3s beat Bethersden

Bearsted 3s welcomed Bethersden to the Hollies for our final game of the season. They had stuffed us earlier in the year but we had a strong side out for the return. Bethersden were short of numbers and the estimable and effervescent James Tank agreed to play for them. Disgracefully, he found himself roundly booed every time he touched the ball. If the skipper finds out who was behind the appalling sledging and unsportsmanlike behaviour, there will be serious repercussions.
After negotiations, Bearsted batted first. With Klimcke stuck in traffic, Tim Lush and Nigel Baker opened the batting. The Bethersden openers were useful, Howes in particular not giving much away. We looked relatively untroubled however and proceeded smoothly. One catch was put down off Baker but the pair went on towards their half centuries.
Baker started playing some powerful shots, especially off the back foot.
He was eventually caught for an excellent 66.
The pair, with a combined age 117 had put on 121
Lush was joined by Klimcke and changed gears. One fierce cover drive rocketed to the boundary but was bettered by a frankly naughty flick from off stump over the midwicket boundary. Ranjitsinhji himself would have been proud of that one.
Klimcke who was desperate to end the season as top run scorer, went out hard but caught for 25.
Angus Kenny was in at 4. He has a reputation as a correct but cautious batsman. However he was in fine form striking the ball hard. He scored some wonderful boundaries getting 21 off only 18 balls. He was undone by a good delivery from the returning Howes. A lovely knock that augurs well for his cricketing future.
Skinner decided it was time he finally batted up the order and joined Lush. Lush, perhaps depressed by his new partner, swiftly holed out for 64.
Coveney came in at the death to support his skipper. Skinner was being cautious but one fine straight drive off the back foot looked gorgeous until it cannoned into the other stumps.
He finished on 6 and Coveney on 3. A decent total of 210 for 4 off 35 overs.
After tea we opened the bowling with Jamie Baker coming down the slope. The Bethersden skipper was opening the batting. He is distinctly useful and had smashed 130 against us in the away fixture. Baker’s first ball was a little wide. The second even wider, a nasty long hop. The umpire was surely about to signal a wide when the batsman stretched out and carved the ball to Marriner at point who took a good catch. At that point it almost seemed as though the game was over.
Max Patton opened up the slope. His first delivery looked wide but swung in outrageously. The second was even better, swung more and took the top of off stump. It would have done for most batsmen of whatever quality. He also clean bowled their number three. He returned for a later spell and had figures of 8-1-28-2.
Kian Young replaced Baker and swung the ball well. One ball was too good for Tank who seemingly edged behind to Klimcke. However the appeal was strangled and Tank was to live on. He took advantage of our generosity and hit three nice boundaries in his innings.
On the subject of Klimcke he kept well but conceded 4 byes, noticeably more than last week’s much better keeper.
Ollie Marriner bowled one over but strained a muscle and was taken home for some Gaviscon.
Angus Kenny was to replace him and bowled the oppo number 4 who had scored 40. Kenny was 1 for 25 off his 4 overs.
Coveney came on from the top end. He is a rare talent but needs to decide what he is going to bowl and develop a stock ball rather than varying his approach every delivery. He did account for James Tank who cut a ball to Young. He only conceded 12 runs from his 4 overs
Young, having been cruelly deprived of his first wicket for the club, was to return for a second spell and took two. One was a fine clean bowled and the other a catch by Tim Lush.
Dave Patton bowled two overs. Initially, the fragrant Mrs P was concerned about what the silly bugger was doing to his heart but then having checked the life insurance policy urged him on to greater endeavours.
Baker returned for a second spell which was a little more expensive than the first, and finished with 9-1-45-1.
It wasn’t our finest fielding performance but it was hot and the game was drifting somewhat.
Bethersden finished on 165 for 7 off their 35 overs.
A fine win against a good side and great way to finish the season.
The 1sts and 2nds had also won and we all gathered in the White Horse for some rehydration and cogitation. The younger members of the club moved on to MuMus but the old guard retired for some quiet time and a cup of Ovaltine.
Your match reporter would like to say what a pleasure it has been to captain the 3s this season. It has been wonderful to see the youngsters develop and the old guard hobbling on. I’ve no idea what our final statistics are but we have had a lot of fun. Thanks to all who have helped on and off the pitch and to the other skippers who have cooperated and helped us get a side out most weeks, to Si for preparing two grounds so beautifully and the Welsh fool who has to do much of my admin despite running his own team. Diolch