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Match ReportsDulwich 3rd XI v Cheam 3rd XI (away) 16 August 2003 Cheam 272 for 9 in 55 overs (K.Brown 82, M.Gardner
56, J.Speer 4 for 81) Dulwich could not force the win against a young (very) and aggressive (very) Cheam side and had to settle for a winning draw. Meanwhile, on the main pitch, David Ward was setting a new league record with an incredible innings. Looking disorganised and unenthusiastic before they started, and struggling near the bottom of the table, Cheam were put in to bat. But once out in the middle, they looked much more together. They started slowly on a small ground, and a great batting track, so that when opener Gardner needlessly gave away his wicket (the first of two stumpings by Ralph Tomlinson off David Woods) the score was 94 for 3 in 29 overs. Glen Bowley then picked up three quick wickets, but was also a little expensive. With Cheam at 133 for 6 after 36 overs, Dulwich looked in prime position, as a score of 250 was surely needed. It was then that captain Brown really opened up and played shots to all parts, dominating a stand of 80 for the seventh wicket. When he was out, M.Patel (remember the name), surely no more than 12 or 13, came in and took on the returning openers, Speer and Marshall. Cheam decided to bat out their full 55 overs and ended up 272 for 9 - 139 runs coming in the last 19 overs, which shows just how easy it was to score, and also that the Dulwich bowlers weren't quite on the mark. As the Dulwich innings began, the atmosphere became decidedly heated. In the first over, the bowler shoulder barged Tony Cable, which was always likely to be an unequal, catchweight contest. More verbal abuse followed, and the scene was set. Cable focused on punishing Cheam in the best way but fell on 40 in 32 balls when he was out to take the score to 69 for 3. Responsibility now fell to Sunil Mahey, who added 77 with Clive Saunders (19), during which time he reached his fifty in just 44 balls. With 22 overs remaining, just 127 runs were required. Woods (33) then joined him for a partnership of 69, as the pressure on both sides mounted. Sadly, Sunil was out for 93 (90 balls, 15 fours, 3 sixes). It was a superb innings in the face of some serious provocation, and some good bowling. If his running had been a little more aggressive, then a century could have been his, but nothing should take away from his mature performance on the day. Soon after, skipper Harmer called off the run chase as Dulwich settled for a winning draw. Next week Dulwich host twelfth-placed Old Whitgiftians, with bottom-placed Sanderstead to come as their last game. Dulwich are just one point behind Old Wimbledonians (who have to play Dorking, in 17th, and Leatherhead, 14th) and 21 ahead of third-placed Woking & Horsell (who face Worcester Park, 4th, and Old Emanuel, 13th), so six points in the last two games will guarantee Dulwich promotion.
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