Sunday team win!

The opening Sunday fixture of the season came in the shape of a friendly against a Cowdrey XI from Tonbridge. Having selected a team via the pitchero app for the first time, the Sunday team showed their technical promise by losing the toss via Siri. The technology changes but the captain remains the same. Cowdrey elected to bat on a damp surface with plenty of cloud cover and promptly posted 70 off the first 7 overs from the bottom end. The bowlers wished to remain anonymous on this occasion...Meanwhile from the top end, Harry was helping himself to wickets in a miserly spell unbecoming of his years - finishing with 3-23 off his 8 overs. Ben ‘surely that’s a warning’ Lush also took 3 wickets, while Steve Pearce rolled back the years with 2-23 off his 6 overs. Richard Sargent took the other wicket to fall as Cowdrey posted 257-9 from their 40 overs with Robert Fenwick (63*) and Oscar Holmes (49) top scoring.

After enjoying a Sunday tea made lovingly by Yannick and Paul, Gareth ‘I’ll just kick this over the boundary and sit on a bench for a bit’ Oakland and Steve Pearce opened the Bearsted innings. They shared a stand of 77 before Gareth was bowled for 29 seemingly concerned he hadn’t had a seat for a while. Captain Yannick, John ‘autoscore’ Haggart and Chairman Patton all played shots they’d rather forget, but vital contributions from ‘Soulman’ Keith Robertson (25) and Simon ‘I’ll just be half an hour late’ Barker (23) helped the Sunday Steve Pearce’s over the line. His 133 not out featured the usual array of powerful shots and also it’s fair share of running mix ups including being given run out only for the wicketkeeper to say he didn’t have the ball in his hand which led to David Patton picking the ball up and handing it to the opposition skipper, only for him to then be run out, walking, then being called back as an intense discussion broke out between the two sides, umpires and spectators.

All in all a very pleasant way to begin the year for the Sunday team, showing once again that if you want drama, passion, controversy and excitement then all you need do is head down to Bearsted Green on a Sunday afternoon. Next week - League at home against Upchurch.