Impressive performances help O's gain victory

Fullers County League 1st XI

Division 1

Oxted & Limpsfield 218-4

Kempton 146

KEMPTON were never at the races at Master Park, as the hosts ground out a hard fought 72 run win with three overs of the match remaining.

Oxted badly needed this win to stay in contention for promotion back into the Surrey Championship at their first attempt.

Kempton defied all apparent logic in striving for a draw from ball one, despite a sporting declaration from Ian Barney, which gave the visitors more overs than Oxted to chase down the target of 218, set after yet another frustrating loss of the toss.

Despite the attacking fields, Kempton focused on defence and occupation of the crease, and ironically only demonstrated a few attacking shots in the last few overs when they had a draw within their sights.

Barney rotated his bowlers well, and wickets were split evenly between the seam and swing bowling of Dave Paisey (3-34 in 16 overs) and the spin of Gordon Boxshall (3-26 from 12 overs) and Ned Lack (3-33 in eight overs).

The real breakthrough came in the 26th over as Lack took two wickets in consecutive balls as 62-2 first became 65-4 and then 69-5 in his next over.

This allowed Paisey to return for two further spells in which he took two crucial further wickets, the last to a caught and bowled.

Once again, keeper Phil Trayner was the only one who could read leg spinner Boxshall's googly, and he removed Ward lbw as he offered no shot to the one that came back into him. Barney (1-11 in four overs) chipped in with the vital wicket of Miah (29)

The highlight was another commanding undefeated century for Sam Curtis. His magnificent 81 ball innings included 10 fours and two big sixes, and he was ably supported by Richie Adamson (38) adding 60 for the third wicket, and then Barath (49) who was unfortunate to be caught in the final over after the two added 111 for the fourth wicket in just 16 overs.

After the recent rain, the outfield was much slower than Curtis's previous innings, but he was in determined mood, and dominated against all the bowlers, rotating the strike well whenever the ball was on the spot.

On Saturday, Oxted visit lower mid-table Weybridge Vandals, and with games still to come against fellow promotion contenders Byfleet and Battersea Ironsides, another win will keep them in a strong position.