No Staines on Oxted

Surrey Championship Division 3 1st XI
Staines and Laleham CC 1st XI – 188 – 7 (50 overs)
Oxted and Limpsfield CC 1st XI – 192 – 6 (41.4 overs)
Oxted and Limpsfield CC win by 4 wickets

Oxted travelled to Staines for their penultimate away game of the season knowing a win was needed to keep them on target to finish as champions.

The opposition won the toss and elected to bat on what looked to not be a great pitch. Ben Fullard and Lee Mcilwraith took the new ball and while Fullard bowled with the consistency that we are now accustomed too and picked up a wicket in his first over, Mcilwraith (0-12) did not and was replaced with Ross Powell after his first over.
Staines attacked with the bat and while offering chances, they continued to push the score up at an increasing rate.
Both bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals with Powell finishing with 2 for 30, and Fullard 3 for 27 of their allotted 10 over spells.

With Staines on 89-5, they were able to put together a partnership taking them towards 130. Charles Trott, Ned Lack and Simon Jackson were introduced and also bowled great lines. Lack was able to pick up a couple of wickets to stent Staines recovery and finished with 2 for 40 as the opposition ended on 188-7 following a good final partnership.

The new opening partnership of Jack Lloyd and Skipper Simon Jackson looked to take the game to Staines however both fell recently early, Lloyd for 12 and Jackson for 8. Fletcher (5) was next in and he was unlucky to get one that kept low on a pitch that was starting to offer more assistance for the bowling team. At 35-3 Oxted were in a bit of trouble and needed a good partnership. Nadeem Durrany and Fullard took their time, however they took advantage of any bad balls that were sent their way.

When Durrany was out for a good 36 from 39 balls, Oxted had moved on to 83. While Fullard continued to play fluently, Powell struggled to pick Moulton and was bowled for 5.
Ned lack was next man in and played his normal solid game.
Fullard was eventually dismissed for 36 and Oxted required just over 50. Alex Pizzey joined Lack and they complimented each other perfectly; Lack knocking the ball around for singles, while Pizzey took on anything in his arc showing the class that we all know he has.

Oxted crossed the line with 4 wickets remaining to take another 20 points. Lack finished on 21* with Pizzey 33* from 23 balls including 4 fours and 1 six.

Oxted and Limpsfield remain top of division 3 (287 pts). With 3 games left in the season, Oxted are already promoted but 2 wins will make them Champions. The next 2 games are against the bottom 2 sides with the final game against second placed Dorking.

Natterbox Man of the Match is Alex Pizzey for his brutal finishing display. Next week Oxted have their last away game of the season at bottom placed Horsley and Send.