Surrey Championship

Division Five

Thames Ditton 220-9

Dorking 220-8

DORKING travelled to promotion rivals Thames Ditton and returned with a share of the spoils after an epic and frantic finale.

Successful at the toss skipper Graham Dymond let former West Indian test star Richie Richardson and his Thames Ditton team mates have a bat.

Dorking came out of the traps flying leaving Ditton 22-3. Scott Kelsey accounted for Pemberton for a duck, Ben Overton removed O'Mahoney (2) and former Test star Richardson for just eight.

The visitors were then made to toil away as Ditton skipper Turnbull played in his usual aggressive style hitting hard straight and in the cover region. The fourth wicket stand of 74 was finally broken as the economical Andy Homewood captured Jupp for 32.

Dorking continued to peg the hosts back as Homewood and Francis Chadwick claimed a wicket each to leave Ditton stuttering at 147-6. Turnbull went on to complete a fine hundred before being bowled by Chadwick as Ditton pressed for a declaration target, setting a generous 220-9 to win.

In reply Dorking started well as openers Rob Chave and Tom Chisman continued their good form as they put on 50 for the opening stand before Chave fell for 29. As Chisman was joined by Yabsley they continued to tick the score along nicely and were 90-1 at the first drinks break.

However, an inspired bowling change removed Chisman for 40 as he was caught and bowled by Mason. With Dorking in the driving seat the experienced Homewood entered the fray and started in his usual powerful way.

But after Yabsley was bowled for 31 a mini collapse in the middle order left Dorking teetering at 140-5, Homewood caught for 26.

Dymond and Overton set about stabilising the innings but once again both found men in the deep, the game finely poised at 170-7.

This brought the pairing of the ever-reliable Francis Chadwick and Tom Chave together, they worked the ball well and Chave smashed anything full over the in-field until he was caught for 17.

Chadwick was now joined by Rob Jones in the chase and the pair ran frantically to give Dorking hope.

With 24 needed from two overs Chadwick set about the Ditton spinners dispatching them into the local houses, the climax coming down to Dorking requiring one from two balls for victory.

The first ball beat the edge of the bat leaving Dorking needing one from one. As the pair tried to scamper the single the Ditton player claimed the ball cleanly and ran out Chadwick with the scores level.

Dorking claimed the winning draw for facing one less over, but they knew one extra run would have secured a win and put them second in the table.

Dorking make the short trip to Stoke D'Abernon this Saturday full of confidence unbeaten in four.