Skinner could sense the frustrations of the skipper and told him not to play any silly shots. Skinner promptly got frustrated and played a silly shot being bowled for 4.
Tom Mullins came in at three and looked promising before being done by a complete lack of pace and spooning a cut into the covers.

Steve Pearce was in at No 4. It was perhaps not the sort of attack he was used to facing. He and the captain made hay, both scoring runs. The lack of pace in the bowling meant you had to do all the work. Skipper Croom was dropped when on about ten and was involved in a minor controversy when the off bail came off after he missed a ball going down the leg side which then hit the keeper. It was more controversial than it should have been, with the ball clearly having gone over the top of the stumps.

Pearce mistimed a half volley to point and was caught for 64. Simon Barker came in and got a swift 34.

Skipper Croom reached his century with another fine four. Remarkably, it was his was first ever century and was greeted with considerable joy by his teammates who appreciate not only his fine batting but all the work the popular Welshman (is that an oxymoron?) puts in each week behind the scenes. (Editor’s Note: where is our normal mickey taking match reporter? This is turning into some sort of sycophantic hagiography).

Shortly after, he departed, looking tired, for 106.

Jack Feehan hit a colourful 23 before looping a catch up. Herath and Gutteridge saw out the overs and we finished on 272 for 6.

After tea, Feehan(9-0-47-2) and Herath (7-0-42-0) opened the bowling and moved the ball around well. Keeper Savage, returning to duties behind the stumps after appearing as an extra in the remake of The Alien, kept well and took two catches.

Tom Mullins (6-0-21-1) bowled well getting extravagant swing. He would have had another wicket had not his coach Simon Barker not dropped a straightforward one.

The fielding was generally good, although after one of their batsmen pushed the ball into the covers and called a suicidal single we really should have had a run out. Keeper Savage forgot to run to the stumps. It would have made no difference though, as Steve (“JK”) Pearce, who picked the ball up smoothly, then managed to throw the ball back in a completely uncoordinated manner missing the stumps by a country mile.

Fortunately Pearce redeemed himself with an excellent spell of bowling (6-1-25-0), causing their left hander to play and miss repeatedly and was mightily unlucky not to get a wicket.

Richard Sargent came on and started with a wicket maiden, finishing with figures of (7–2-14-3). Lee Harris (6-0-24-2) had a rare spell and got two wickets with good catches from Mullins and Feehan.

Marden finished on 180-8 and our winning streak continues. Next week sees another home match, in the first of back to back fixtures against Pembury.

There are further photos from the match at https://www.flickr.com/photos/andythephotographer/albums/72157699180203084

League table https://kentcountyvillage.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=76585