, who were also helped by 54 extras from NALGO – the third occasion this season that they have shipped a half-century of these. In reply, Bob Hodson (4-41) and Nick Bielby (3-40) dismissed Swindon for 175.
Peppard reinforced their position in third by claiming a tense 4 wicket win at Emmbrook thanks mainly to an unbeaten 62 from Andy Watts. With E&B registering 165, Peppard chased them down despite Steve Phipps claiming 4-47. Lastly, Hamid Sana again shone for Grosevnor as they snatched a thrilling two wicket win at home to Crown Wood. With Mohammad Rizwan grabbing 5-40, Wood were shot out for 135, and, despite early problems, Sana’s unbeaten 45 helped Grosvenor to 135-8.
All this means that Sulhamstead, MWE and Peppard are set fair towards the top of the league, with Sandhurst and Grosvenor looming increasingly ominously. A short gap exists to the out-of-form Swindon NALGO and Stoke Row, who must be rueing the fact they took a mere 5 points from their opening two games. The bottom three comprises Crown Wood, Pinkneys Green and E&B, but, as the past two weeks have shown, anyone can beat anyone – E&B beating MWE, and Pinkneys defeating Sulhamstead last Saturday.
Week 8 looks to be a fascinating one, with Sulhamstead looking to return to winning ways as they host Stoke Row, whilst MWE host the increasingly dangerous Grosvenor. Peppard play at home to Pinkneys Green, fresh off their maiden triumph, and Sandhurst travel to Crown Wood. Lastly, Swindon NALGO make the trip to Emmbrook & Bearwood in a game where they will look to return to their form of 2008 and early 2009.
