Stoke frustrate leaders Addiscombe

Surrey Championship

Division Five

Stoke D'Abernon 203-9

Addiscombe 131-7

STOKE D'Abernon produced a highly creditable performance to claim a winning draw against runaway leaders Addiscombe.

Stoke and Addiscombe were promoted together from the Fuller's League last season, and although the latter have continued their top of the table form on their return to the Surrey Championship, Stoke served a reminder that the sides are still not too far apart.

After the rains towards the end of the week appeared to hamper pitch preparation, acting Stoke skipper Gavin Gresse lost an important toss and visiting captain Poulton didn't hesitate to bowl first on a sodden track.

Stoke were soon in trouble as seamers Johnson, Crowie and Docherty took a wicket each to reduce the hosts to 33-3. On his recall to the first XI Jack Raimondo miss-pulled to mid-wicket, Handel, (17) dragged a wide ball on to his stumps, then Lahiri picked out wide mid-on after a ball stopped on him.

This prompted the introduction of overseas left-arm spinner, and the division's leading wicket-taker Naeem Anjum.

However, although he accounted for Gresse with a big-turner, Hiken Shah and Tom Frost decided to attack him and not let him settle.

The partnership reached 81 when Shah was bowled by Anjum for 58, an excellent knock that included eight fours and two sixes.

Will Gudgeon profited from an early dropped chance and added a further 33 with Frost, before Frost was bowled by Anjum (4-77) for a season's best of 45. Gudgeon followed soon after for 22, bowled by sixth bowler Cooper.

Will Frost was promoted to keep the left-hand/right hand batting combination that had served Stoke so well, and he chipped in with an unbeaten 23, nursing the tail through to 203-9 off the maximum permitted 55 overs.

After the break Stoke made the perfect start when openers Docherty and Moore were back in the pavilion for two and one as Shah and Lander struck.

Johnson and Poulton both showed positive intent but were separated with just 32 on the board when Johnson (23) chopped a delivery from Will Frost into his brother's gloves behind the timbers.

Polley opted for attack as the best form of defence, but was bowled by the impressive Frost for just four.

Poulton and Cox dug in, but a keen Stoke bowling and fielding effort continued to apply pressure and push the visitors behind the rate for both the win and the winning draw.

Gresse used all eight bowlers at his disposal, but the next breakthrough came with the score on 86 when Poulton (30) chased a delivery from the returning Handel.

Additional fielders were summoned into the circle, but Crowie and Cox were able to negotiate the majority of the closing overs.

A leg-before appeal from Shah against Crowie (20) was upheld with seven overs remaining, but Addiscombe's depth in batting was there to see as new arrival Benham and Cox were not separated until the final ball of the match when the latter picked out Gresse in the covers to give Will Frost a deserved third wicket. The innings closed on 131-7.

Frost finished with figures of 3-13, Shah chipped in with 2-27 from 11 overs and there was a wicket each for Lander and Handel.

Stoke will hope to build on this performance on Saturday when they travel to Wallington.