Horley duo start the season with a century
Two batters made centuries for Horley 1st XI in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday, but the match was abandoned early due to rain. CP Singh, back for his third season as Horley’s overseas player, hit the ground running, retiring on 101, and Andrew Thomas, who has been away in Canada since the autumn of 2023, made a dream return, retiring on 102.
Ewell were the visitors to Horley Row and home skipper Regan Derham elected to bat first. He opened up in partnership with late call-up Thomas on a sunny afternoon, with conditions that almost looked perfect for batting.
The pair got off to an absolute flyer, with neither opening bowler being able to sustain any period of pressure. Derham and Thomas were putting on a clinic of how to put away the bad ball, bringing up the team’s 50 and 100 in six and 13 overs respectively.
Soon after both openers reached 50, Khurram Naseer (2-57) made the breakthrough for Ewell, getting Derham (56) to chop one onto his own stumps via a deflection off his leg. This brought Singh to the crease, just a few days after his arrival from India. Unfortunately for Ewell, the run rate didn’t look like it would be declining, as he picked up where Derham left off.
Even the introduction of spin didn’t deter the two left-handers at the crease, still picking off runs with relative ease, and bringing up 200 in 26 overs. Singh reach his 50 in just 37 balls and looked like a man intent on doubling that figure, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground. Thomas was going about his business at the other end and although he had slowed down a little, he was still striking at a run a ball. He brought up his 87-ball century with a four in the 28th over, taking his boundary count to 18 before retiring and receiving his standing ovation, with the score 219-1.
This brought Henrick Cook to the crease, one of Horley’s promising colts, who was looking to spend some valuable time in the middle with Singh, who was still making every shot look effortless. They brought up the 250 in the 31st over. Ewell were still trying everything they could to budge Singh, but it was to no avail and he reached three figures in the 35th over, hitting 11 fours and five sixes and retiring on 101 after 60 balls. Having not hit a century last season at Horley, he was surely delighted to make such a good start in 2026.
With Horley well placed at 283-1, Richard Waddington (26) was the next man in. Cook wouldn’t last long after Singh’s retirement, falling for 13 with Naseer getting his second of the day.
Cook was replaced by another promising young colt, 14-year-old Tom Jowett. After last weekend’s excellent bowling display in a tough game against East Grinstead, this week Jowett got to show off his prowess with the bat, making 44 not out with some brutal hitting in a 25-ball knock that saw him hit seven fours and one beautiful straight six back over the bowler’s head.
Waddington lost his wicket in the 42nd over to returning opener Ryan Carlin (1-39), then Jowett and Guy Derham (six not out) saw out the rest of the Horley innings, with 372 on the scoreboard by the time 45 overs had been bowled.
Ewell’s response got off to a flyer thanks to Abdur Rab (68 not out) who rode his luck in the first over, skying one that Charlie Robins unfortunately couldn’t cling on to. He cashed in, as after two overs Rab had moved the score on to 39, with 28 of those coming solely off the second over, with Guy Derham being the unlucky bowler.
An early change to Robins didn’t make the difference that Horley were hoping for as boundaries kept flowing for Rab, who brought up his 50 in just 15 balls. Adam Stephenson (1-13) managed to make a breakthrough at the other end, getting Mustafa Qureshi (17) caught at long off by Will Taylor.
Both teams knew that the weather was going to play a part, with steady rain forecast from 4pm onwards, and right on cue, the players were taken off after 7.2 overs, with Ewell 99-1.
Unfortunately, the game had to be abandoned, but it was still a good run-out for Horley, who are looking forward to starting their Surrey Division Four East season next weekend when they travel to Purley (12 noon).
Horley 2nd XI’s friendly match at Kingstonian was also abandoned during the second innings. The hosts were dismissed for 240 from 37.3 overs, with Ollie Holman taking 3-40 and Chris Webber, Ryan Smith and Aidan Baigrie grabbing a pair of wickets each and Shrey Vaid one. Matt Ware took two catches and Liam Adams and Dean Martin one each.
In reply Horley were reeling at 27-5 after 10.5 overs, so were saved by the rain. Martin was their top-scorer with 10. They will hope for a much better showing next Saturday in their first Surrey Division Eight East match of the season, against Epic CC, at Horley Row (12 noon).
Horley 3rd XI’s hopes of starting their Sussex Division 10 West season with a win, after just missing out on promotion last year, were thwarted by the rain. Play had to be abandoned with Horley on 42-0 in reply to 114 all out by Ram 3rd XI at Copthorne.
New Horley skipper Rob Rigby put Ram in and Dan Sired gave them a great start, taking a top-edged caught and bowled off the second legal delivery of the first over.
He struck again in his next over, bowling Danny Patel, and Horley’s other opening bowler, Dave Childs, had Pinkesh Desai caught by James Simner in the next over.
Ram were reeling at 8-3 and two catches by Dan Farmer off Childs made that 29-5 by the end of the 12th over, but Drew Limbachia and Kirat Patel then dug in for Ram to take the score on to 64-5 at drinks, with first-change bowlers Oscar Davies and Justin Moutinho both unlucky not to take wickets, as lbw shouts were turned down and a catch or two was spilled.
Rigby made an inspired bowling change after the break as Kieran Childs had Kirat Patel caught by Farmer for 12 from his first ball and, after just missing out on a diving caught-and-bowled next ball, Kieran Childs then had Dilip Chauhan caught by Davies for a duck.
Sired returned to the attack three overs later and a good catch in the deep by Moutinho finally accounted for Limbachia for 22. Sired struck again two overs later, bowling Mehul Patel and reducing Ram to 78-9.
Sired (4-25) was unable to pick up his fifth wicket in his final over and Ram put on a frustrating last-wicket stand before Sired grabbed a catch off Dave Childs (4-18) to end the visitors’ innings on 114.
Openers Abhas Bhardway and Farmer gave Horley’s reply a steady start and they were well on course for victory at 42-0 from 12.2 overs when the forecast rain got heavy enough to end the match. Farmer’s 23 included a beautifully timed six over long on.
Horley had to settle for 12 points for a draw. However, they were pleased with the great performance by their bowlers, an attack which included Henry Waller (three overs for eight runs) making his 3rd XI debut at the age of 12.
Horley 3rd XI are at home to Littlehampton, Clapham and Patching next Saturday (1pm).