Cheam 290 all out

OW's 194 all out

Cheam won by 96 runs

Cheam skipper Danny Miller celebrated his 27th birthday in style with a dominant innings of 122 against Old Whitgiftians on Saturday as his side won by 96 runs.

An understrength OW's were no match for the strong Cheam outfit at Croham Road and the home team's problems were compounded with main strike bowler Jason Lewis being unable to bowl due to injury and Raj Chatwal being hit out of the attack early.

Cheam progress may have been delayed had Murtaza Hussain not shelled a caught and bowled chance from the dangerous David Houpapa when the Kiwi was on just 10 going on to make 68.

Laurie Evans removed Adrian Jones for 13 and then Chris Salmons first ball to raise OW hopes at 30-2 but thereafter it was left to Murtaza to keep a brake on Cheam with 5-92 from a marathon spell of 29 overs.

Cheam were bowled out for 290 in the 60th over with Miller about to declare.

Ali Ayyub and Laurie Evans played sensibly in compiling 54 for the first wicket in 14 overs before an out of sorts Evans was bowled playing round one from Leigh Harrison.

Ayyub fell soon after before Miller rang the changes using all three of his spinners.

Murtaza, Ali Raja and Sean Coughlan all made 20s before OW's lost three wickets with the score on 146 and OW's seemed reluctant to try to save the game with Luke Fisher making a carefree 34 from 25 balls at number 10.

Millers day was complete with a tidy spell of 2-30 supporting the immaculate Tim Scott who took 3-28 as OWs were bowled out for 194.

It was a better day for OWS on Sunday though as they recorded only their 13th ever victory in the 43-year history of the Rensburg Sheppards Cricketer Cup at Croxley Green, beating Old Merchant Taylors by seven wickets.

Laurie Evans hit an unbeaten 159 in 141 balls, only the fourth ever hundred in the competition by an OW player.

On an absolute belter of a batting track OW's skipper Sam Woodward lost the toss but did well to restrict OMT, who included Middlesex IIs player Ravi Patel in their line up, to 253-7 from their 50 overs.

Robbie Smith was run out for eight to leave OW's at 46-1 but Shan Malik joined Evans in an excellent stand of 121 with Malik making an attractive and very sensible 41 from 73 balls in his supporting role.

Evans was given a life when dropped on 21 in the fifth over but thereafter was in imperious form making his hundred in 101 balls.

He eventually hit 23 fours as OW's won with four overs to spare.

OW's will travel to the winners of Old Alleynians or St Edwards Martyrs in the next round on Sunday, July 5.