Match Report

Match Report

After a difficult start to the season, the 2nd XI recorded an important, morale-boosting victory in a tight game with local rivals Farnham Common. A superb spell of medium pace swing bowling by Imran Ishaq, who picked up six wickets, ultimately proved too much for the visitors, as Wooburn gained their first win of the season.



Wooburn were surprisingly asked to bat in warm, humid conditions, Farnham possibly taking early season form into account. However, openers Angus Porter and Derek Milsom proceeded to give the Narks their best start of the season, adding 69 for the first wicket. Batting was not easy on a slow turning pitch, and grafting was the order of the day, particularly against the mean off-spin of veteran Kingsley Woodland.



It was Woodland who struck the first blow, when Milsom failed to get over a drive and was well held at mid off. Angus celebrated a milestone birthday with a gutsy, determined 51, laying the foundations for a solid Wooburn score, before he too fell to Woodland. Alan Cuthbert made a solid 29 in the middle of the innings, to keep the score moving, and there were important contributions from Imran, Stuart Savage and finally Rob Hall, who helped move the total up to 175 after 52 overs.



For Common, Woodland bowled superbly in a spell of 18 overs, using the conditions well to take 4-46. Seamer Tariq Khan also chipped in with three wickets, but Farnham knew they faced a challenging target.



The Farnham innings also started reasonably well, against some testing bowling from Imran. Jenson, somewhat fortunately, drove his way to 25 before his luck ran out and he hit the ball into his foot and onto the stumps. Meanwhile, his partner Bassi, patiently occupied the crease, frequently playing and missing, but opening his shoulders when the opportunity arose.



Common reached the halfway stage with just one wicket down, but still requiring over 100. They had the wickets in hand, but it was never easy to force the pace, and gradually Wooburn came into the game. Botha, who looked in good touch, was well taken at fly slip by the returning Rob Rogers, soon followed by Blore. A tiring Bassi, exhausted after an all-run three, then lofted Rogers into the safe hands of Rob Smith at long on, and the game was back in the balance.



Two further wickets put Wooburn on top and brought Khan to the crease with 60 still needed. The tail-ender proceeded to apply the long handle to good effect, peppering the area of deep mid wicket with some huge blows. The match appeared to be tilting back in Common’s favour when Rogers struck again, Khan departing leg before.



Angus Porter then rounded things off with two sharp stumpings off Imran, to give Wooburn victory by the slender margin of 11 runs. Imran finished with the excellent figures of 6-58 from 22 stamina sapping overs, well supported by Rob Rogers’ 4-56.