Fullers Brewery Surrey County League Division One

Horley-160-9

Oxted & Limpsfield 161-8

Oxted & Limpsfield made hard work of this victory at Horley, ultimately sneaking the winning run in the last over, with only two wickets in hand.

An excellent bowling and fielding display had restricted Horley, decimated with late call offs and injuries, to a modest 160-9 in 52 overs on a very flat, slow, but true track, with a relatively short boundary on the scorebox side.

Horley Second XI keeper George Hyde was promoted to open the innings which would have crumbled sooner, were it not for an excellent 92 not out from Horley number three Phil Norman.

Lee McIllwraith and Dave Paisey opened for Oxted, and Horley were immediately in trouble as captain Ian Barney clutched two outstanding catches at a very close short cover position off McIllwraith.

Paisey toiled for a tremendous 18 over spell, and was understandably disappointed to finish wicketless after two dropped catches, but his economy rate of 2.6 was a match turning performance.

Prospect Alex Watson (1-24) replaced McIllwraith from the pavilion end and took a few overs to find his length, and then had Horley captain Long, caught behind by Phil Trayner.

Barney also ratcheted up the pressure with only 33 runs conceded in 12 overs with one wicket, and although Horley were only four down for 106, the need to increase the run rate was of immediate benefit to off spinner Ned Lack who replaced Paisey after his marathon spell.

Lack took 3-18 in only five overs, and the returning McIllwraith claimed two more of the tail as the innings subsided to 134-9.

However Norman continued to successfully farm the strike and with some last gasp big hits he succeeded in both using up the full 52 available overs and extending the score to 160.

In reply, Nick Hugo was again in good touch and the total looked well within his own personal reach as he raced to 46 in only 42 balls before he surprisingly skied one to long off and was caught well by Jonathan Barnett off the bowling of Will Golder (3-28).

Michael Wood again looked good for a while, but chipped one back to the bowler as the spinners were introduced.

Harry Chaudhary (3-42) seemed to stem the flow of runs as three wickets fell with score in the nineties. Adam Bunce and skipper Ed Long took a wicket each as slowly, Horley got themselves back into the game.

Lack departed for a patient 33, but then a mixture of poor shots left some work for the lower middle order and the tail. Korea (22) increased the run rate and a couple of lusty blows from Barney helped the cause, but both departed to leave a few nervous players and spectators, before Watson hit the winning run with five balls to spare.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Oxted & Limpsfield reached the third round of the Fullers League Cup with a four-wicket victory over Westfield Saints.

Highlights included excellent spells by Ed Earl (3-22), Nick Emmins (3-39) and Jack Dennison (3-21) to restrict Westfield to 154 all out, backed up by a record six dismissals for keeper Phil Trayner, with four catches and two stumpings.

In reply, Barath timed the ball sweetly for 49, but it took the experience of Bob Dalziel (26no) and Trayner (7no) to see Oxted home in the gloom.