Epsom CCF ( Combined Colts Force: all U13) 84-6 (20 overs) - Claygate 38 all out (12 overs)

A confused and much re-jigged Epsom line up, bereft of scouts, cadets and those off on holiday, but bolstered by two U11's and one U10, finally arrived at Claygate; almost all before the manager who had made the schoolboy error to drive past Chessington World of dis-adventures on the way to the match on a bank holiday weekend.

Epsom lost the toss and were asked to bat on a very uppity downy pitch that would ask you to play straight and correctly. Alex Minhinnick and Joby Baker opened the batting and progressed well until Joby, obviously influenced by the recent gymnastics on telly, went for the 540 degree spin pull with half pike and was bowled while still gyrating towards square leg. Alex soon followed after a couple of flashing shots to one that kept low, playing on; to be immediately followed back into the hutch by Fraser Buchan-Davis not moving feet, bat or pads to the 'straight one'. Suddenly 27-3 was 28-4 when Ethan Woodcraft top edged a pull to square leg after looking in really nice touch. In a bit of a pickle Epsom sent in the fast bowler, Ollie Timpson, and U10, Ben Berry, who rebuilt the innings left in tatters by their predecessors. Mixing lots of leaves with some good stroke play the pair batted for 9 overs adding 38 runs, the outfield a tad slow especially near the boundaries under the oak trees, until Ollie missed a straight one. George Crellin joined Ben and pulled his second ball straight to short square leg, a tad unluckily to be well caught. Double ben time with Ben Wiffen joining Ben Berry at 68-6 with four overs left, the total seemed a tad light. The pair tried to chase the runs, once luckily escaping a run out /pile up, I believe the modern parlance is 'bundle', until on the last over Ben W teased the bowler with five play and misses to finish the innings with a four down to a very fine third man. Epsom closed on 84-6, looking shy at least 20 runs.

Replete with squash and sugar the combined colts took to the field, Ollie Timpson and Harvey Dennis leading the attack. Ollie bowling a maiden, Harvey bettering it with a wicket maiden. Ollie then bowled the other opener before a run had been scored. Two more tight overs followed until the sixth when Harvey chiselled out the number 4 batsman, Fraser juggling the catch to just make sure everyone noticed his fielding skills, leaving Claygate at 12-3. George Crellin who had been uninvolved at mid on until this point now joined in with gusto with a throw from half way to the boundary, a direct hit on the stumps chopping Claygate to 12-4. Better/worse, depending on the team colours you were waving, was to follow. Abith Kamal and Lawrence Dennis (U11 and younger bro of Harvey) now took up the attack. Three wickets fell in two overs leaving Claygate on 20-7 and Lawrence having now upstaged his brother with a double wicket maiden. Not content with tiing in wickets with his brother Lawrence took a third wicket in his second over and now joined by Elliot Baker (U11) went to clean up. In his third over he ran for a return catch off his second ball colliding with Ethan and had to retire hurt. Ben Berry took over the rest of the over, not only completing a maiden, but also taking a wicket and Elliot made sure the last wicket was his, bowled, Claygate finishing on 38 all out.

Highlights: Ben Berry's 21, the Dennis brothers combined figures of 5.2-2.2-5-10, Alex Minhinnick 4 catches

Man of the match - Lawrence Dennis and his ridiculously good bowling figures of 2.2-1.2-3-2