2s beat Stonehouse

So dear reader, today we shall start our report with the sad, sordid, shambolic selection saga. Despite his recent starring role with the ball, and never having been dismissed in the League this season, skipper Croom had foolishly left out the match reporter.

After a sleepless night, tossing and turning (he was naturally better at the latter than the former) Croom realised his error and phoned the match reporter, repenting his sins and begging him to play. At 9.30am however your reporter was 40km into a bike ride. He stopped to take the call just East of Pluckley. Parapsychology students will know Pluckley as the most haunted town in the country. Bibliophiles will know it as the filming location for Darling Buds of May. Geologists will know it for its arenacious sandstone. Cyclists know it for its brutal hill that lay between our hero and his cricket game some 30km away.

The 2s were away at Stonehouse in St Mary Platt.

Skipper Croom lost the toss and was invited to field. In a desperate attempt to avoid abuse for losing the toss he claimed he would have fielded anyway.
Dampier and Brookman opened the attack.

Damps started with a rank long hop that was promptly despatched by the very accomplished opener Moyler. The next bad ball he received was also hit hard for 4 and he indeed looked like a man who was by a long way the top scorer in the League

However Damps bowled a beauty that caught the outside edge. Barker, behind the stumps, took a great catch low to his right.

The opposition seemed to lose heart with the early loss of their star bat. After 10 overs they were 28-1. Brookman was bowling really well from the other end. Three of his first four overs were maidens.
Damps bowled a double wicket maiden in his 8th over and took another wicket in his last over to finish with great figures of 9-1-22-4

Lush replaced Brookman and also bowled well. He took 3 good wickets for 29 runs including another snaffle by Barker. The keeper was on fire and ended up with 5 catches.

Tom Mullins replaced Dampier. He worked hard and tried his variations. His fine figures were 8-2-9-1. He could have had more wickets but one drive went in and out of Croom’s hands and another chance fell short of the onrushing Skinner.

Brookman took two wickets at the end including clean bowling their dogged No 3 who top scored with 29.
We fielded well and the home team were all out for 80 off 34 overs.

We opened our reply with Croom and Lush. Stonehouse bowled better than they batted but the two Tims looked comfortable. Lush showed he is more than just a steady accumulator unleashing some powerful drives. He holed out in the covers for 23 after a fine opening partnership of 63.
Barker was in at 3. Croom was soon out l.b.w for 33 having played some great shots including late cuts and cover drives
Filmer came in at 4 and we soon reached the target off 16 overs for a good 8 wicket win.