Cricket: Streatham & Marlborough convincing winners against Woking & Horsell

BY NATHAN WILLIAMS

Streatham & Marlborough overcame last week’s disappointment to convincingly win at Woking & Horsell in Surrey Championship Division 1 last weekend.

SMCC won the toss and opted to bat. Their choice paid dividends with openers Dan Ellis and John Ormesher putting on a formidable opening wicket stand of 201 with the latter notching up his maiden ton for the club and in the process putting the hosts in the ascendency.

Ellis (93), averaging 62.75 this season, gracefully played his shots before falling cheaply just seven short of his century.

The hosts managed to stem the flow of runs with Tom Slater, Dom Friel and Matt Pickles all falling for scores below double digits as SMCC looked to post an imperious total. With a score of 250-plus in sight, skipper Neneto Davis approached the crease and hit a quickfire 25 not out in customary fashion, aided by Jake Oakes (11) leaving SMCC with a commanding score of 269-6 from their 50 overs.

Despite a mammoth total set by the visitors, Woking & Horsell set about chasing the score down in the right way by hitting 27 from the first three overs before opener John Hargan fell for 13 off the bowling of Oli Nicholls (2-43).

The wicket of Hargan set the tone for the rapid loss of wickets, with only fellow opener Henri Peters (66) showing any glimmer of hope to chase down the authoritative total set.

However, when he fell victim meagrely off the unnerving bowling of Lawrence Hannaford (1-34), the hosts were left in a perilous position. Spin partner Raj Singh (3-46), ripped through the tail to all but seal a plain-sailing victory for the visitors.

Jake Oakes (1-25) secured the win, removing number 11 Phil West for seven to bowl the hosts out for 189 in 47.2 overs.

The win propelled SMCC to third in the table and they host fourth-placed Cheam this weekend, aiming to secure their fourth win in five league outings.