Saturday 1st July 2006:

Esher 243-3 declared (63.5 overs) lost to Dulwich 246-1 (53.4 overs) by nine wickets

A century by new recruit Jimmy Daley in only his second appearance for the club, well supported by former skipper Richard Farrow in an unbeaten partnership of 208 saw Dulwich to a comprehensive nine wicket victory at Esher.

The home side elected to bat and started confidently with 24 coming off the first six overs bowled by David Burton and Arshad Iftikhar. Burton struck in the seventh over removing Pakistan A batsman Sohail Ahmed for 13. Rob Hands then joined opener Ben Potter but the scoring rate slowed as the Dulwich pacemen applied the pressure. Potter never looked comfortable and fell to off spinner Nick Brown making his first team debut. Potter fell for 37 with the score at 102 with Hands already 48. He continued in a positive manner to reach his century off 138 balls, putting on 93 for the third wicket with Derek Lane. Burton returned to dismiss Hands for 101 and he and Iftikhar pressed for an advantage. Esher had sought to accelerate the run rate on a hot afternoon but were unable to achieve an acceleration.  Lane was stumped off Iftikhar for 73 and Esher declared shortly afterwards on 243-4 off 63.5 overs. Burton was the most successful bowler with 2-76 off 21 overs whilst Brown did well conceding only 22 off his first eleven overs to finish with 1-34 off 12 overs.

The reply Jimmy Daley and Anil Mahey saw off Esher’s two left arm opening bowlers to reach 38 in the 13th over when Mahey fell lbw to Sam Managei for 17. Daley was joined by Richard Farrow and together they resisted the efforts of six different bowlers as they took the score to 149 after 41 overs.

With 95 needed off 15 overs they accelerated to knock off the remaining runs with 14 balls to spare. Daley’s fine innings of 130 not out was made off just 165 balls while Farrow hit his second 50 in four weeks to finish on 76 not out off 125 balls.