The last time we visited Hadlow it was damp and sticky and the opposition could only muster 8 players. This season the weather was hot and dry and the pitch looked good. Hadlow had a full side out with several new faces. We had excellent availability which meant having to leave several regulars out.
We won the toss and chose to bat in the heat. Lush and Baker senior opened up. First ball of the innings we had one of our youngsters running behind the bowler’s arm. There were several reoccurrences of that during the game. It’s not that difficult to learn lads.
The Hadlow bowlers were good, the skipper in particular giving little away, with decent away swingers. He only conceded 10 runs from his 9 overs. A couple of youngsters from the other end generated pace and movement. Runs were hard to come by.
Tim Lush fell first, not quite getting across to an overpitched ball and looping up a catch for 8
Tom Gagg was in at 3. He looks a good bat but after hitting two boundaries flicked one in the air to midwicket. Out for 10
Klimcke was our number 4. Of all our batsmen he has the most ability to change the game in our favour. He looked in good form and played one early ball nicely of his legs and set off for a run. Unfortunately he hadn’t looked where it had gone and so missed square leg fielding the ball well and throwing it into the keeper. Baker senior wisely turned down the run but it meant both batsmen were near the bowler’s end when the bails were removed. It could be argued that Nigel should have gone, as he was marginally nearer the keeper but he wisely kept his head down. Klimcke carried on towards the pavilion.
Guttsy was next in but was caught for 7.
Baker was going well but we were 78 for 5. Keagan Luke provided him with some calm support and looked good before being bowled by a quicker ball for 4. Half way through his innings though, he realised he was batting with his phone in his pocket. Nincompoop.
Oscar Hollis looked a great bat and hit one cover drive that was definitely the shot of the match.
As the innings drew to an end, Baker senior checked what score he was on, played a lazy swipe and was bowled for 47. A crucial knock for us, but blatant jug avoidance.
Max Patton accompanied Hollis at the finish, both running well. He was 4* and Hollis 18*.
Out total was 124 for 6. Or so we thought. We hadn’t added up the scorebook. The batting and bowling only reached 121 (at this level, scores rarely add up but the total is inevitably correct) and somehow we agreed 121 was the total.
After tea, Jamie Baker and Max Patton opened up. The openers looked good bats. Jamie got the first wicket in his second over, courtesy of a low catch by Skinner behind the stumps. Our keeper was privately surprised he held it but was a little upset by the numerous comments from his team mates publicly expressing the same view. Jamie finished 5-1-19-1
Patton was bowling well with his fast in swingers but lacked a little of last week’s accuracy. He had one sharp edge parried in the slips but not held.
It took the introduction of Charitha to get the next wicket. He was on form again and induced a lofted drive which was safely held by Keagan Luke at mid off. Charitha clean bowled the number 3 in his next over and then in his third over had another catch poached by Keagan. His figures were 5-1-17-3.
At the other end Oscar Hollis was bowling really well. He swings the ball and can hit the seam. He ended with 5-1-12-0 but was unlucky not to get wickets. Patton put down a chance in the covers and several balls narrowly missed the stumps.
Klimcke replaced Charitha and quickly got a wicket. It was another fine catch by Keagan Luke. Fortunately his Mum Jenny reads these reports and plays cricket, so will be aware that three catches means she needs to buy a jug on his behalf next week.
Klimcke was 3-1-15-1
Patton came back for a second spell and was more accurate. He was also unlucky not to get a wicket. One inside edge flew past the becalmed aged keeper. He finished 9-1-43-0.
Tim Lush made a brief late cameo and picked up a wicket with his first ball. But the opposition eased to victory by four wickets. Not a bad performance but we do need to get a few more runs if we want to win more games.
The conditions were good and several of us were treated to a fine pint in The Swan on The Green at West Peckham. It’s a lovely traditional pub dating back to 1562 and apparently Nigel Baker was one of their first ever customers.