National Village Cup Kent Regional Final: Bearsted CC vs Sibton Park CC

‘Where were you when Man landed on the moon?’

‘Where were you when JFK was assassinated?’

‘Where were you when Sibton Park trundled down the A20 to take on Bearsted in the National Village Cup Regional Final in a 40 overs fixture?’

Well I can tell you where I was. I was late. Noel had failed to realise his packed lunch did not contain the necessary 95 grams of protein and subsequently, the Johnstons arrived a good 10 minutes behind schedule.

Upon arrival we found a highly professional outfit. After which, we walked across to the Bearsted camp where Will Terry was doing keepy- uppies in his pants.

Lead by Piers Cottee- Jones and still buzzing from the previous week’s semi-final win, the team were hoping for the growing crowd to get behind the hosts! The Captain helped out Bearsted early doors by winning the toss and putting the opposition into the Gobi.

The heat was stifling, the outfield was barren/lethal and the wind was slight. The start of play was delayed due to a camel urinating on a good length.

Christian Roberts and Noel Johnston opened the batting and made a fairly positive start, going at 5 an over for the first 7 overs or so, with the pair putting the bad ball to the fence effectively. After a very very slight communication error, Noel was run out by 3/4 of a mile after an ambitious call from the youngster. In fact he was so far away from making his ground, Christian sent smoke signals to apologise.

This brought in Benj who was bowled for 14 so the less said about that the better. Get off my case Piers. Everyone plays across the line, get over it. And I can’t remember you being so solid yourself actually? I’ve heard the parish council have approved planning permission to build a new estate between your bat and pad.

Moving on swiftly then, this brought in Charlie Luxton who was looking in sublime form after a well made 60 the previous day in similar conditions. From the other end, Christian continued to play with fluidity and maturity. His step up from Diamond Kwik Cricket in April is playing dividends.

This was looking unlike any Bearsted batting line up of recent years. The middle order wasn’t capitulating. Christian was eventually caught on the boundary for a fabulous 56.

Luxton progressed to a well made 30, Mark Sandhu made a stunning 45 with some terrific shots through the mid-wicket sand dunes.

Wickets continued to fall at consistent intervals however, and Bearsted were bowled out for 222, not even utilising their full 40 overs. A highlight of the day was Will Terry walking out to the wicket, practising some beautiful high elbow off drives. A shot he has never successfully played. He swung across the line 3rd ball and was bowled. I owe Charlie Luxton a fiver.

At the halfway stage therefore, it was believed that a score of double nelson was under par. It was essential that our opening bowlers bowled well.

Miles Henslow and Mark Sandhu hit their line and lengths immediately and reaped the rewards. The visitors had already capitulated to 40-3 by the 12 over mark and the pressure was really beginning to show on their batting line up. Henslow was bringing the ball back into the right hander, and Mark was doing a great job at prodding away in the 4th stump area.

When Alex Lush was brought into the attack, the momentum went even further in Bearsted’s favour. Lush marked out his run up, before doing a practice run in to ensure that his foot was firmly behind the line for a change. At this point, he stared at the batsman and gave some verbals. Bearsted Cricket Club has seen some firsts in it’s time. Notably the invention of overarm bowling by Alfred Mynn. The arrest of a local resident during a charity game. And now Alex Lush sledging and attempting to intimidate the opposition after marking out his run up. The Number 5 bat was shocked though when Lush did eventually deliver a ball. Shocked that despite his enormous run up, he only bowls medium pace.

The intimidation clearly worked because Al tore through their middle order like a flame through a Yankee candle. It was, in my opinion, the best I have ever seen him bowl. He picked up wonderful figures of 4-32, before Dave Charlton bowling fizzing spitting offies and Charlie Luxton finished off the tail. An average catch in the deep saw us home and Sibton Park were bowled out for 144.

A win of 78 runs in such a vital game was real cause for elation. Celebrations continued long into the evening.

Next Sunday on the Green, we take on the East Sussex Champions from their regional knockout.

Thanks go to the amazing crowd that turned up to cheer us on, Jerry for officiating, Piers Cottee-Jones for his leadership and mum for buying sweet chilli wraps to spice up my lunch.

WE GO AGAIN. COME ON THE BEARS.