Sunday 2s beat Nuxley

It is with a minuscule modicum of melancholy, a tiny tincture of tears and a diminutive amount of despondency Bearsted CC announces that Ben Lush has played his last game for the club.
With the Sunday 2nd XI playing in some Mickey Mouse cup on the Green, the proper Sunday team hosted Nuxley, a touring side, up at Hollingbourne.
We batted first on a warm day. Gareth Oakland and Steve Benjamin opened the battting.
The opposition attack was not the fastest we had ever seen. However they did not give much away.
After 9 overs we had scored 10 runs. Not that it was boring but most of the crowd were more focussed on the World U21 tiddlywinks tournament that was being broadcast on long wave radio.
Benjamin did open up after a while with some good blows but was bowled for 18 by the opposition skipper who delivered some nice googlies.
Oakland senior was caught for 21.
Skipper Yannick Oakland was joined by Sam Luxton. Luxton had, we have on reliable authority, been a burbling mess,incapable of walking in straight lines, at about 1am and was a little fuzzy. Perhaps that explained him wafting at his first ball and edging behind. Fortunately the keeper dropped a sitter and Luxton decided to sober up.
Yannick was run out after hesitating on a quick single
Keith Robertson was next in and looked good before missing a slow straight one.
Jamie Martin and Spencer Payne came and went bowled by Gill.
Luxton eventually fell for a good 30.
Skinner was next in and looked in good form cutting and sweeping well.
Carl Terlicki came and went for 4.
The “soon to be late” Ben Lush arrived to join Skinner. He hit one to cover and called a suicidal single. It was of course his partner Skinner who was left several yards short and run out. It is this regrettable incident that has led to Lush, the colubrine quisling, leaving the club, changing his name and seeking plastic surgery. He won’t be missed.
Lush, perhaps riddled with guilt, chipped one to cover and we were all out for a paltry 148.

After tea we opened with Steve Benjamin and Carl Terlicki. Benjamin was as ever outstanding. He must have been disappointed to be hauled off after three overs. But there was a cunning plan.
Terlicki bowled unchanged from the Y Fronts end. He deserved his excellent figures of 8-2-9-3. His first wicket was a fine caught and bowled with a full length diving catch. Luxton joined in with the fun and took a similar catch in the covers.
Terlicki looks a fine acquisition. If only we could understand his Saffer accent.
The opposition were similarly struggling to score runs and were 11 for 3 off 10 overs.
When their 4th wicket fell their skipper Ollie Patel came in. He’s only 17 but a class batsman, well known locally from his time at Maidstone Grammar School.
He was perhaps lucky not to be adjudged lbw to Luxton but looks a class player. Eventually he chipped Jamie Martin straight down the wicket. Benjamin run round from long off and made a difficult catch look very simple.
Luxton bowled well taking 2 for 23 off his 7 overs. At one point he was on a hat-trick. The opposition bat came out and gave him the charge and it was not to be
Benjamin returned and got a deserved wicket.
Skipper Oakland stopped a hard hit at midwicket. Instead of using his hands he used his Crown Jewels. Sinking to his knees in agony he threw the ball in. Despite lacking pace it was a direct hit and the batsman was run out.
Oakland senior fielded well off his shooting stick and Keith Robertson ran around like a younger man.
Once Pope was out the opposition looked short of batting. Their No 11 could not run so it was “4 or nothing” for the last few overs.
Benjamin returned to finish his overs .
Yannick bowled a series of long hops but somehow it was a maiden
His Dad Gareth bowled an expensive over.
Martin took the final wicket and we won by about 20 runs.