Just one week after Dorking claimed a narrow win in the first leg, the two sides met again for a hotly anticipated return fixture. On a fine Wednesday evening at Dorking, both teams served up another close contest that went right down to the wire. With the match in the balance until the final ball, Newdigate held on to win by just four runs — a fantastic response and a great advert for junior league cricket.

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First Innings: Dorking Batting

Dorking came out positively, playing their shots and building good partnerships across the innings. They scored 96 runs off the bat, but Newdigate’s bowlers kept chipping away, taking 8 wickets, which ultimately proved decisive.

Wicket-takers included Samuel, who claimed two, while Isla, Adam, Arthur, Jacob, Thomas, and Georgina each took one. The most economical bowlers were Samuel, Arthur, and Jacob, all conceding just 7 runs from their two overs. Despite Dorking’s strong running and intent, the pressure from consistent bowling kept their total in check.

With 40 runs deducted for wickets lost, Dorking finished with a net score of 256 — an excellent target in the format.

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Second Innings: Newdigate Batting

Newdigate started strongly through Poppy and Isla, who put on a composed and energetic opening partnership worth 25 net runs. The second pair, Samuel and Arthur, followed up with 16 more, keeping the run rate healthy.

The middle overs saw Georgina and Adam encounter a difficult spell, finishing with –4. That left the game delicately poised as the final pair, Jacob and Thomas, came to the crease with work to do.

Under pressure, they delivered — adding 23 net runs through clever placement, aggressive running, and clear communication. They saw out the final over and secured the winning runs on the very last ball.

Newdigate, like Dorking, lost 8 wickets, resulting in a 40-run penalty. Their 100 runs off the bat gave them a final net score of 260, enough to win by a margin of just 4 runs.

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Final Result

Newdigate U11 won by 4 runs

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Reflections

This was an excellent league fixture — competitive, respectful, and played with heart. After losing the previous match, Newdigate showed outstanding resilience to turn things around in the return leg. Dorking once again proved themselves a tough and talented side, and both teams contributed to a brilliant evening of cricket. The result came down to the final delivery, and everyone involved should be proud of the performance and spirit shown.