Season ends with heavy defeat

West End Esher 128 for 3 beat Old Cranleighans 126 (Hill 40) by seven wickets

What has been in many respects a frustrating season ended with a heavy defeat at West End. The on-field drubbing was largely offset by a lovely setting and an excellent post-match BBQ.

With a weakened side containing several faces who no longer play regularly, we never got to grips with some decent but not devastating bowling on a far from tricky pitch. Several batsmen perished to horrible shots, and at 75 for 8 it appeared likely the game could be over before the charcoal was even lit. But Damien Hill, horrendously hungover from his birthday celebrations the day before, swung to good effect against the secondary bowlers before missing a full toss, adding 35 for the ninth wicket with Martin Williamson and scrambling us into three figures.

The ever-dependable Mike Chetwode struck early, actually removing a stump from the ground for the first time in years, but we did not have nearly enough depth to the bowling or runs on the board to threaten an upset. Nigel Radbourne rolled back the years with his offspin to claim a late wicket, and a daft run out engineered by Gareth Starling and aided by Tristan Rosenfeldt removing the bails in advance of receiving the ball gave the scoreline a smidgeon of respectability.