Match reporter takes a catch and the headlines......Poddar scores a classy hundred

REPORT BY DAN SKINNER

Bearsted travelled to Hadlow with renewed confidence despite last week’s defeat. 30 players declaring themselves available meant selection dilemmas for the first time in living memory. The selection committee clearly got some decisions wrong, initially dropping your trusty match day reporter. However after massive public outrage, a petition, emergency debate in the House of Commons and with an angry mob descending on the skipper’s house, Tim Croom realised the error of his ways and called him back into the fold (Editor’s Note. We had a late cry off and he was the only one we could get hold of).

The drive into the ground and car park at Hadlow resembled a quagmire and it was apparent that there had been a lot of rain in the past few days.

Skipper Tim Croom lost the toss as usual (what do the Welsh know about cricket?) and we were inserted on a flat but sticky wicket. Batting was not easy with the bounce initially slow and inconsistent.

Tim Lush was caught for 16 after stretching to reach a wide ball. Skipper Croom was bowled for 15 by an absolute peach of a delivery, angled in sharply pitching on off stump straightening and clipping the top of off stump.

Barker looked good but played too early on a ball heading down leg and managed to toe end a catch to the keeper, departing for 11.
Chris Filmer’s normally impeccable timing was out of kilter on this track and having looped up several chances departed caught for 15.
We had reached 66 after 20 overs.

Clearly no-one was going to be able to score easily on this pitch especially with a longish boundary and damp outfield. Or so we thought.
Abi Podder arrived and looked annoyingly classy right from the start. A selection of classical drives and destructive back foot pulls suddenly made it all look very easy. He was ably supported by Steve Horrocks although “Horrible” would perhaps have rather not had quite such a hot day on which to run so many 2s. When Horrocks departed exhausted for 22 Jack Feehan came in for a brief cameo smashing 11.
Podder reached his undefeated century in the last over and we had posted an imposing 213.

After another fine tea, Ben Lush and Jack Feehan opened the bowling. Both bowled really well and got through their 9 overs unchanged beating the bat on numerous occasions. For once Feehan got the wickets he deserved taking 3 for 14 off his nine overs. Lush had clearly upset his fielders who dropped two chances and he ended wicketless but only conceding 25 runs.

The Hadlow batsman hit a few fine blows, especially their hard hitting No 3 and their talented skipper but were always behind the run rate.
Wily Steve Horrocks replaced Feehan and showed the benefit of a tidy line and length taking 4 for 12 off 7.2 overs.
Redman at the other end was also impressive, taking 3 for 20 off his 5 overs including a sharp catch in the gully by Skinner (skipper Croom noting that the fielder was so surprised by his own effort that he actually shut up for once).

The opposition were bowled out for 81. The game had been played in a good spirit throughout and they were excellent hosts.
Highlights off the day included keeper Savage joining in the discussion about whether the stumps had been put in too close together and announcing “yes you should be able to get a ball between them”.

Low points in the day included Chris Filmer parading on the boundary after his dismissal, semi naked, for the rest of our innings wearing only a skimpy under garment last seen on the stage in Raymond’s Revue Bar in Soho. The club would formally like to apologise to our scorer Helen and our two lady spectators and can assure them that disciplinary proceedings are being launched against Mr Filmer. If any of the players or supporters have been affected by the incident the club has arranged for counselling to be provided.