Newdigate Sat 2s enhanced their chances of a top 3 finish this season by beating Weybridge Vandals by 116 Runs on Saturday. Newdigate were asked to take first use of a green track, and the openers got off to a cautious start but put on a 32-run partnership in the first 10 overs which was quite pleasing to watch.

However, with the introduction of Srikanth Kandukuri into the bowling attack saw the visitors slump to 41 for 3 as he accounted for the top 3 batters in his first three overs. He was moving the ball late and prodigiously, so the incoming batters needed play him on merit. Skipper Ruky Wickremasinghe and Darren Drew then got together and started to hold off any further advances from the Weybridge bowlers and safely saw them to the first drinks break mark. 60 for 3 in 23 overs was a cautious start with an acceleration needed in the second half.

From there onwards both batters started to play a bit more positively and punished the bad balls that were offered by the change bowlers to push the run rate up. Drew was a good foil to his skipper and has shown that he could put on partnerships throughout the season. By the time he was dismissed for a well made 35 runs in the 37 the over, the partnership had moved on to 113 runs which was much needed to assist the late order bash for Newdigate. This partnership ultimately would prove to be a match winning one.

Tom Gross (20*) who too has had an excellent first season with Newdigate joined Wickremasinghe and put on a further 75 runs in 7 overs. He ensured that his skipper was supported in his pursuit of a first league ton this year. With one over to go Wickremasinghe went on to bring up the magical 100 mark with a big six over the mid-wicket boundary to the great cheer of his teammates. His 115 not out pushed his tally of runs for the season beyond the 560 mark and cemented his position at the top of the run scores table for the league. Newdigate ending on 228 for 4 wickets at the end of the allocated 45 overs. Kandukuri with 4 for 28 was the pick of the bowlers.

The Vandals run chase didn’t get off to a good start for them as they lost regular wickets and soon found themselves reeling at 35 for 5 inside 15 overs. Sean Roast (1/11), Paul Bettesworth (2/24) and Laurance Down (2/21) all bowled excellent lines and lengths in their respective spells to provide Newdigate with the start required in defence of the total.

The sixth wicket pair of Freddie and Glynn put on a 47-run partnership to provide some resistance from the home side, but this was soon put to a halt by Ben Crook along with Chris Halvitigaladon as they accounted for the last five wickets to fall. Halvitigaladon was on excellent bowling form and was easily the quickest on the day. He was unlucky not to come off with more wickets than the 2/5 in his 7 overs. Crook finishing with 3/21.

The 4th win in six concluded matches for the 2s in the second half of the season put them in the mix for a possible 3rd place finish providing they beat Old Tiffinians this coming Saturday and if a couple of the other results that could go their way does. Exciting times given the start they had earlier in the season!