2011 Season can only be described as missed opportunities to gain promotion to 1st Div Cricket...Winning the “BIG” games and not taking all 20 points against the weaker teams in the League ultimately cost us promotion.

Having a fairly consistent team given the no shows and last minute holidays that let the team down, the nucleus of the team remained intact. New additions to the Team in Tom Neville, and a welcome return back to the club to Mick Roach and Mark Fenton and under the New Skipper Lee Merryweather promised to be a very interesting and entertaining season.

First up was Hampton on the Hill..Playing with 10men did not help – result lost by 5 wickets. A poor start, yet the mood was positive.

Next, travelling to Lingfield’s M1 track, Vandals did well to restrict Promotion Team Lingfield to 166 all out, with excellent dart bowling from Ash Aashay (5-24). Vandals to the crease, 1st over 1 wicket down..no runs on the board. 8 overs later, 2 for 37. Enter Tom Neville and the skipper to stop the rot and tee off, 170/3 off 28, what a win.

Next few games we played glorious cricket, the first being a Home game, welcome Ewhurst, thanks for coming 46 all out. Fenton 7/19 and Pompei 3/20.

A quick trip up to Battersea (104 all out), thanks for the 20 points (WVCC 103/3) and a reluctant Roehampton team holding onto the last wicket 50/9 were 20 points went begging and then the following week not being able to take the last wicket with Horsham holding on for 189/9 earning a well deserved draw. A similar game against Worpelsdon when Connor Baker lost 3 balls in his 102* bludgeon fest and the opposition holding out for an un-entertaining 123/7

Long Ditton cc again was a disappointing result for us as 20 points went adrift, with the calculator and the spirit of cricket and promotion hopes, less said the better.

Well, this brings me to probably the two best games of cricket I have played in. A strong Kingstonian 2nd XI, who were log leaders by 40 points travelled to Brownacres hoping to collect 20 points with the league’s top batsman...what a nail biter. The turning point being a brilliant catch by Umar Hameed to dismiss Hennayake for 38 stemmed the runs as Kingstonian declared on 212/6 after 50. Having to chase at 5 per over we reeled in the runs off 43 over’s for 3 wickets...Brilliant, another 20 points.

Last game of the season for Croydon who had the chance of promotion disappear the week before with a rained off game came to Vandals to collect their points they lost the season before, let me remind you Croydon, you playing the Mighty V’s. Croydon started well with deadly Fenton failing to make inroads and leaving it to Umar Hameed (3/15) to soften the top order. Croydon all out 188. Out march the gladiators Jim Chapman and Jim Sanderson to start collecting our 20 points...unfortunately they soon returned (17/2). Out strutted a very confident Tom Neville (400+ runs for the season) and an rejuvenated Matt Lord who decided to take on the attack of Croydon. Tom Neville striking the ball as well as he did from the start of the season deserved his first 100 for the club. Matt Lord skilfully changing the strike to allow Sockrates to decide the outcome of the game..20 points and a very credible 4th place for Vandals.

Many congratulations to Mark Fenton on a fantastic return season with 40+ wickets and deserved Top Bowler in the League award. Also congratulations to Tom Neville with over 400 runs and coming second in the league for most runs.

I would like to thank Dave Buckell and Maureen Fenton for scoring and to George Balchin for giving up his Saturday to umpire. A special mention to Team Manager Jamie Pompei for stepping up to help with selection and organising the socials. It’s been a great 2011 season, bring on 2012.