Claygate 1st XI started the 2019 season with a confident 35 run victory against Sheen Park and with a full 20 points are joint leaders of the Fullers Brewery Surrey County League Division One.

With the team short of a number of regular senior players due to the new skipper getting married (!), it was not clear how the team would perform, but the three regular Sri Lankans, Sanjeeva Witetunga, Sean Hadgie and Rajindhu Rodrigo all performed well to give the home side an excellent start to the season.

On cool bright day, and a number of sharp showers, stand in skipper Sanjeeva Witetunga won the toss and elected to bat. But it was all-rounder Tuan Hadgie who proved the match winner with both bat and ball.

Batting at 3, Hadgie compiled an excellent 73, well supported by Harvey Garnage and rising star Jake Murray. Claygate finished on 181 for 8 from their 45 overs.

On a wicket of variable bounce, Claygate were quickly amongst the wickets and at one stage had Sheen Park at 50-6, Rodrigo taking 2 wickets and Garnage 2. But it was Hadgie with the ball this time that dominated the end of the Sheen Park innings taking 4 for 15 in 8 overs to complete the visitor’s dismissal for 146.

After promotion last year, the 2nd XI start their campaign in a new league (2nd XI Division 2) next weekend.
The Sunday 1st XI also won with an excellent all-round performance and very similar scores to Saturday. Batting first Claygate made 179 from 40 overs and then dismissed Long Ditton for 150 in 39. A real team effort with no one taking more than two wickets or scoring more than 20 - although Alun von Koynenburg deserves special mention for a stunning catch!