It’s been a long time coming, four seasons to be precise, but Mike Taylor’s gallant third XI celebrated promotion as they despatched visitors Warlingham with a 92 run victory at Alexandra Rec.
Having lost the all important toss for the ‘umpteenth’ time this season, Epsom set out to post a suitable total inside the normal fifty overs.
As Dave Hewitt straight drove the first ball powerfully for four, the intent was clear. However two balls later a similar shot without the feet movement saw keeper Lunt snap up the in form opener leaving the home side at 4-1. Youngster Jack Waters (36) showed a cool head to then build a solid 63 stand with Rohit Shah over the next sixteen overs before playing back to the pacey Pizzey and being bowled. Whilst Shah accumulated “Burke style” ones and twos, Rob ‘beefy’Kempson (29) smashed three big sixes adding forty seven in just nine overs. His departure was to a brave return catch to Pizzey as the batsman launched into what would have otherwise been a certain boundary. Just ten runs later Shah then fell six short of his half century, with the score on 124, trying to open up with an attacking drive that was snaffled up by the opposition skipper at cover. So with two new batsmen in with four wickets down, the Warlingham tails were up. But Baker, together with his skipper had other plans, steadying the innings. They proceeded to stroke a controlled 65 run partnership, with Baker taking the premier role. When Taylor was bowled by Pizzey for 22, Baker continued to plunder the bowling reaching his well deserved fifty in just eleven overs. When he became Pizzey’s fourth victim with his score on 62, the countback showed there was only one single amongst his tally. (before the mathematicians raise a query, he managed a five following an overthrow).
Steve Hewitt’s whirlwind unbeaten 25 from six scoring shots, including three sixes rounded off the innings to allow Taylor to declare at 240 for 6 off 44.5 overs. Pizzey’s four wickets cost him 71 runs in an 18.5 over stint, as Dunning tried seven bowlers during the Epsom onslaught.
Warlingham looked to make an attacking start with both openers looking to take on Steve Hewitt and pace man Mark Kasey. 23 runs in by the eighth over and a Kasey short ball was taken on by Lunt. The bat was too slow for this quickie resulting in a catch swallowed up by Hewitt (D) at mid on. Hewitt (S) the younger in his fifth and sixth took over the wicket taking mantle by snapping up three wickets without conceeding a run. The first removed Cambell’s off stump, followed by a diving catch at backward point by Baker and the third being a first baller to claim Thapar with a ‘salmon’ catch at gulley by the ageless Taylor.
Kamal Desai took over from Kasey’s first spell, enjoying almost immediate success. His second over saw the number five bat’s stumps rocked, followed two overs later with a pair, which included another gulley catch for the skipper and another fist baller to dismiss Fuller. Meanwhile, Vincent had doggedly remained at the other end of falling wickets, taking on all of the Epsom bowlers with differing degrees of effectiveness. The West Indian accumulated a brave half century including four sixes. But although on track for a potential century, Desai put paid to that aspiration clean bowling him for 72 in the thirty fifth over with the score on 127 and the end of the visitor’s innings in sight.
Warlingham’s six middle order batsmen had all been dismissed without scoring, so a valiant 30 from club chairman Paul Clarke did offer a glimmer of resistance, whilst Desai rounded off his invaluable contribution with the ball claiming a five wicket haul at a cost of 40 in a ten over spell. When Clarke finally offered up his wicket to the Hewitt duo, which saw Steve doing the catching off Dave’s only second ball, having just replaced Desai, the match was won, 13 points in the bag and promotion secured AT LAST.
Putting feet up for Winter is now a well deserved reward for the lads, with the 2010 season a long way off, but knowing it will be in Division ONE is so comforting.
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