The beginning of November saw the start of the 2009 Indoor 6-A-Side League held at the Surrey Cricket Centre at George Abbott School in Guildford.  The fast-paced and explosive style of cricket this brings is always greeted with relish by players and spectators alike - think T20 x 10!

 

This was the fourth year Old Woking have taken part and this season saw them face the toughest challenge yet as the previous two divisions were merged into one.  OWCC had seen respectable finishes in Division Two in previous years but the cut size format now meant they were up against Surrey Championship opposition on a regular basis.  This was going to be a challenge...

 

The Winter League consists of eight teams who play each other once in win or lose games, 12 overs per side, and more runs and wickets condensed into an hours play than would be thought feasible

 

Old Woking's first game was against Championship side Sunbury and proved to be a baptism of fire as, batting first, they were looking to put on a par score of around 140 from their 12 overs but failed to reach 100 runs or see out their full allocation of overs.  Despite some accurate bowling from opening pair Aaron Leadley and Chris McKendry the result was never in doubt and Sunbury cruised home.

 

After a chastening defeat in the first game OWCC picked themselves up and prepared to take on Pyrford, a team fresh from winning the 1st Division of the Surrey Championship.  Talk was of frying pans and fires...  Again, having won the toss and batting first Old Woking struggled with the bat despite another good showing from opener Matt Prisco whose quickfire 25 meant he had to retire and watch his teamates efforts before being allowed back.  That didn't take long as opening partner Jon Cardy fell shortly after just shy of his 25 and there followed an all too familiar batting collapse.  This time Old Woking crawled just over the 100 mark (largely thanks to extras as anything bowled down leg is an automatic 3 runs).  Again the pace of Leadley and spin of McKendry kept Pyrford held back for a while but chasing such a low score was never going to present too many problems and so it proved.

 

Two games gone and two defeats but spirits were still high as the OWCC players relished the challenge of playing against a high class standard of opposition and knew they could give a better account of themselves.

 

That account did not come in the next fixtures against Guildford City or University of Surrey CC which saw defeats in both games.  They were much tighter affairs with the batting showing signs of backbone as skipper Dom Prisco added useful runs down the order and scores of 120 & 130 plus being posted.  There were elements of bad luck too as batsman Dev Grobelaar, drafted in as replacement for the injured Andy Dalton, was dismissed to a highly debatable LBW decision against Guildford City, and to a freakish run out the game after.  Things could have been much different had either of those not happened

 

Four losses out of four still could not dampen spirits among the players.  Some might put this down to blind optimism and an immunity to pain from having incurred heavy running defeats.  The players would say that during winter any cricket is worthwhile and played by the mantra - Some is Better Than None...

 

Game five and success!! Played against Pirbright, old foe from previous years in Division 2, and a game OWCC had targeted for a win from the beginning.  A disciplined bowling attack kept Pirbright to a score of under 140 and an allround batting display and some help from Old Woking's top scorer thus far - extras - meant Old Woking were off the mark.  Could the tide be about to turn?

 

No.  The final two games saw more top quality opposition and the pace attack of Merrow proved too much to cope with, despite a wonderfully entertaining, impudent knock of 50 from Aaron Leadley.  The final game against Guildford CC was a close encounter but the extra class from the Championship batsmen shone through as they made it over the line in the final over

 

A solitary win this year saw OWCC finish joint bottom of the league but with some fantastic cricket played and fun had by all we can already look forward to winter 2010...

 

Before the fireworks of indoor cricket can be resumed there is an entire summer of cricket to play and the members of Old Woking CC are already in practice with nets at the Royal Grammar School in Guildford on Monday Evenings.  Sessions run from 19.00 - 21.00 and players have the use of 4 nets and ECB coaches for only £4.00.  Players of all ability welcomed.