Beddington v Wimbledon Saturday 7th May 2016
Limited Overs – 50
Beddington – 226 – 7 (50 overs)
Wimbledon – 229 – 5 (40.2 overs)
Wimbledon won by 5 wickets
Despite being well beaten by the usual very strong and talented Wimbledon Side there were enough positives particularly with the batting, to show that Beddington’s 8th placed finish can be bettered this time around.
After a number of years in charge, Ryan Cummins has stood down and new captain Simon Lewis showed his offensive intent by winning the toss and deciding to bat. Fawad Ahmad got off to his usual flamboyant start, cutting Smuts to the point boundary.
He and David White put on 47 for the first wicket before Fawad was yorked by Smuts for 24. White soon lost Skipper Lewis caught behind, but after a slow start became more fluent. He and Tom Bevan put on 33 for the 3rd wicket before White was bowled by ex Surrey spinner Spriegel. Bevan looked very comfortable at the wicket before being out for a handy 34. Then began Beddington’s bet partnership of the day. Last year’s overseas player Kyle Moolman and new partner Tommy Roy batted with a mixture of calm consolidation with tempered aggression.
Their partnership of 93 in 20 overs ensured that Beddington had something resembling a competitive total. Most of the aggression came from Moolman who already looks a more accomplished player than last year. His innings of 73 contained 2 boundaries and 3 sixes. Roy batted stolidly and his contribution of 27 was essential to the cause. When the overs ran out, Beddington finished with 226 – 7.
Fernie and Swan opened the Wimbledon innings and survived several close calls against Cummins and Bevan both of whom were unlucky to beat the edge on several occasions. The introduction of spin in the 12th over was something of a mixed blessing though. New boy Anthony (AJ) Jose came on to bowl his leg breaks and his first over went for 11 runs but he did manage to trap Fernie LBW. Enter Wimbledon’s Overseas South African Smuts. Smuts has 9 first class centuries 15 half centuries to his name and it showed. In only his second over he heaved AJ for 4 massive sixes and all of a sudden a fairly decent start began to make the target look more straight forward.
Swan and Smuts put on 84 for the 2nd wicket before Swan was caught by Simon Lewis at mid-wicket off Moolman Soon afterwards Arun Butler had Smuts caught on the long on boundary by Dan Lewis with the score on 155 – 3. Spriegel was LBW to Cummins but Leith and Brown took Wimbledon most of the way there with Brown showing the main aggression before Leith was stumped by David White to give AJ his second wicket. Too little too late though and Wimbledon ran out worthy winners.
Beddington’s batting looked pretty solid but the bowling on the day, apart from the openers, was not quite up to scratch although Butlers 1-15 off 5 overs was a good effort. The fielding at times looked very laboured but this will, I’m sure, improve as we get into the season.
Next week the 1st X1 are away at Normandy and will be looking for their first win of the new campaign.
