2s beaten by the weather

In the rain and gloom, the 2s managed to get through three quarters of the match, but were ultimately beaten by the weather.

With the skipper losing the toss (again), Bearsted were asked to bowl first in a match reduced to 35 overs a side. On the magnificent new pitch at Marden, Jack Feehan and Harry Slevin opened the attack.

It was Harry Slevin on his way to his best Bearsted figures of 4-39 who made the early breakthroughs, removing both openers in his first spell. Chris Filmer (2-31) and the evergreen Mike Redman (2-15) took further wickets with Harry returning and picking up another two wickets in his second spell. The bowlers were supported by two good catches behind the wicket by John Savage. The Marden innings was anchored by a left handed in the middle order, who hit an unbeaten 82 in their 167/8 from 35 overs.

The Bearsted innings started in the rain, and things didn’t improve. Tim Croom (22) and Dan Skinner (5) were out before the players came off for rain. Play did get going again but the rain didn’t stay away for long. Once Chris Filmer (21) and Lee Harris (2) were out, Jack Feehan (22*) scared the opposition into submission by hitting some quick boundaries that the home team could not see in the gloom. Tim Lush (30*) batted through the innings to keep Bearsted on track.

The players shook hands with Bearsted on 111/4 needing 57 off the remaining 12 overs.

Bearsted take 14 points from the fixture and move back to The Green to entertain Speldhurst next weekend.