Sundays beat Boughton & Eastwell

With a week off from the League, Bearsted had a friendly on the Green. Two late volunteers meant we had a full complement.
Unexpected light rain before the game was a slight concern but it soon cleared up. We were playing on the same track as the Saturday 2s. They had reported it was low and slow and weren’t wrong.
We fielded first. Skipper Alex Lush (8-1-22-1) and Louis French (8-0-23-1) opened the bowling. With two exceptions, we had a youthful side. Age Concern though have raised a formal grievance about the distance one of the geriatrics, Skinner, was made to cover in the field.
The opposition openers were different in style and power, but blended well. It was not easy to take wickets, nor though was it easy to score runs.
Cottee-Jones made a tremendous diving effort at midwicket and got his fingers to a fierce shot. But if you do that next to the match reporter, and thus make him chase the ball all the way to the white line, it goes down as a dropped catch rather than saving a boundary.
Jason Reeves (8-2-21-4) replaced French and immediately looked to be on the money. His 4 wickets swung the game in our favour. One was courtesy of a steepling catch by Gutsy. Reeves probably would have a 5th but the umpire turned down a plumb lbw against a young batsman on his first ball. The sort of wrong decision that is probably right in friendly cricket.
The opposition skipper had come in at 5 and looked useful. When Lush returned at the death he immediately decided to try a reverse sweep and was bowled by a low full toss.
The low point in the field was Lush getting his hands all wrong, tumbling over and letting a cover drive go for four. For that, he was given as much support from the crowd as you would expect.
Luhith Herath came on from the bottom end. He got some movement but was unusually erratic with his length.
Christian Roberts (4-0-36-0) bowled his off spin from the top end. He discovered he had a nasty quadriceps injury. Well he seemed to discover the injury whenever he bowled a bad ball and made sure his team mates all knew.
Jack Veening (8-2-17-3) bowled well. His slingy action is unusual but he put the ball in the right spot and he got three deserved wickets
The opposition finished on 176 including 13 extras.
Skinner and Roberts opened the batting. Between the two of them they have looks, talent, youth, pace, hair, technique, fitness and agility so make a perfect pairing.
Surprisingly though it was Skinner who started the better. A late cut and a straight drive being memorable. Roberts was struggling with the slow wicket and looped up a few chances off leading edges. He is bright enough though to adapt and wisely stopped playing the attempted flick.
Roberts, whose life threatening quadriceps injury had seemingly made a miraculous recovery worthy of Lazarus, made his partner run several quick 2s. This perhaps was too much for Skinner who then missed a straight ball and was out l.b.w for a good 18.
Haggart was next in and looked in good form. The opposition gave their youngsters a game and the bowling was a tad erratic as a result. There were several lengthy overs.
One delivery was despatched by Roberts onto the roof of the pavilion causing our esteemed scorer Robin Cross, in his eyrie, some concerns for his safety.
Haggart eventually was out l.b.w to one that kept low.
Skipper Lush came out to accompany Roberts who had made his half century. The pair saw us safely home to win by 8 wickets.
A good win against a decent opposition who played it in the right spirit.