2s lose to Gravesend 4s

So the sun dawned on a new season of cricket. Indeed it was shining gloriously above the Green, even if the temperature did not match the azure sky.

It was the first try out for the new square after it was relaid over the winter. All credit to Simon Barker for his tremendous efforts. It looks lovely and has removed some of the climb up to the raised table.

The 2s welcomed Gravesend 4s who, like us, had a mix of youth and experience.

Our Leader, being Welsh insisted that the opposition should play with a man down for most of the game and with the umpires giving us dubious decision. It transpired though this was not the 6 Nations and both sides were entitled to equal numbers and competent match officials.
Croom lost the toss of course. The opposition chose to bat.

Steve Benjamin opened from the bottom end. He bowled incredibly well. It’s fair to say, if he is going to be available regularly for the 2s this season we are absolutely delighted to have him. He bowled 8 overs of which 3 were maidens conceding only 9 runs. He swung the ball away at pace with the occasional ball angling in. After beating the batsmen on regular occasions he finally found an outside edge. The ball went towards your trusty match reporter who moved low to his right and carefully watched the ball into his hands. (Editor’s note: the decrepit match reporter then carefully watched the ball slip out of his hands onto the ground, leaving Benjamin cruelly wicketless)

Leo Charlton opened the bowling from the White Horse end. He bowled well with some movement but with a few too many short balls. His 6 overs went for 28 runs.

He did find the edge of the opposition captain. It was heard all around the ground. The ball was safely taken by John Savage behind the wicket. Surprisingly it was given not out. With hindsight their skipper may wish to reflect on whether he should have walked.

Simon Barker replaced Charlton. It was perhaps not the finest we have seen him bowl and his 4 overs went for 39 runs. He did though take the first wicket after the young opener looped a drive up to Chris Filmer.

Jack Feehan replaced the unlucky Benjamin and bowled the opposition skipper.

The Gravesend no 3, Mali, was a gloriously correct young batsman playing some powerfully timed shots. He scored a rapid fire 87 before he was run out by his partner, foolishly taking on the fine arm of Charlton.

The opposition sent in their young keeper at 4. He played some good shots before being stumped by Savage off Lou O’Brien. Well the scorebook says Stumped. The ball actually bounced off John’s gloves back onto the stumps and seemed more of a run out.

Feehan went for 61 off his 8 overs. He showed his traditional early season rustiness. He’ll be fine once the league season starts.

Filmer bowled a couple of overs. Dave Latter proved more expensive than usual conceding 52 off his 5 overs.

The best of the rest was O’Brien who with some cunning flight took 4 wickets for 3 runs off his 2 overs. In fact the last ball of the innings was missed by the batsman and Savage whipped off the bails with the batsman’s foot clearly over the crease and he should have had a “5 for”.

Apart from Skinner’s dropped catch the low point of the innings was Barker letting the ball trickle though his legs for a boundary. High point was the skipper swooping in from mid off picking up the ball and nearly running out the batsman.

Gravesend finished on 221 off 35 overs.

During the innings a minute’s silence was held for Prince Philip.

After tea, Croom and Latter opened the batting. The opposition had a useful opening attack. One bowling quickish left arm over with some swing. The other getting late movement in. Croom was bowled for 4 by a beauty from the left hander.

O’Brien came in at 3. He promptly stepped in front of his stumps and was despatched lbw for a golden duck. Filmer came in and supported Latter well. He scored a quick 46 before missing one off the spinner that kept low.

Simon Barker was next in to face the spinner. He stepped across his stumps and carefully left the ball. Unfortunately it turned and bowled him behind his legs while he shouldered arms. Barker looked in disgust at the wicket as if it was at fault. He then realised it was the wicket he himself had laid and departed ruefully for a golden duck.

Haggart scored a quick 13 before holing out to a bad ball, Charlton looked technically correct for 10 not out, while Latter finished unbeaten on a great 86.

We were though well short of the total needed finishing on 182 for 5.

Full scorecard at https://bit.ly/32rwx8M