Doward smashes 66 ball ton at Weybridge
Weybridge 131 all out (Mohammed 4-16)
Jesters 135-0 (Doward 103*) Won by 10 wickets
At 102-1 off 20 overs with two strong batsmen well set, it looked like being a very long, hot day in the field at Weybridge. But a game-changing spell by Adnan Mohammed (4-16 off 8 overs) laid the home side to waste and Nick Mumby (or 'Bambi' as he was named in the Weybridge scorebook!) merrily mopped up the tail.
To the shock of all Jesters and the sizeable home crowd, the small target was knocked off inside 20 overs by Ollie Doward, who smashed 103* off 66 balls (16 fours and a six), and Rob Dancey. Captain Hillyard's account follows...
The Jesters ran out easy winners against Weybridge CC, cruising to a 10-wicket win. After losing the toss on a scorching day, Weybridge made a good start, scoring freely against opening bowlers Berman and Hillyard. At the halfway stage they had moved on to 102-1 and a big score looked on the cards.
However, fine spells from Adnan Mohammed (4-16 off 8 overs), debutant Will Ellison-Smith (2-29) and Nick Mumby (2-12) tore through the Weybridge line-up, whose collapse was positively Jesters-esque. The last eight wickets fell for 30 runs, leaving us 132 to chase.
Freddie Popplewell, also making his debut, impressed with the gloves and Sahil Kehr took a sharp one-handed catch at slip to get rid of the home side's star bat. The target could have been even smaller had we not dropped a cornucopia of chances, though identifying the guilty parties here would be somewhat churlish.
In response, Ollie Doward and Rob Dancey put the Weybridge bowling to the sword from the very first over.
Ollie Doward cuts for four to bring up his 50
Doward in particular unleashed a fine array of shots, cutting and driving to the fence with glee. He raced to his fifty off 29 balls and, despite being put down by a Jesters sub fielder (this individual’s third drop of the day), stormed his way to a century off 66 balls.
Dancey, batting with odd pads after ripping one in half (see below), provided able support. Doward finished with a magnificent 103* (16 fours and one six), with his opening partner on 27*, as the Jesters romped to victory in the 19th over in front of a very decent crowd of Weybridge members and sunbathers.
Many thanks go to Weybridge CC for agreeing to the fixture at the last minute after Newdigate's late cancellation and to club president John Burmester for turning up to support the team.
England's most recent Test debutant Sam Curran struck six sixes in an over at Weybridge last season