Mid-Kent League Match - 46 overs per side

New Ash Green (10 pts) 35 all out (26.1 overs)
Dartford Halls III (20 pts) 36-7 (20.3 overs
Dartford Halls III won by 3 wickets.

Assuming that our readers know something about cricket you will already have a pretty good idea about the state of the wicket by reading the above scores. A lot of rain in mid-week had made the wicket, which was variable last week, extremely variable this week, with plenty of movement. When Andy Stuart lost the toss New Ash Green were fearing a worse start than last week against a Halls side showing 6 changes from the last match. In fact it was a steadier start, as it wasn't until the 5th over that the first wicket fell, but runs were also harder to come by and while no batsman could be accused of getting out to a poor or reckless shot the pitch soon found everyone out one way or another, and no batsman got past 7. Nigel Knapp took 5-4 in 12 overs, 9 of them maidens, and the other bowlers, while not quite as lethal, didn't give much away. Only an edge for 4 (the only boundary of the innings) by Ian Shambrook at the end took the score past 30 with a 6 run partnership for the 10th wicket, almost the best of the innings.

Despite this New Ash Green were confident that they could at least pick up a few bonus points, and they were right. Although the pitch initially seemed more docile as 4 runs came fairly easily in the first over, once Andy Cox and Matt Meehan began to bend their backs they were also able to get something out of the wicket, and aided by some brilliant catching by Cox and Mark Klus in particular New Ash Green were in with a real chance of a stunning victory when Halls were 15-5. Greg Dassrath, who had top scored the previous week, was then the only batsman in the match to have much luck, his two mis-hits lobbing gently into gaps in the field, when they could just as easily have found a fielder as everyone else managed to do. Although two more wickets fell Dassrath survived to the end to be the match's top scorer with 9* as Halls crept home to a 3 wicket win, though it says much for the conditions that the result was in serious doubt right up to the moment the winning run was struck with an uppish shot only just evading a diving Andy Mayers. Cox took 3-12, Meehan 2-13 and Vic Mayers 2-4, but in the end Dassrath's luck and marginally better batting conditions proved too much for New Ash Green to overcome and pull off what would have been a sensational victory.

New Ash Green II v Old ElthamiansII
Saturday 8th June 2002

Kent League Match - 100 overs (played at New Ifield CC)

Old Elthamians (20 pts) 143-8 (50 overs)
New Ash Green (3 pts) 116 all out (47.1 overs)
Old Elthamians won by 27 runs.

No match report yet received - Mr. Burke is getting slack now the results aren't going our way! Score card and league table links below. Again it seems to have been a reasonable bowling effort but no one has been able to make the runs necessary, Duncan Shannon top scoring with 22. Mick Sumner bowled 25 overs and took 4-62.

Report now received as follows:

Although a home game for NAG, the game was played at New Ifield CC as our ground was unavailable. The weather did not look good, but a 10 minute break for rain was the only interruption. NAG managed to restrict OE to 143 for 8 in their 50 overs (Mick Sumner bowling a marathon spell of 25 overs for 4 for 62.) NAG's reply started reasonably well, at one point well placed at 89 for 4, but the now customary collapse resulted in NAG being bowled out for 116. A disappointing end to a game that most felt was well within reach. Not to worry though, next week I'm sure it will be put right.

Footnote - Chris Hoddinott took the greatest catch ever seen to dismiss Paul
Daniels (I kid you not)! (Any more detailed descriptions of this wonder catch would be welcomed - Editor.) 

New Ash Green III v HolmesdaleIII
Saturday 8th June 2002

Central League Match - 40 overs per side

Match aborted.

A combination of doubtful weather forecast and doubtful ground conditions at New Ash Green's borrowed ground at St. George's School caused this match to be called off in advance by agreement between both sides. I'm not sure what will be recorded in terms of league points! (It might be the 3rd XI's first ever points! Whoopee!)

Hempstead II v New Ash Green
Sunday 9th June

Kent Village League Match - 40 overs per side - max. 9 overs per bowler

Match cancelled in the morning due to a waterlogged pitch, and given the amount of rain which fell in the later part of the afternoon it was probably a good decision to abandon it early!