2s defeated by Farningham

Bearsted hosted Farningham 2s on the Green. Which, surprisingly for this time of the season is looking rather green.
Lots of unavailability and two late drop outs meant we called up two from U13s. More of them later.

Your match reporter, who sees himself a loquacious wordsmith, would like to tell the story of the skippers going out to toss. But it is hard to create a tense narrative, and build up some drama, when the audience already knows the outcome. Yes indeed, Farningham won the toss and Tim Croom’s side was asked to bat. Forecast rain meant the game was reduced to 35 overs.

The usually parsimonious Simon Barker had cut one of the unused strips and it was to play well.

Croom and Lush opened the batting against a mix of youth and experience. In one over from the young Campbell there were three different types of No Ball. Height, front foot and back foot. Croom had looked good and launched one of his trade mark lofted drives before fishing outside off stump and being well caught by their keeper who stood up to all their bowlers.

Sam Luxton was next in. He tried too ambitious an early drive to an inswinger and was bowled for a duck.
Steve Horrocks was in at No.4 and fell the same way. Having seen one ball swing in and narrowly miss his stumps, an identical shot the next ball was no better. This time it clattered into his stumps and he was gone for three. We were 39 for 3.

Chris Filmer was next out to bat. He looked in good form but the oppo did not give him the width he likes. The pair had put on a valuable 45 before Tim Lush hit the ball straight to a fielder and called his partner for a quick single. Filmer was two thirds of the way down the wicket before Lush changed the call to “No”. Followed by the requisite “Sorry”. Filmer turned quickly. There was no-one guarding the bowler’s end so there seemed to be some hope. But a direct hit meant he was run out by some distance.

Barker was next out and hit a nice boundary before having a waft and being caught behind for 8. Louis French missed a straight one and was bowled for 1.

Skinner came out at 8. He looked in good form and accompanied Lush to the end. The pair could not find the gaps in the fielders patrolling the boundary but put on 31 at nearly a run a ball. Lush did try repeating his trick of hitting the ball to a fielder and calling a quick single. Skinner though had learnt from Filmer’s demise and was going nowhere.

We finished 143 for 6. Lush was unbeaten on 61. It looked too low a target to set.

French (5-0-16-0) and Luxton (6.3-0-24-0) opened the bowling. They both bowled really well and were unlucky not to get wickets. Luxton pitched the ball up much better than in previous matches. A bit of rain in the first innings had left the wicket a bit damp and he did slip over several times, despite liberal application of sawdust, but it did not faze him.

Horrocks was next bowl but a stiff shoulder meant he could only manage 3 overs. We were missing Haggert’s magic massaging fingers.
Jack Vening bowled well and took the first wicket courtesy of a great catch by Horrocks at slip. Admittedly it looped gently into his hands but he had to cope with Barker performing dramatic acrobatics right in his eyeline.

Drinks were taken, and as we needed Barker’s bowling Skinner took over the gloves.

The Farningham No 3 came out and hit a rapid fire 24 before being bowled off his pads by Filmer who finished with figures of 5-0-34-1.
Skinner did not help defend the small total. One ball by Vening narrowly missed the leg stump with the opener well beaten. Skinner raised him arms in the air and looked at the stumps amazed how the ball had missed them. Traditionally though, the keeper is expected to stop the ball rather than engage in histrionics. 4 byes was the result.

Barker’s two overs went for 13 runs but one full toss was creamed to Filmer at midwicket who held a good catch straight out of the sun.
Farningham romped home by 7 wickets with 9 overs to spare.

Stars of the innings were undoubtedly the two U13s, Euan and Flynn. They fielded well and enthusiastically throughout. Having only played 20 over games previously, they kept their attention up throughout and were a great credit to themselves.