Friendly Match - 40 overs per side

New Ash Green 217-3
Linton Park 163-8
New Ash Green won by 54 runs.

After winning the toss NAG elected to bat as looked like it was going to rain at any minute! For this reason the captains agreed to a 40 over game, but remarkably there were no rain interruptions at all (although there was a constant threat). Immediately the NAG openers Andy's Payne and Mayers took to the bowling as if it were James Hewitt and they rattled off somewhere near 100 in approx. 18 overs (inc. Mayers reaching his 50) before Payne was out for 30 odd (I didn't see it - but I'm sure it was a lazy shot). John didn't trouble the scorers for too long before having a swish, miss, stumped, and it was down to Mayers senior to show everyone else how to nudge and nurdle singles (and two's and three's) and in the process completely knacker out his son. When Mayers junior reached his 100 (after some brutal strokeplay) he 'retired' with dad by his side. It was then left to Messrs Harrington, Phillips and Scanlan to bring us to our total with some quick(ish) runs at the end.

Despite the wicketkeeping of Payne and bowling of Shambrook, Linton Park's reply was slow (but sure) before Burke broke through in approx. 8th over. Tidy spells by Bushell, Scanlan and Harrington followed (Scanlan and Harrington taking 2 wickets each). There was also a 2 over, 2 wicket burst from Mayers senior which ensured Linto Park would have no chance of reaching the total. It was just left for the sublime bowling skills of John and Philips to see out the innings.

Special thanks go to Scanlan and Phillips for stepping in late in the day.

A winning start for Golden Arm as skipper!

NB - After this match report had been posted we received the following addition from the skipper:

Just remembered an incident that needs to be added to the match report involving Andy Mayers. During his innings he attempted to hit a ball extremely hard (if he'd connected it would have gone further than anything even Matt Payne has hit), missed it completely, the ball going straight into the keepers gloves and Andy's bat flying above his head doing somersault after somersault. Unfortunately for the opposition the keeper was overly concerned with the bat not landing on his head and so failed to stump Andy. When they both realised the situation, Andy got himself back inside the crease. Is that what they mean by soft hands?

Lower Halstow v New Ash Green
Sunday 28th April

It was too much to hope that 4 weeks of uninterrupted sunshine leading up to the first weekend of the season could actually lead to games being played, wasn't it? Lower Halstow was flooded by Storms on Saturday night, and the game was called off on Sunday morning, to the particular disgust of Matthew Scanlan who missed the game being called off and waited for ages for the team to turn up. Still, at least he got a bat and a bowl on Saturday!