Surrey Championship

Division Two

Leatherhead & Cobham 241-8

Horsley & Send 216-8

LEATHERHEAD & Cobham played out a tense draw with Horsley & Send on Saturday.

George McCullough's side were in a good position to secure victory, but a defiant ninth wicket stand by the visitors denied them.

"Although the side were disappointed to not secure all 13 points, there were plenty of positives to take from the game," said McCullough.

"The partnership of Baker and Gibson was made under pressure and the pair took real responsibility.

"Also the club's spin bowling department is in excellent shape with Dyson and Lewis-Oliver putting posing plenty of problems to the batsmen and the selection committee."

Having lost the toss, LCCC were asked to bat first. Openers Cush and Dyson began positively scoring boundaries whenever the opportunity arose.

They put on 30 for the first wicket before Elliot removed Dyson (13) caught behind. His partner Cush was then removed lbw by Gayle to leave the Tanners in trouble on 45-2.

Matters got worse when McCullough, French and Brewer were all dismissed by Elliot to leave Leatherhead reeling at 85-5.

Cometh the hour cometh Matthew Baker and James Gibson. The pair put on 112 for the sixth wicket, and in the process both men notched up their first 50's of the season.

Some lusty late order hitting by Matt Roberts (40no) allowed LCCC to declare on 241-8 from 53 overs.

Wouretz and Weller took the new ball in ever deteriorating conditions. Weller produced a cracking ball to remove opener Dyer, but this proved to be their sole breakthrough.

Leatherhead then turned to the young spin attack of fifteen-year-old Dyson and sixteen-year-old Lewis-Oliver and the pair bowled with incredible control which belied their inexperience in what were terrible conditions for spin bowling.

The Horsley & Send innings was taken up a level by Hall who seemed intent on hitting a boundary every ball but fortunately he top edged Dyson and was well caught by Gibson for 35. Dyson then ran through the middle order, in the process taking four wickets.

Brewer replaced Lewis-Oliver and took three wickets including a remarkable caught and bowled.

Horsley & Send were eight wickets down for 180 and had obviously changed their target from winning the game to securing the winning draw target of 214.

They did this successfully with Bukhari hitting 42 as LCCC were unable to take the remaining two wickets.