Surrey Championship Division Five

Staines & Laleham 175

Chipstead, Coulsdon & Walcountians 179-4

Despite a poor result, and indeed a poor performance, against a determined Staines side, this will be long regarded as a momentous day in the history of CC&W.

It was the day that Australian test player, and one of the fastest bowlers in the world, Shaun Tait donned a Chipstead shirt.

On a scorching afternoon it was Staines' Aussie captain, Kirk Mullard, who stole the limelight with some fine quick bowling and some brutal hitting at the top of the innings.

Chips' skipper Steve Hirst won the toss and for the fourth game running decided to post a total.

What followed was a lacklustre display as batsman after batsman conspired to get themselves out.

Only Daryl Hattingh really showed the kind of application needed. Hirst was first to go, wafting lazily at a Mullard delivery and dragging it on for 12.

His opening partner, Bradford raised Nick Woods, looked to carry on his imperious recent form and moved commandingly to 25 before being deceived by a Bloomfield slower one and lofting a simple chance to long off.

Hattingh got stuck in and began to stroke the ball around smoothly as he started compiling a fine innings. But the middle order failed to stick with him.

Jarrad Tait was first to go in probably the finest piece of cricket seen all day. A beautifully pitched ball from spinner Rose was immaculately timed through the onside by Tait and only a sparkling catch by Bloomfield prevented a certain boundary.

Alan Clark, Ben Watson and Richard Brewster could only muster eight runs between them as the Chips' innings collapsed from 90-1 to 130-6.

Unfortunately for Chips Hattingh failed to capitalise on his great start and was caught behind for a fine 65 from the bowling of Mullard.

Spirited late knocks of 11 a piece by Shaun Tait and Leigh Padfield helped the total reach a barely competitive 175.

Hirst surprised the waiting crowd by taking a gamble in holding Tait back and giving the new ball to brother Jarrad and ever dependable Elliot Noble, the theory being that if a couple of wickets could be bought early, Tait could be unleashed on a fragile middle order.

The gamble spectacularly backfired as Mullard clubbed reasonably good balls to all parts, and Staines soon raced to an unassailable position.

In fact it was the introduction of lofty left arm turner Brewster that put the brakes on the opening pair.

Mullard finally fell for 65 from 64 balls including four huge maximums with the score on 101.

Chips smelt a chance and Padfield soon sent Colbart back leaving the opposition worrying.

The introduction of Tait came, eventually, and sent keeper, Ryan Hurlock and his slip cordon back towards the boundary. The dead flat, low, track was not the type Tait was used to, however his searing pace, if only off half a run up, had the Staines' batsmen hopping all over the place.

In the main they survived though, ex Middlesex seamer Tim Bloomfield proving to be Tait's only victim as he ripped his stumps apart.

A fine spell of left arm trickery from Woods briefly had Chips' back in the hunt, as he removed Weller attempting a ridiculous reverse sweep.

But 175 was never enough though and Staines brought up the total with a hefty six from Hirst's first ball. Brett Archer played the anchor role for a fine 64 not out.