A strong batting performance saw Epsom post 246 in 50 overs vs Oxted & Limpsfield. The Oxted response started well and they kept pace with the rate for much of the innings. However with some excellent death bowling and wickets falling at the end they were just unable to get over the line, giving Epsom the winning draw.

Epsom were looking to improve on a below par performance last week, with Oxted & Limpsfield the visitors to Woodcote Road. Despite their lowly league position Oxted had enjoyed an improvement in form of late and Epsom knew this would be no easy task.
Skipper Stanger won the toss and elected to bat. The sun was shining, it was hot and sticky and the outfield, devoid of all grass, looked lightning fast. All in all, a perfect day to bat first. Nickels and Allen opened up, hoping to repeat the mammoth opening stand of two weeks ago. The Oxted openers bowled tidily and Epsom progress was steady at first. Woodward in particular bowled an excellent line and length and proved difficult to get away (7 overs for 7 runs). Allen fell to a good ball from the other opener Green and Watts came to the crease. As the ball softened and the bowlers tired the odd bad ball began to be bowled and the scoreboard started to move. Oxted elected to take the pace off with their first change bowling but the scoreboard continued to tick along as Oxted couldn’t quite find the consistency required. A number of good balls would be followed up with a loose one, Watts in particular punishing any variation in line and length.

At this point there was a brief pause for an incident not often seen on a cricket field. Watts was disturbed by a butterfly flapping round his head and retreated to square leg to swat it away. As he returned to the crease the butterfly followed. Several more violet swats graduated into some lusty swings of the bat. The butterfly hit the deck and Watts put in a couple of Roy Keane-esque stamps for good measure. Remarkably, the butterfly rose, phoenix like, from the assault and it took another swish of the willow and some grinding of the studs before the winged warrior was finally subdued. With the drama over (and some of the younger members of the opposition no doubt mentally scarred at the incident they had just witnessed) the game continued.

Chaos theory states that a butterfly flapping its wings can potentially have a major effect on some other unknown future event. In this case, the butterfly incident had the feet of spurring on the Epsom batting line up who now sensed a big score. Nickels fell for 60 but Patel joined Watts and continued to keep the board ticking over. Watts also then departed for a well-made 60 but Epsom were now approaching the last 15 overs with wickets in hand and could play with freedom to push towards a big score. Naturally this meant that wickets fell more quickly but all batsmen played in an unselfish fashion, pushing on to score runs. Abeywickrama, in particular looked good for his 20, including a beautiful uppercut for 6 into the road. A couple of good strikes from Dunn at the end saw Epsom declare on 50 overs with 246 on the board.

The players escaped from the heat and took an excellent tea. Chocolate cake and bacon rolls in particular went down well as Epsom prepared themselves to field. Although 246 was a strong score, the conditions were very much in the batting sides favour and Epsom knew a strong performance would be required to clinch the win.

Stanger and Dunn opened up and bowled some good areas. However opener Durrany had clearly taken it upon himself to get Oxted up with the rate from the start and he kept the scoreboard moving with some unconventional, but effective swipes through the covers and over mid off. Dunn took an early wicket and Epsom managed to stay on top, despite the efforts of Durrany, as the other batsmen was not moving the scoreboard along. Compton and Dunkerley came into the attack and fielders were posted to cut off the scoring areas from Durrany’s scything blade. However, to his credit, he adjusted his game and began to deflect the ball into gaps to keep the scoreboard moving. Despite bowling lots of good balls, Epsom couldn’t seem to string them together and Oxted always seemed to find a boundary when needed to keep them up with the chase. With Oxted now two down (Compton with the wicket), skipper Stanger turned to the spin of Abeywickrama and Beswick. Pace off seemed to do the trick and Beswick soon had Durrany caught by Dunkerley for a crucial 88. Epsom now sensed an opportunity but Starling and Lloyd for continued to bat sensibly, run well and kept finding the boundary. Oxted approached the last 10 overs needing just under 6 and over to win with wickets in hand. Given the way they were playing and the challenging conditions for bowling they looked to be in the driving seat. Epsom knew wickets would be the key to disputing the chase and Abeywickrama had Lloyd caught at mid on by Dunkerley, to keep Epsom in the game.

Stanger now brought himself and Dunn back on to bowl the crucial last few overs. Oxted continued to move the scoreboard and keep within 6 an over. The turning point came when Starling was bowled by Stanger for an excellent 53. Suddenly the new men for Oxted could not keep the board moving in the same way and some outstanding bowling from Dunn and Stanger, backed up by good fielding, saw the run rate rising. Further late wickets from Dunn sealed the game and Oxted finished 8 runs short, on 239-8. Dunn the pick of the bowlers with 3-47 off 14.

Although only getting the winning draw, Epsom could be pleased with the performance, especially keeping it together in the field when under the cosh and keeping cool heads in a pressure situation at the end. All in all it was an excellent game of cricket, with a results possible right to the end and played in a competitive and friendly spirit.

Next week Epsom travel to Worcester Park, looking to keep the promotion hopes alive with a win.