2s beat Locksbottom

Saturday saw league leaders Locksbottom as the visitors on The Green.

With the sun shining, not even a football induced early start could throw the Bearsted captain off his usual routine, which was quickly demonstrated as he lost yet another toss. To the surprise of almost everyone, Bearsted were asked to bat first on a fine looking track on a baking hot afternoon.

Vice captain, Chris Filmer had overlooked the early start and only appeared about 15 minutes before the game started, which was just enough time to pad up and opening the innings with Tim Croom. After looking comfortable, Croom (11) chipped one to cover.

Richard Luxton (21) and Chris Filmer (63 - mainly late cuts) took the score to 98 before they both fell. With Dave Charlton (4) following soon after, it was left to Steve Pearce and Sam Luxton to rebuild. Pearce (26) played some nice shots before being on the end of some variable bounce and only able to top edge to the keeper.

The next partnership was key as Sam Luxton started to play his shots including some lovely lofted drives, and Jack Feehan (31) started to play Chris Filmer’s shots, unfurling a number of dabs and cuts, before eventually landing our only six.

Sam Luxton (48) playing in his first senior game of the season fell just short of a richly deserved half century when he was bowled in the final over off the innings. Bearsted closed on 222-7. Game on.

After a good tea, Harry Slevin (3-12) took the new ball in his first Saturday league game of the season. In an injury curtailed spell, Harry bowled some excellent swinging deliveries, but also bowled two short leg side deliveries that the batsmen insisted on guiding into the hands of Ian ‘Stokes’ Gutteridge at square leg.

Despite a regular fall of wickets shared between Steve Horrocks (1-49), Sam Luxton (1-24), Ian Gutteridge (2-51) and Dave Charlton (2-25), the visitors were always in the game, before Jack Feehan (1-27) returned for his second spell and finished the innings via a Steve Pearce catch, to secure a 31 run win in a good game of cricket.

The result leaves Bearsted fourth in the table, with a visit next weekend to second placed St Lawrence.