Otford see off 10man 2s

MATCH REPORT BY DAN SKINNER

With skipper Tim Croom unavailable Chris Filmer took the reins for this clash between two teams who had started the year well.
Unfortunately Bearsted could only muster 10, one of whom was a hobbling wreck. The great news was four of the team were a remarkably youthful and athletic bunch from the Colts who together brought the average of the team down to a sprightly 63.
The pitch was good but the large outfield was long and it seemed clear boundaries would be tough to reach.
Winning the toss we chose to bat.

Skinner and Tim Lush opened up. Lush having returned from a trip to Barbados had a distinctly Bajan approach opening his shoulders with some glorious offside shots. Skinner struggled with a gammy foot and a youthful opening bowler who was giving little away and getting some lift.
Both openers departed and Simon Barker came in and played some aggressive shots in a valuable fifty.
Young Tom Mullins showed a fine classic technique before departing for 20.

Otford turned to some nagging slow bowlers including one youngster who took 4 good wickets showing the benefit of bowling line and length.

We were all out for 157 in the penultimate over. The total looked a little short but was defendable.

Jack Feehan opened the bowling down the slope and yet again did not get the rewards that some excellent bowling deserved.
Simon Barker opened up the slope but with a nasty RSI based hand injury was unable to grip the ball properly and was retired from action after one over. That meant one of the youngsters would have to step up to the plate and boy did he do that. Tom Mullins hit the mark right from the start finding the edge of the opener’s bat. Tim Lush took the first of three catches with some adroit back pedalling and a fine one handed effort.
Unfortunately the young Otford No 3 was dropped early on and went on to make a fifty but otherwise the effort in the field, particularly from the four youngsters, was excellent. One brilliant run out by Tom Mullins showed the talent on the field. The luck was not with Beatsted though with several chances dropping just out of reach.

Particular mention should be made of stand in keeper Skinner’s one legged performance behind the stumps. Highlights of a curate’s egg of a performance included the two occasions when Feehan shaved the stumps and the keeper threw his hands up in excitement whilst forgetting he was supposed to stop the ball, thus incurring byes. Filmer and Lush bowled well and Mullins and Feehan returned for good second spells but our total proved to be a little short. Otford won by 4 wickets with three overs to spare.

A disappointing loss but it does show the future is bright for Bearsted if we can keep developing our youngsters.