Saturday 30thMay. An important date for many reasons, primarily because it was our first league match after a loss in what felt like 3 decades. A chance to right the wrongs, a chance for redemption. Oh yes and it was the Champions League final too at the ridiculously early time of 5pm. Fortunately we only have 719 Arsenal fans in the club, but we still managed to field a team, and on another scorcher it was a clear bat first pitch. Except….Arsenal were playing in the Champions League final at 5pm. Out I strode to the middle to a chorus of field first or we’re leaving. Screw those guys, were batting first. I’m not falling into that trap.

Opening the bowling from the top end was Alex Lush and Jon Mitchell from the bottom. Out come their opening batsmen including the fearsome Adam Ranson averaging 82 over 1000 games. Let’s not focus too much on Ranson the team says. But he hit me for 12 in my first over last time, complains Lush, ok well let’s focus on him but not focus too much on him ok? Lush, quivering like a really annoying jelly in a really annoying wind throws down a half volley outside off stump 3rd ball. Here we go again….hang on….it’s in the air, Noel is underneath it. Please Noel don’t drop it….Of Course he didn’t. What a start!!! 0/1 from 0.3 balls. What on earth do we focus / not focus on now?

No one knew the answer to that and the opposition moved along nicely to 78/1 after 15 overs and at the first drinks break the sense was that we were doing ok. Simon had prepared another road and the outfield was quicker than Lewis raising his hand when someone asks if anyone wants a drink in the White Horse so 78/1 was nothing to worry about. With Westy now bowling up the hill and Lewis down the hill the pressure was building nicely. Westy had found a lovely rhythm and was difficult to get away but decided to throw down a little half tracker for old time’s sake. You can tell it is a half tracker because you can hear Westy make a noise like he is in pain before it has even reached the batsmen who, when it did eventually reach him, lobbed it just to the left of Jon Mitchell who grabbed it, fumbled it, but then grabbed it again. 91/2 and their number 3 was out. It was Lewis’ turn to get in on the wickets next and bowled a lovely tempter that their left handed opener took a swish at. What followed was an almighty edge that everyone expected to see racing for 4 through third man….everyone except the unnamed keeper that is who snaffles those in his sleep. What a legend and we have them 97/3 from some number of overs that cannot be determined due to frog box related issues.

Lewis then picked up wickets 4 and 5 in consecutive balls. He was too quick for their left handed number 5 who skied one to The UK but the wicket that followed was a thing of beauty. Some thought it was quick, others a little slower, some thought it was an off cutter, some thought it nibbled off the pitch. One person who did not know was their number 6 and it smashed the top of off and the bails were sent flying. What a ball. 113/5 and yet another hattrick ball. He couldn’t could he? No.

After the fine efforts of West and Bedwell it was B Johnston and Joe from the top and bottom respectively. Joe was bowling with a lovely rhythm that the batsmen struggled to get away and Benj bowled some absolute jaffas and it was he who made the next breakthrough when the batsman spooned one to mid off where Ollie Marriner took an assured catch. 134/6 and next over 134/7 with Joe taking the wicket of their number 4 assisted by a fine catch from James West who needed to run 2 yards forward and then 3 yards exactly 90 degrees right to ensure he did not step on the boundary rope. Great catch.

With Lush back into the attack from the Horse he had a number of very close calls for LBWs turned down, which he took well, before finally trapping their 8th wicket LBW. Joe, still bowling from the Horse fancied a bit of that too and thudded into the pad of their number 8 with a lovely ball that turned a lot from around the wicket. One more wicket to get and it was Lushy who managed to close the innings with a smart catch from Westy at deep mid wicket which saw Penshurst all out for 156 on an absolute road. What a performance all round, fielding and bowling. Each bowler played their part and there were some impressive figures, Lush, 8 overs, 1 Maiden, 3 for 31, Jon 5 overs for 35, Westy 5 overs 1 for 15, Lewis 7 overs, 3 for 33, Joe 9 overs 2 maidens 2 for 20 and Benj 4 overs 1 for 13. Very very good.

With 157 to win and a Champions League final to watch Lewis went berserk. Lewis + Jason Roy’s old bat = Many broken hands. Their opening bowler up the hill had a bit of pace about him but the ball left the bat significantly quicker than it arrived and with a 3rd ball 6 over point it is fair to say Lewis was seeing it well. After amassing 38 from 15 balls, nearly breaking 3 opposition hands and their opening bowler having gone for 34 off his 2 overs Lewis snicked one onto his pad but Jerry decided to give him out anyway on health and safety / insurance grounds just in time for kick off. 51/1.

Joe Waylett joined Noel in the middle who was thoroughly enjoying the fact Penshurst had opened with a spinner and he had found himself facing 100% of his deliveries. Despite the dissatisfaction Noel played a couple of lovely sweeps for 4 before being bowled by their other slow bowler who had replaced the speedy opener that Lewis had brutally dismantled bringing Benj Johnston to the middle with Joe and with the score at 60/2 and that was pretty much that. Joe, clearly a non-Arsenal fan, knuckled down taking his time as if blissfully unaware of the kick off time, seeing off their wily left arm spinner, before picking up the pace nicely. At the other end Benj was moving through the gears quickly after a lovely pull shot for 4 and then back to back 6s to completely ruin the right arm spinner’s figures. Both Joe and Benj rotated the strike well combined with some lovely shot making and it was Benj who was the first to bring up a beautiful 50, ending on 53 red from 43 balls. A top knock. With only 9 runs left to win the match and with Joe needing 9 runs to bring up his 50 the chances looked slim. 2 to win now and 4 needed for Joe. Joe on strike. New bowler on. Could he? Doesn’t look like one of their usual bowlers. Left arm, round the wicket, spinner, in he comes, ball is up, really up actually and wide, really really wide, can Joe reach it? Just and there is his 4 and 50. Another top knock finishing 50 not out from 67 balls and an unbeaten partnership of 98 for Benj and Joe. Just lovely.

What was important this week was not to lose. Back to back losses would have been unthinkable. What was also important was to win. It was also important to perform well whilst also winning and not losing. It was also very important to finish early for those 719 Arsenal fans, not lose, win and perform well. 4 out of 4 I would say. Meopham away next. Probably a bowl first wicket I reckon.