To infinity and beyond!

With the skipper away celebrating the Vice Captain’s nuptials it was all change for Bearsted 2s.
The opposition were local rivals Bredgar (me neither) who arrived fashionably late but were an amicable bunch throughout.
Bearsted fielded first on what looked a good track.
With the absence of a few decrepit old fogies we had a much more talented team than in recent weeks.
Steve Benjamin opened the bowling from the White Horse End. He started with a gentle full toss that was duly despatched for 4 runs. It got much better thereafter. His 8 overs, in two spells, went for only 16 runs with three maidens and one wicket.
Skipper Ben Lush asked Tom Mullins to open the bowling from The Oak end. Having been keeping wicket, sort of, for the past few weeks it was a concern whether he could remember how bowl. There was no need to be worried as he was in a good rhythm early on. Well, apart from a rank full toss first ball but if your senior pro does that why should you not follow? Mullins ended up with a very creditable 2 for 19 off his 8 overs. He would have had another wicket had he been a little sharper with a caught and bowled chance.
The first wicket was a catch taken by Skinner at mid off who, for once, got his feet moving in the right direction and his hands in the right place.
Latter came on first change and also started with a shocker that went for a wide.
The skipper Ben Lush bought himself on took a wicket courtesy of high catch at point by Lew O’Brien.
Horrocks came on from the top end and was “Orrible” to the opposition batsmen taking 4 wickets for 16 runs off 6 overs. He was bowling seam up and it was noticeable that in the 35th over we had three slips and a gully in place. He showed no mercy to the opposition’s 11 year old who he bounced out rather cruelly. He also had despatched the Bredgar numbers 3 & 4 who were their top scorers.
Jack Vening also bowled well getting two maidens in his five overs helping keep the pressure on Bredgar batsmen who were struggling to score.
Unfortunately our fielding, as ever, was far from perfect and we managed to put down 6 catches. Mullins dropping one off Lush was only fair though, after the captain had dropped a sitter off him earlier on. Savage was back behind the stumps as cheery as normal but did put two down.
Champagne moment in the field was awarded to “Old Kev” Mullins who made some ground and an excellent stop to a hard drive to mid off.
The opposition finished 141 for 8 off their 40 overs.
After tea, Ben Lush showed a ruthless streak and ensured there would be no nepotism on display. He told his Dad, Tim, that he was frankly past his best and he was going to open the batting with younger and more athletic players.
Latter and Skinner duly went out to start our reply.
Bredgar opened the bowling with H Wood from the White Horse end. He was exceedingly useful and rather wasted at this level. He generated a very lively pace and regular sharp away swing. Just as the batsmen were almost used to that, he started jagging the occasional ball back into the right handlers. One delivery beat Latter’s bat and pad as well as somehow missing the stumps, bails and keeper. The openers realised that it was just a question of trying to survive at that end. Skinner, who had hit his second ball for a gorgeous straight boundary then spent the next ten overs leaving the ball or playing and missing.
Fortunately Latter was timing it well off the other bowlers and kept the score ticking along. In one over he hit four boundaries.
Latter got an inside edge onto his pads and then the wicket and was bowled for 33. The partnership was worth 46.
Horrocks came in and immediately looked in form. He viciously despatched anything short of a length including hitting two fine sixes. He quickly went to his half century. Having done so he announced to his partner that it was “death or glory” and noted there were lots of others who wanted a bat. His charge down the wicket indeed looked glorious but sadly he missed the ball and was bowled for an excellent 51. The partnership had amassed 88 at a good strike rate.
Lew O Brien came in next with youthful enthusiasm. Fairly quickly he played two nice cuts to the boundary and we had romped home by eight wickets off 26 overs.
The stunning victory, caused by the much improved selection, must surely cast doubt on whether the Skipper and Vice Skipper will be able to pick themselves in the future.
And your earnest match reporter would like to point out that that as he has only been allowed to bat once all season, and finished 32 not out, he looks down the table at the rest of the supposedly superior batsmen with a season’s average of infinity.