Sat 12th July - 1st XI v Esher

DULWICH 138 (61.2 lost to ESHER 141-3 (24.1) by 7 wickets

A depleted Dulwich side lacking several first team regulars struggled against Esher in the Premier Division of the AJ Sports Surrey Cricket Championship, and went down to defeat by seven wickets.

Dulwich elected to bat, but lost their first three wickets to the seamers in the first ten overs for just 16 runs. Skipper Ollie Steele and Harrison Perry steadied the ship, putting on 39 in 20 overs for the fourth wicket, but found scoring no easier against the spinners who gave nothing away and found some turn. Steele went for 25, off 71 balls, and Perry 21 off 69 to leave Dulwich on 66-5 in the 36^th over. This brought together Tim Raglan and Josh Allan, who put on 59 in 13 overs for the sixth wicket. But Allan’s dismissal, having made 21 off 48 balls, was quickly followed by Raglan, whose 37 had come off 59 balls. Young spinner Freddie Harrison then worked his way through the tail to finish with 6-35 off 16.2 overs, while veteran slow left armer Dan Taylor finished with miserly figures of 1-25 off 19. Dulwich had lost their last five wickets in 13 overs for just 13 runs, to be all out in the 62^nd over for 138.

Dulwich once again opened their reply with pace at one end and spin at the other, but could not summon the same degree of accuracy as their opponents. Acting skipper Teague Wyllie withstood the pace of Harvey Booth at one end, while Ollie Hunt laid into the spinners at the other. Joe Payne dismissed Hunt for 52, scored off just 44 balls, with the score on 88. Nicholas Smit joined Wyllie and they took the score to 115, whereupon Felix Watson-Smyth, who had been mauled by Hunt in his first spell, returned to the attack and dismissed Wyllie for 34 with his first ball and took a return catch with his second. But these were the last successes as Smit, with 41 not out off 35 balls, saw his side to victory after just 24.1 overs.

Dulwich take no points from this game and are now 33 points adrift at the foot of the table. Next week they visit Reigate Priory, who are currently fourth. Dulwich will be looking to avenge their heavy defeat in the first match between the sides.