Leatherhead secure victory to end frustrating sequence

Surrey Championship Division Two

Leatherhead & Cobham 269

Farnham 250

LEATHERHEAD & Cobham finally ended their win-lose sequence with a tense victory away at Farnham.

The Farnham groundsman's decision to utilise the end wicket for the game, meant that a high scoring encounter was inevitable. In truth the toss was a good one to lose which LCCC duly did and were inserted into bat.

Steve Cush and Ant Joblin rode their luck at times but got the innings off to a flyer. The score had reached 47 when Joblin was bowled by Dale for 23, then McCullough was dismissed cheaply to leave the Tanners on 51-2.

The spin of Caines was introduced and accounted for Cush (34), Baker (16) and Brewer (20) all of whom were guilty of playing rash shots.

When Wakefield was dismissed for 12, LCCC were on 120-6 and in real danger of wasting the chance of putting on a big total. Joe Peak and Matthew Baker had other ideas and really battled to get the side back into the game.

They were both batting conservatively at the start and as the bowlers toiled they began to up the ante. The pair added 78 for the seventh wicket before Baker was caught for 43.

Peak passed his 50 and then took a particular liking to left arm spinner Richards as he took advantage of the short boundary to hit four sixes. He eventually finished on 81 not out as LCCC were all out for 269.

Early inroads were vital and these were provided by a fired up Weller who removed both Gleeson and Higgins in a fine opening spell. Rooney and the dangerous looking Lamb then put on 43 for the third wicket before Lamb tried to hit Matt Roberts out of the park and was smartly stumped by McCullough.

Rooney then followed edging Roberts to Matthew Baker at slip which brought Farnham's main batting weapons Hicks and Caines to the crease. It was the partnership that LCCC knew they had to break to come out victorious.

The pair began watchfully but then began to go through the gears chasing eight an over. They were doing this successfully cashing in on some wayward bowling. The pair were on course to take Farnham home when Caines (63) holed out to Cush on the boundary off the bowling of Roberts to give LCCC hope.

Hicks remained defiant and continued to hit some unbelievable shots but was running out of partners as Roberts destroyed the Farnham lower order. Farnham were on 246-8 with Roberts having snared six wickets when the returning Weller took the wicket of Knight.

This left Farnham with only one wicket remaining, needing to score 19 from two overs to win or play out the overs for a winning draw. With LCCC trying to keep number 11 Murphy on strike for the last over, Hicks tried to hit Roberts over the infield to retain the strike but only succeeded in hitting the ball straight to Cush who made no mistake.

Hicks departed for an excellent 94 giving the Tanners victory by 19 runs. The hero of the day was Roberts who continued his fine run of form with figures of 7-89.

LCCC fortified third position with victory and visit leaders Beddington on Saturday hoping to extend their winning streak to three and put pressure on the top two.