Bearsted elected to field on a swelteringly hot, muggy, humid, boiling, very warm sunny day. The pitch offered nothing but bruises and mild concussions to batsmen as Sunday team debutant Lewis ‘Miles’ Bedwell and Steve Benjamin peppered their openers early on. Steve B made the breakthrough with a simple catch for Steve Pearce at cover before bowling 25 dot balls to the same batsman in what can only be described as high class entertainment. Paul ‘dangerman’ Tinker (4 warnings in 2 games) was brought on to alleviate the boredom, and soon taken off as the skipper remembered that Bearsted were bowled out for 148 the previous week. Ben ‘I’ve never got five wickets’ Lush came on and bowled a devastating array of deliveries, bamboozling the Blue Bell Hill batsman for his 4-41 as the opposition reached 157-8 off their 40 overs.

The run chase began with a quick wicket, Piers chipping one to mid-off in a way that he has come to perfect over the years. Mark and Yannick then put on one of the most convincing and determined 80 run partnerships in cricketing history, Mark being dropped at least 3 times by the same fielder whilst Yannick failed to hit the ball off the square for 20 overs. Steve P and Lewis eventually saw the team over the line with a quick 30 run partnership as Bearsted recorded their first league victory of the season by 7 wickets.

Many thanks go to Robin for scoring and to Jerry and Ben Johnston for umpiring.