Esher CC 3rd XI
This year Esher’s 3rd XI will be playing in the Surrey Championship Division 8 Central under the captaincy of Angus Barrett. Last year the 3rd XI had many great wins and cultivated an extremely enjoyable culture. This year Angus will look to lead the 3rd XI in much the same way. By playing a high standard of cricket and using a great mixture of youth and experience the team will hopefully make waves in the league and push themselves to improvement game after game. The new league will also allow 2nd XI hopefuls to prove themselves to selectors and allows the club to continue to expand its already impressive depth.
Overall, the main priority is enjoyment and inclusion, with young and old mixing harmoniously on the field and off. Young players will be able to cut their teeth in the men’s game while receiving guidance from the more experienced players. The amazing atmosphere fostered in previous seasons will continue in full force, and hopefully we will win some games on some glorious sunny days along the way. See you at Imber Court.
3rd XI Captain: Angus Barrett (contact details TBC)
Please see below for the 2024 Season Report.
3rd XI – Season Report – 2024 (Dan Dickenson)
The 2024 season was a strange one, we were well up there in the title winning positions but losing crucial games and a bit of rain effectively ended our charge. Usually, the end of the season when all the talented youngsters come back is our most profitable, but that didn’t manifest itself this year. But that’s cricket.
We won 4 out of our 5 opening games, losing to a decent Malden Wanderers side, so were well placed at second in the first 3rd of the season. Unfortunately, our selection pool was sparse for the crunch match for top of the table Banstead, who we had beaten in one of our two warm up matches convincingly.
That was not the case this time and we were comprehensively slain with Banstead reaching 187 for no wicket, a humbling defeat.
We then had a nailbiter with Old Ruts, the spin twins extraordinaire of Parky and Shiv Patel bowled them out for 79, surely, we could win this? We did, but 9 down…thanks to young Ayan Sohail hitting the winning runs.
Rain called off our Sutton match, which was annoying as Banstead our closest rivals managed to get a game, how I don’t know, they must have taken a leaf out of EMCC book…
Beddington are the whipping boys of the league, I’m not sure they ever got over 100 in any match, so when we bowled them out for 77- thanks to 14-year-old Orson Jones, and the brilliant Park n Patel bamboozle brigade…more about them later. We decided we really wanted to get home for lunch and watch the 2’s …send in Winder and Adam Helwick, son of the great Darren Helwick…. C Winder 65 off 35, Helwick junior 9 off 34…you can see the aggressor there. A 2-hour match.
We won the next v Wimbledon but was a nailbiter again…thinking that 121 was not really a competitive score, we bowled them out for 102, a combination of Jack Fletcher and yes you know it Park n Patel…this is getting nauseous!
Then comes some of the worst captaincy in the history of Esher v Malden Wanderers at their junior size cricket pitch he decided to stick them into bat! They reached 306 of 54, clearly knowing our firepower. Sadly, our said firepower was more Christmas indoor firework, and we got rolled for 141. Blame the captain!
We drew the next game v Dulwich, just not having enough to bowl them out frustratingly. The following two matches we scored over 600 runs, with Darren Helwick and Andy Mac, combining to devastating effect to destroy Sunbury. Darren reaching 88 off 112 and Andy “Hold it back” Maccalum hitting 71 off 56.
The next match was even better, we fortunately had the pleasure bestowed on us of a certain Mark Hopkinson, who got a very stylish 50. Josh DeVal unfortunately perished on 46 but the two destroyers of Sunbury spanked Old Sinjuns to all parts, 128 red from Darren Helwick and 111 red from Andy Macc, a more sedate innings…they renamed themselves “Very Old Sinjuns” after that innings.’
Rain cancelled the crucial match v Banstead, much to Banstead’s joy, as we had a gun team that day and would have comfortably spanked them. This kept us in second but only just.
This left the last two matches to get as far up the league as possible, and at 3rd we were well poised…somehow, we managed to not win the last two, v Old Ruts and Sutton. No reason, just let them get away with a few too many runs and we didn’t engage partnerships well enough, but that as they say is cricket…
We end up 4th for the 2024 season. Played 18, Won 11, Lost 5 Rain 2
Some mentions…
Darren Helwick (455 runs) the run machine is always consistent and has proven he can bat 2’s in the Prem and comfortably in the 3’s, thank you amigo.
Parky who is also a consistent wicket taker, batter and nice bloke, well done on all three accolades. Finally, Charlie Winder for skipping the back half of the season and proving that a young athletic talent is far superior to a 52 year old has been.
Thank you team it’s been a blast.
3rd XI player of the season
A special mention to a young lad in Shiv Patel, he’ 14 and was the highest wicket taker in the club, but for the 3’s he finished with 30 wickets (highest) and a best of 5/10. Well done Shiv you are a fine prospect not just in your talent, but the whole way you go about cricket, even when selected for a lower team you got on with it and proved yourself straight back into the 3’s again…a fabulous example.