2s WIN EASILY AT FOUR ELMS

Bearsted 2s travelled for the first time to Four Elms. It is one of those remote Kentish grounds that sends the sat nav into overdrive. It was though, worth the trip. The ground is in a beautiful bucolic setting with views to the North Downs and a pretty sandstone church (probably Victorian but your match reporter is no Nicholas Pevsner).

We had, on the face of it, a strong team but the season has been distinctly mercurial with some outstanding performances interspersed with rubbish ones.

The home skipper proudly announced that he never won the toss. However he had not yet met someone with the sheer tossing incompetence of our Tim Croom who, as ever, called wrongly. Four Elms chose to bat.

We opened up with the Lush siblings. Ben got some early movement. Alex looked sharp and bowled straight through his 9 overs conceding only 16 runs. He was very unlucky not to take a wicket. The pitch was in good condition but the ball was not coming onto the bat and there was precious little bounce. The pitch was big and the outfield rather slow so it was quickly clear that boundaries would be as rare as hens’ teeth.

Ben Lush (7-2-17-1) did manage to dismiss one of the openers who was clean bowled shortly after a very good shout for lbw was turned down.
Dave Latter (9-1-29-2) and Dave Charlton (5-0-15-0) came on to bowl well and kept it tidy. The opposition were struggling to get the ball away and scoring at about 2 an over.

Steve Horrocks was the pick of the bowlers with mightily impressive figures of 8-2-9-3. Gutsy came on at the end and bowled 2 overs for one run including taking one wicket.

Although we technically dropped three catches (Charlton, Barker and T Lush as you asked so nicely) they were all tough chances and the standard of fielding was much improved. Even the aged Dan Skinner was seen to throw himself full length to stop one ball. Highlight of the fielding was though an excellent diving catch by Andy West.

The opposition finished their 40 overs with a score of 89 for 7.

A truly magnificent tea was taken with home made sandwiches, scones and potato wedges amongst the delicacies on offer.

Tim Croom and Tim Lush opened the batting chasing down the target of 90. Again boundaries were hard to come by and the pair had to run more than they would probably have wanted.

The opposition bowling attack was not the fiercest we will face this season. Oddly they had two promising youngsters who did not get brought on until the later stages of our innings.

The two Tims kept the score ticking along nicely. Skipper Croom, being well aware of the expensive price of a jug of beer, kept a very close eye on his score. Lush was unbeaten on 38 whilst the wily Welshman ensured he ended not out on 48.

A fine 10 wicket win in 26 overs.