Our latest league game was against Kemsing. A nice bunch, captained by the guy who runs our league. They had revealed that they were short of numbers this week. We could have forced them to concede but agreed to help them out.
As such, they arrived with their ranks swelled by Messrs Tank, Salsbury and Ludwin.
The pitch looked good. The outfield is naturally a little brown and bare.
After some discussions, Bearsted batted first.
Baker and Lush opened up. The bowling attack was pretty decent. A young South African quick, off a very long run, generated some pace and bounce. The other opener gave us some concerns too.
Baker was fresh off his big 97 last week and surely was on a run of good form. Nope, he couldn’t middle anything and his timing was terrible. Fortunately Lush was in top nick and punished anything wide or short.
The oppo skipper bowled some decent left arm orthodox. He induced an edge behind and a stumping chance. Their keeper, who looked rather familiar, was unable to take either chance.
Gradually Baker found his feet and the middle of his bat. He in fact reached his 50 immediately before Tim. The pair put on 142 before Tim missed a yorker and was bowled for 67.
The opposition turned to one of their loan players to bowl. Zachary Ludwin who can be a little unreliable in the nets was thrown the ball. He surprised everyone by bowling 4 tight overs. Well done Ludders. He also fielded very well.
Ted Blythin was in next and looked tidy. He only scored 4 but put on 40 with Nigel before chipping one up to the off side. A diving Salsbury took a great catch inches off the ground.
Robbie Fowle was in at 4.
Baker reached his well deserved century. He promptly retired. Leo Petty batted sensibly but missed a straight one for a duck.
Oscar Hollis joined Fowle and ran well. The pair put on 43 unbeaten. Hollis had 5, Fowle an excellent 35 from only 28 balls.
We were 239 for 3 from our 40 overs.
After tea we wanted a good start. Vening was given the new ball up the slope.
His first ball was not perfect but in the right slot. The opener got an edge and Skinner took a decent catch off his shins.
What a start.
But the over got better when the no 3 fended off some sharp bounce and the ball spun back into the stumps. Double wicket maiden.
The imposing figure of Tanky strode out to the middle to join Salsbury. We knew he was capable of causing some damage.
Ben Lush was bowling from the top and doing some wonderful things with the ball. Eventually he proved too good for Tanky, bowling him for 11.
Vening bowled Joe for 2. His spell was an impressive 5-1-12-3
Lush did for Zachary who fell to a sharp catch by Salter. 5-2-18-2
Oscar came on up the slope and looked good. He got his wicket after Vening took a great catch at midwicket, that came out of the sky and sunshine.
It is said that he could have had another wicket when the batsman allegedly got an inside edge behind. However neither the keeper or slip thought it was an edge. And as the keeper writes these match reports, it wasn’t a edge. End of.
However his 2 overs only went for 1 run.
Nathan Salter came down the slope and generated some pace again.
His wicket was a sharp caught and bowled. It ended the innings as Kemsing didn’t send everyone out to bat. 42 for 7 and we had won by 197 runs.
We retired to drink beers courtesy of our centurion Nigel and watch the 1s and 2s on Frogbox.
A good performance and solid win.
Your skipper had received some mild criticism for lending the opposition players and was very relieved to pick up the 20 points.
Thanks to those who played for opposition and made sure we had a game. And again to Croomy for umpiring.
Next up, a tough trip to table toppers Hadlow.