Sunday win at High Halstow

The Sunday XI headed to the Isle of Grain to face High Halstow in the League. It was another hot day with any patches of shade around the edge of the field at a premium.

With Alex Lush away, the side was led by Christian Roberts who was ably assisted by Will Terry and and Ben Johnston. It was, in the main, a youthful side we put out. Our one senior player was slightly depressed to realise he was exactly the combined age, and weight, of four of the team.

Roberts won the toss and in the heat wisely chose to bat. Our batting line up was perhaps a little sparse and we needed the stars to perform. Roberts and Terry opened up.

The opposition, well led by a Jonny Bairstow doppelgänger, also had a youthful feel. They started with two promising youngsters but we were unforgiving on anything loose. After ten overs we were 68 without loss and at the half way point had reached 123.

Roberts hit the ball correctly with marvellous timing and on a fast outfield was scoring well. Terry was also in good form albeit with a few ugly swipes to leg.

They put on 151 for the first wicket before Terry, seeing the scoreboard had him on 49, gently chipped one to square leg. His score was later reduced to 47 but it was still a poor case of jug avoidance.
Johnston was in next. He rather looked as though he had been enjoying the sunshine and was not at his most focussed. He scored a swift 22 before being caught.

James West was in at 4 and scored a nice 11 before holing out. Yannick Oakland made his season’s debut and looked happy to be getting a break from changing nappies. He finished on 15 not out.

Throughout it all, Roberts had sailed on calmly. He played one poor shot in 40 overs and never gave a chance. He was unbeaten on 132. We would have given him a standing ovation but it was too hot and frankly we could not be bothered.

Our total of 248 looked decent but was probably about par on that wicket.

Our bowling attack was spearheaded by West and Terry. West was straight on the mark. Terry took a little longer to gain his bearings and Oakland was busy down the leg side behind the wicket.
High Halstow made sure their youngsters all had a game.
West struck first courtesy of an edge and fine catch from Yannick low to his right. He was to finish with figures on 7-2-22-2.

Once Terry got his bearings he looked dangerous, helped in part by the wicket which started playing up, with several balls staying low. His first wicket just did not get off the ground. Another clean bowled and an l.b.w were to follow. He bowled unchanged, no mean ask in the heat, for 9-2-34-3.

Roberts replaced West and was tidy. His 6 overs, in two spells, only went for 12 runs and he got 4 wickets. To be fair, some of the opposition lower order had clearly not played much cricket and it was a question of bowling a straight one. His first wicket came courtesy of an excellent catch from young Harry Norton who threw himself forward to take a low chance.

Johnston came on and bowled his leg spin. His pace and control are remarkable for a leg spinner. He beat the bat, stumps and keeper on several occasions.

Isaac Marriner looks a useful talent and was unlucky not to get a wicket bowling left arm over. He went past the outside edge of opposition skipper several times.

Harry Norton got one over and with more time could develop into a decent bowler.

The skipper cruelly told Skinner he would bowl the last few overs, literally seconds before Johnstone took the last wicket.

We fielded pretty well. Highlights being the Norton catch and Johnston putting everything into a successful chase to the boundary and diving stop. Remnant of his trousers and skin can still be found on the High Halstow outfield.

The opposition were all out for 160. A good win against a decent bunch. Only complaint of the day was their draft lager. Poretti. An experience not to be repeated