Brilliant chase secures win for 1st XI

Dorking headed to Oxted for their next Surrey Championship Division 2 encounter. Oxted won the toss and decided to bat on a good looking wicket, under clear blue skies. Fresh from his 7 wicket-haul the previous week, Danny Douthwaite struck with the first ball of the game with Cutmore having his off stump taken out. It was 26-2 when the dangerous Lloyd was caught brilliantly by Kenway at point, but with Jackson at the crease Oxted were still confident. The classy opener capitalised on anything lose and despite being missed behind the stumps in the 20s, went onto record an impressive 50 to leave the home side well placed. Spinner Myers was introduced into the attack and struck a crucial double blow immediately after the drinks break. Both wickets, Cleaver and Dalziel fell to the wiley leg spinner LBW. Powell and Jackson put the home side back on track with an attacking partnership but Myers once again broke a threatening partnership before it was able to do too much damage. Jackson reached his hundred off 140 balls and alongside Adamson took the home side passed the 200 back. A late flurry of runs ensured Oxted finished with momentum and completed their 55 overs on 236-7.

With 45 overs left in the match, Dorking were dealt a early blow with Tom Lister going LBW to McIlwraith with the score on 12. Erasmus carried on where he had left on from the previous 2 weeks and looked in fine form once again. Johnson (21) played fluently in his first game this season and the score moved rapidly onto 62 before TJ fell caught at cover of Ross Powell. Douthwaite joined Erasmus at the crease and put together a match changing partnership of 120. Both were positive against spin and punished any poor bowling. Douthwaite's 64 came off balls and really changed the momentum of the game. Brad wasn't to be overshadowed however, and also reached his 50 off 52 balls. The game swung when 3 quick wickets fell to leave Dorking on 195-5 still requiring 41 from 8 overs. With the defeats against Walton and Kingstonian still fresh in the mind, the nerves were there but with Erasmus still there-the side were still confident. Erasmus was joined at the crease by the skipper and despite struggling to get going the two batsman managed to get the equation down to 30 from 30. Blood then put his foot down, striking 4 fours and 1 six in a positive innings. With 6 to win, Erasmus reached his second league hundred in three weeks from 117 balls which included 9 fours and 2 sixes. Blood (30*) finished the game with a 4 through cover and Dorking had won by 5 wickets. A fantastic 24 points.