GW 1 v Guildford (H) - 90s from Hughes and Soni ensure a winning start to the Chieftains campaign

With the season reduced to 7 weeks, cricket is coming thick and fast and everyone is eager to get out onto the green to represent Sunbury CC! Sunday 19th July saw the first competitive fixture for Sunbury in the 2020 Season, as the Chieftains took on Guildford in Tier 1 of the Surrey Trust League. Guildford ran out winners of the competition in the 2019 campaign, defeating Banstead in the final, as Sunbury lost in the plate final to Valley End.

Alex Hughes, having lost the toss, led out a young Sunbury side entering the unknown of cricket matches with social distancing and sanitisation breaks. Guildford started strongly, as the new orange ball ensured value for shots, as if there isn't enough on offer for the batsman at Sunbury's beautiful ground. Garrett (70), Lawson (38) and Geffen (60) all got starts for Guildford, as the Sunbury bowlers struggled to find a breakthrough, with Guildford moving to 182-1 off 30 overs. However, Hughes fresh off the back of a 4-fer in an East Molesey friendly the day before, broke the partnership, and as often is the case at Sunbury, a flurry of wickets followed. Greaves and Ramesh (4-64) were both amongst the wickets, as Guildford failed to make the use of a hugely promising platform, though still posting a competitive total of 237-9 off their 40 overs.

Knowing chasing 240 would not be an easy task, Sunbury openers Ed Hughes and Rajan Soni saw to make use of the 8 over powerplay, however, 1st XI bowlers Bashir and J McMillan began tightly and consistently. Hughes however opened the gates hitting McMillan for two boundaries in an over, before Soni struck 15 off McMillan's following over, as the openers took Sunbury's score to 50 off the powerplay, before Hughes (20) fell unfortunately and dubiously lbw to Bashir. H McMillan then dismissed Matt Harpur for a duck as a strong start seemed to be wiped clean at 59-2, as Alex Hughes strode out to bat at number 4. For those familiar with Sunbury and the acts of Alex Hughes, it is common knowledge that he is one of the cleanest hitters of a cricket ball going, however, this was not common knowledge for the Guildford side, who were hit completely flat by Hughes' ability to clear the boundary with such ease. 14 boundaries followed, including eight 6s, as Hughes smoked the Guildford attack to all corners, in a partnership worth 147 with second-fiddle Soni. Hughes eventually fell seeking another maximum, ending an innings which lasted just 59 deliveries and brought 93 runs, completely breaking the back of Guilford's total. Aaryan Pillai (14*) then joined Soni (91*) at the crease, as the two ensured there would be no surprises, taking Sunbury home with a huge 8 overs to spare.

The win echoed Sunbury's intentions to compete for the Trust League title in 2020, and would be put further to the test next week, against a Camberley side that defeated Valley End on the opening weekend!