The Rogers minus a few key individuals were pleased to see stand in skip Rich H win the toss and choose to bat in the 1000 degree heat. Rich & Hally looked to be seeing off the new ball fairly comfortably until Hall fell to the last ball before the first drinks break after 10 overs. Hollo came in and looked immediately in good form swallowing up anything short and smashing it away. Rich hit some neat shots before falling for 31 to bring in Rich Davey who was given out because the umpire heard a noise (never mind he was nowhere near the ball!) Hollo then rather unnecessarily danced down the track and departed for 28 and the rest of the innings was mainly bits and pieces, a few nice shots from Al Moffat, Rob Bastin and some Lording but a final total of just 132. The wicket was very average, two paced and sometimes high bounce sometimes low plus by far the worst outfield we’ve seen this season with more undulations than an Augusta green but we should have got 30-40 more all the same with too many getting out to loose shots.

With tea not ready (despite us facing 38 out of 45 overs) we had to take to the field. Runs weren’t easy to come by with some excellent Lording and Zach bowling well but Effingham reached tea 32-1 with Lord taking the wicket well held by the retreating Holman who had just moved himself to cover that very ball.

We left the field for tea to be greeted by complete silence, not one clap, thanks! Egg sarnies plus proper coronation chicken (see this Chaldon….) lifted the mood as well as a zingy lemon cake (2 slices consumed). The crisp choice was a shocker though with a very cheap take on Doritos and those weird round white ‘crisps’ you only ever see at your Grandma’s at Christmas.

Back out we strode some lifted by having Jesus as captain in FPL. Young Tom ‘Whispering Death’ Ranyard, after a quiet first over before tea, found his gear and whistled a few through on the dead surface forcing a play on and Lord having another caught by Holman after one spat from a length. No5 was almost caught first ball before the moment of controversy which pretty much killed the game as a contest. Effingham were overheard at tea saying how poor the league was and in their desperation to make sure they leave it a decision was made that beggared belief. Their opening bat Adam Iqbal, now at square leg umpire, who had picked up 4 wickets mainly with utter filth probably didn’t appreciate just how many of us in the field could see that when no5 turned back going for a 2 was both a yard short and had his bat 20cm above ground. It was so far out it was embarrassing and the next few minutes descended into farce (well certainly in my mind!) We all give our teammates the benefit of the doubt if we possibly can but this was just plain ridiculous and in a generally well mannered contest completely unnecessary. So rather than being 51-4 the wickets column remained unharmed.

For the record the guy who was out then hit a few while the opener continued to defend and nurdle as they reached the 132 target in 28.3 overs. Leo bowled some good balls and good to see the skipper steaming in at the other end.

The 2 points gained did see us out of the bottom two with Long Ditton having a free week but with Guildford City winning again there is much still to play for to keep our 2nd division status and the last day clash at LD looking decisive.