Gaieties v Oxted 29/05/2022

After inserting Oxted under changeable skies, our opening pair bowled masterfully, Harry repeatedly beating the bat (and sometimes taking the edge) and Robbie attacking the stumps to prise out two early wickets. Som settled into a tidy spell while Finlay, replacing Harry after a brilliant ten-over burst, unnerved both bats with bounce and swing. After 25 overs, they were 88-2: honours about even. But Som immediately removed their opener and Finlay their five. Then debutant Charlie Shephard, after a tricky first two overs, proved golden armed: mixing up his lengths, he ran through the lower middle-order with aplomb, Robbie at the other end returning to collect two more victims. Both ended with four wickets apiece. Oxted folded: 182 all out.

Our chase began well, JT looking especially elegant with a series of drives before one found a fielder. We continued to score at a healthy rate, though Shomit fell to a suspect LBW decision and Charlie Cooke played round one. With 20 overs to play, we needed exactly 100, skipper and James Waddington at the crease. After a testing period, James found his range spectacularly, dispatching their spinner (including a six) and then turning his focus to a young seamer, who he boshed straight down the ground. With three to get, and on 47, he didn't quite clear mid-on - leaving the final runs to the captain, who eased away a gentle delivery, securing the win with three and half overs to go. A very pleasing all-round performance