1xi Match Report by Matty D

Sanderstead 1XI v HWRCC 1XI @ Old Saw Mill, Sanderstead.

Davies, Ali, Rashid, Raza*, Mackie, High, Cronin, Tong, Holland+, Tughral, Unsworth

Umpire Nicholls, Scorer Whitcher.

Call me weird, but the highlight of my week is not the game of cricket I have on Saturday afternoon. Rather, it's that time about 11am on Saturday when the anticipation of a game of cricket is too much. Not only that, but I also get to drive my car for often the only time in the week as I have the dreaded commute into town (it's a long bloody way to Hackney from Teddington, especially by bike). This week however my routine was in disarray as I was forced to 'go direct' due to a tragic quirk of fixtures and girlfriend birthday celebrations (she lives in Queens Park - google it). As many have said this year: 'Build up your credit before the world Cup'. Wise words indeed.

I arrived at Sanderstead before the Wick convoy(s), looking decidedly like a walk of shame candidate in school shoes and black trousers. I was even there before most of the home team, opting for a leisurely train journey with Telegraph in hand. The track on first inspection looked a bit soft on top although hard beneath. There was however a lot of grass and covers which had clearly been on overnight and left the surface warm and damp, matching the air. The ground is very pleasant, although the pavillion is a little hidden away in a corner in the dark - a bit of a shame.

The rain was persistent, and soon enough the covers were reapplied by the home team, and there they stayed for a good while. Mackie's late arrival, and Tong/Whitcher/Nichols' almost non-arrival proved to be no loss as there was to be lots of sitting around. I was decidedly bored - so much so that I opted at one point to venture out into the rain to explore the surrounding fields. I didn't find much. Not my best story.

The rain stopped just after 3pm and the covers were removed. The outfield was wet, but the track dry and as we were high drainage was good. Play would begin at 1545, a surreal moment given the downpour that we had sat through in the previous 3 hours.

Raza lost the toss and we were put in unsurprisingly. Wick would get 33 overs max, with Sanderstead getting 24 (if we batted 33). Not an ideal scenario for anyone, but as with most things cricket related, the game is played inside your head. If you can keep that bit in control, more often than not you will prevail, providing you have some kind of talent (which we do). Having to bat first on an unknown track, against a team of hitters, on a damp day, knowing that their could either get our score, or easily block out 20 overs if necessary for a draw, wasn't exactly an exciting prospect for us. However, there were points up for grabs, so game on.

That's four paragraphs setting the scene, and I haven't even got onto the match yet. [Yes, got on with it. This is worse than one of Clark's - Ed]

Davies and Ali opened up and the ball started doing all sorts. A few flew past Davies' face, and a few over it off the quickie. At the other end, some slight wobble was also resulting in plays and misses. Davies however did manage some sweetly timed shots, surprisingly off his legs. Ali, loosely caught at mid off was first to go. The rate slowed. Davies then was caught off a classc edge with 26 (probably worth double given the conditions and the slow outfield) [Correspondent's preorgative again eh Matty? - Ed]. Rashid didnt last much longer, an lbw decision he moaned about for a good few hours.

Raza and Mackie then combined well for a decent middle order partnership, taking the score towards 80 on a track that was lively to say the least. You were never in, with some balls behaving like salmon swimming upstream. Mackie caught at mid off (surprisingly?) was followed by High who ballooned one to cover. Cronin then managed to time one to deep mid-wicket, and then Tong middled his only ball straight back down the bowler's Gregory. This was a classic collapse, everyone being caught seemingly trying to hit the ball in the air on a track that demanded more commitment.

Raza then got one that reared at him (see the salmon comment) and we were staring down the barrell. In honesty, I dont think anyone knew what a good score was at the start of the innings. 140 was probably considered par, but at 30-0 off 4 overs, we were looking for that and more. Credit goes to Holland and Tughral who added some critical hits at the end, even if their running between the wickets needs working on.

111 all out off 32 overs. Nelson. On the face of it a below par score. It looked as if we'd capitulated and given the points to Sanderstead. However, as we've proved time and time again, and as Nicholls often says, we don't make things easy for ourselves, but invariably we come out on top.

Teas: Fairly basic, lots of children's party food that Fudge I know would disapprove of. Sausage rolls, scotch eggs, one slice ham sandwiches etc etc. 3/10.

The weather hadn't really cleared up by this point, although the temperature had gone up slightly and the Surrey Downs in the distance were no longer obscured by hazy rain. It looked as if we would get a result. With Sanderstead needing 112 to win off 25 overs. Easy.

Tong opened up. Ball 5 was sent over cover's head like a rocket, straight to the boundary. The home side cheered rapturously, as their veranda filled with locals in support. However, ball 6 lifted just outside off stump and was pouched behind the wicket - Dougall (Tong) celebrated like a dog with 3 balls to lick and the boys rallied, knowing one of their guns was out.

Next over Ali bowled 2 away pearlers, followed by a searing inducker. Bowled. 5-2. Absolutely game on. Sanders rallied somewhat with the classy #3 looking to take the game to Tong, although he was having none of it. Some excellent words were exchanged. Ali then had #3 snaffled by Rashid at gooley and we were probably on top.

The only player for Sanderstead who reached double figures was the #4 saffa. Despite being plumb on about 10, he rode his luck well and stayed leg side of the ball. Ali in particular made a few sing as they jigged their way past the bat and various body parts.

Just as Raza was contemplating a change, another wicket fell. To be honest it was a bit of a blur here after. The pitch was so bad that the cheers from Sanderstead soon become nervous silence as a procession of low scores (matching the HWRCC innings) materialised, invariably caught in various locations.

Holland dropped a very difficult chance, and Davies a difficult (but not very difficult) one at 2nd slip. Having said that, Mackie was dropped as well, so in terms of chances I think both teams were about even.

With 3 overs to go, Sanderstead found themselves on 78, needing 7 for a winning draw, an unlikely 30 odd for a win, and the Wick sensing victory needing one more. Surprisingly the final 3 overs were alarmless for Sanderstead. It turned out that in the main if you didnt want to hit any runs, it was easy to stay in, as the balls that went bezerk went so bezerk that they were never going to hit the stumps. Many wickets on both sides were claimed off attacking shots.

Sanderstead ened up on 80-9, HWRCC claiming a winning draw. A ridiculous result that belies conventional wisdom on reduced overs games, but supports the premise that cricket is played in the mind.

MOM Tong. 13-2-28-5. He's not back to his best yet, but 5-28 is pretty good for someone still searching.

HWRCC find themselves in 5th after 4 games, perhaps lower then we would have liked to have been. This game could have been won, but if we show this spirit every week we will be fine. Incidentally, taking aside the Shepperton fixture (who we didn't play last year), our 3 games against Horley, Sanderstead and Merrow have been more successful in 2010 than in 2009 (LLW in 2009, WwDlD in 2010). On that basis we're ahead of last year and on track for a real push at promotion. West End beat us in 2009, so we'll be looking to continue the trend of improving on 2009 results next week.

The game is at home, so I won't be driving, but I will probably be the first there again...

ats