A boarding A boarding - Epsom College

Tom StandenMatt NolanAfter lunch, it was off to the ZayedCricket Stadium, the ground used byPakistan for Test and ODI games. Inspiredby the venue, the College side dismissedZayed Academy for 153 with Harry Allentaking 4 wickets and Nick Williams 2. Inreply, Myles Pittam was dismissed for a wellcompiled 36 before Matt Nolan joinedHarry Allen to see Epsom through to aconvincing 9 wicket win.The following day saw another early startwith a visit in the morning to the BurjKhalifa, the world’s tallest building, and amatch against Repton School Dubai, therecently opened satellite school of Reptonin the UK. This match was a real test ofEpsom’s progress as Repton had beatenReigate Grammar a few days earlier.The boys certainly showed they were upfor the challenge. The College side battedfirst and scored 182, with Myles Pittam topscoring with 42. Epsom then reducedRepton to 35 for 6 with Alex Watermanreturning figures of 5 for 14 in an outstandingspell of fast bowling. The Reptonnumber 5 caused Epsom a few flutters withsome powerful pulls and drives before JackGriffin weighed in with three wickets tosecure a 33 run win.The euphoria of the win against Reptonwas shortlived, however. Thefollowing day Epsom posted 130 for7 against Dubai College in theirallotted 25 overs. In reply, DubaiCollege showed exactly how toplay this format of the game,racing to their target with the lossof just one wicket. A painful lessonbut a useful one nonetheless.After a rest day spent at the WildWadi Waterpark and the DubaiJazz Festival, the final day of thetour involved a match against ayoung and talented DesertCubs team. Batting first, theCubs were pinned down by theEpsom bowling and were restrictedto 137 in their 30 overs.The Collegeside finished the tour on a high noteby knocking off the runs for the lossof 3 wickets to secure a 7 wicketvictory.AlexWatermanFor coaches Taylor and Hobbs, comingout of the tour with a positive record ofthree wins to two losses was a bonus. Morepertinently, a number of areas have beenidentified where further work is neededto ensure that the College can competeeffectively on its regular circuit in thelimited overs form of the game.To this end, group skillssessions are being initiatedto help players gain a greaterinsight into the game, and anappreciation of the need for regularpractice and training, and moreHouse matches will be played duringthe summer to encourage greaternumbers to play.The College is also fostering closerlinks with Surrey County Cricket Cluband its Player Pathway programme in aneffort to push more players through toCounty representation. 1st XI captain HarryAllen is already part of the Surrey Academy,while fast bowler Alex Waterman is in theSurrey U17 squad and M4 Ben Holder amember of the County U14 team.Lent 2013 The LINK 13