Saturday 13th & Sunday 14^th August 2005

New Ash Green v Downham & Bellingham
Saturday 13th August 2005

Kent League Match - 100 Overs

Down & Bell (20 points) 176-8 dec. (48 overs)
New Ash Green (3 points) 86 all out (32.2 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 90 runs.

As usual I have no full report from the first team game, but it seems that on a worn pitch which didn’t play well Down & Bell started well, finished well but struggled in the middle losing 2 wickets in an over to Pete Burke then repeating the feat to Vic Mayers shortly afterwards. Vic ended up with the best figures, 4-32 in 14 overs, and the score never got out of hand. Nonetheless in difficult conditions it was good enough. The second innings was played largely in light rain, with Dave Craddock the only man in the top 6 to get double figures, 4 of the rest getting ducks. He eventually got out to Chris Mendham, who had his least productive game against New Ash Green, being hit for 18 in one over by Mick Sumner. Unfortunately that was the extent of Sumner’s scoring, though it was enough to be leading scorer in a wagging tail and to ensure he and Pete Burke took over the hotly contested lead in the best 10^th wicket stand of the season race. Andy Mayers (12) and Andy Stuart (14) also contributed to ensuring the score reached a vaguely respectable level, but the victory for Down & Bell was wrapped up with plenty of time to spare.

Click HERE for full Scorecard

Click HERE for latest league table.

Tonbridge II v New Ash Green II
Saturday 13th August 2005

Mid-Kent League Match - 92 Overs

New Ash Green (12 points) 91 all out (42.3 overs)
Tonbridge (12 points) did not bat
Match Abandoned.

A full second eleven set off for Tonbridge on what looked like a bright day, though with a dire weather forecast. Asked to bat they started well when Ian Moore could not find his line or length in his first over and was cut for 2 fours by Matthew Quantrill, but he had his revenge a couple of overs later when Quantrill followed one and was caught in the slips for 10, which was to become a danger number. Aron Dodson followed shortly afterwards, falling to his current weakness of pushing to firmly at his defensive shots and being caught. AlAn Carter and John Howland batted well for a while, and looked as if they might build a decent score in what were essentially benign conditions, but both were volwed by Moore for 10. Lee Saunders was perhaps unfortunate to be LBW first ball, and Graeme Poole went the same way shortly afterwards. At 40-6 Tonbridge scented victory, and with 11 year old Ben Cooke coming to the wicket they crowded round the bat, something of a mistake as this gave Ben the chance to hit with freedom past the inner circle. He and Dan Lewsey put on 26 for the 7^th wicket, with Ben also making 10 before he was bowled by Peter French after 42 balls. Lewsey was even more defiant, taking 83 balls to creep to 11, being outscore by Ben and then by Kieran Poole who made all 4 runs in the 8^th wicket partnership which lasted 6 overs. Keith Bushell was a little more adventurous in top scoring with 14* before Matt Bushe was the second player to be out first ball, having been involved in a partnership of 9 for the 10^th wicket!

During tea the value of Lewsey and Cooke’s obduracy became clear as light rain became much heavier and set in. An early collapse could have given Tonbridge time to complete the victory before the rain came down, but as it was the game was abandoned at 5.30 without a ball being bowled in the second innings, giving New Ash Green their biggest points haul in the league since early June.

Click HERE for full Scorecard

Click HERE for latest league table.

Sunday August 14th 2005

Rainham II v New Ash Green

Medway Development League Match - 40 Overs

Rainham II 231-5 (40 overs)
New Ash Green 104 all out (27.4 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 127 runs.

New Ash Green arrived at Rainham with 9 men and hoping that the rain would hold out. They had only 9 men as Phil Markham was too ill to play and Alan Carter was making his way to the ground on a train from Chatham. Whilst waiting for his arrival, Dan Lewsey took over as skipper for the day and won the toss so NAG elected to field.

Cooper and McCue opened the batting for Rainham whilst Mickey Sumner and Graeme Poole opened the bowling for NAG. Both batsmen made a slow but solid start but the partnership of 33 ended after Graeme Poole bowled Cooper for 6. May now joined McCue but this partnership only lasted 2 overs before May was, like Cooper, bowled by Graeme Poole for 6.

Taylor was the new batsman in and with him came a change in the bowling. Alan Carter was brought on to replace Graeme, whose figures ended at 6 – 0 – 28 – 2. This new batting partnership was soon interrupted by rain. Only after the majority of the NAG team went to the changing room to collect jumpers and had bowled another few complete overs, did the umpires finally allow the players to come off. It soon eased off so the players were only off the field for 10-15 minutes.

Once back on the field, Mickey finished off his 9 overs with 2 maidens, 0 for 28. Skipper Dan Lewsey decided to bring Ben Cooke to replace Mickey and Matt Bushe to replace Alan. Rainham were now 67 for 2 off 18. After Ben’s 3^rd over went for 10, his next one was much better, bowling Taylor for 9. Matt Bushe equalled that by getting McCue out LBW in the following over. As the 2 younger batsmen, Mason and Newman came to the crease, Rainham were 100 for 4 of 26 overs.

As Ben had finished his first spell of 4 overs, Dan brought himself on to the attack. The younger batsmen showed a Flintoff attitude to batting and so started to hit Bushe and Lewsey for regular boundaries. Mason in particular. Alan Carter was brought on to replace Bushe, (4 – 1 – 26 – 1) but it was Dan who finally made the break through. Mason went to hit a six but it did not go far enough and so was caught by Jasper Holliday slightly in from the boundary. The two had made a partnership of 94 runs in the space of 8 overs. Mason returned to the pavilion having scored an impressive 77 off of 36 balls, 11 of which were dots.

With Rainham at 194 for 5 off 35 overs, Manning was the new batsman in as Kieran Poole replaced Alan Carter (7 – 2 – 32 – 0). Ben Cooke also returned to bowl another 2 overs as Dan Lewsey’s figures ended 5 – 0 – 44 – 1. Neither Ben nor Kieran could get another break through but instead were both being hit for boundaries. Kieran’s figures were 3 – 0 – 19 – 0 and Ben’s were 6 – 0 – 41 – 1. Both batsmen were not out, Manning for 15 and Newman for 41. At the end of the 40 overs, Rainham had scored 231 runs for 5 wickets.

After tea, NAG knew they had a mountain to climb and so were praying that Rainham’s bowling was not as good as it’s batting. As Rainham did not have a scorer, the second innings provided a chance for both the Cooke girls to score, a first for NAG.

Mickey Sumner and Lee Saunders opened the batting for NAG as Bassi and Burns opened the bowling for Rainham. The opening batters had a solid partnership of 62 till Mickey was bowled by Bassi for 47. This brought skipper Dan Lewsey to the crease. His partnership with Lee did not last long though as Lee retired ill, claiming that he felt sick. Alan Carter was NAG’s number 4 and so joined the skipper in the middle. In the mean time, Manning had been brought on to replace Burns and Green was brought on to replace Bassi (7 – 3 – 19 – 1). In Green’s second over, Alan was out for 6, stumped by keeper S Cooper and Mike Wedderall, NAG’s no.5 bat, was out for 0, caught Bassi. NAG were now 73 for 3.

Lee Saunders by this time was feeling better and so joined Dan in the middle. Rainham’s 3^rd bowling change was to bring on Thomas to replace Manning (5 – 2 – 12 – 0). It was Green, however, who took the next wicket. Dan Lewsey was caught by McCue for 8 runs. In the following over, Thomas proved that he too, could take wickets. Lee was bowled for 22 and Graeme Poole was caught by May for 0. NAG were left at 96 for 6 from 24 overs.

Jasper Holliday and Ben Cooke were now at the wicket and things did start to look up when Jasper started hitting the ball over the mid-wicket. This did not last long as Green, once again, started taking wickets. Mason caught Ben off him for 2 and Kieran Poole was caught by May for a golden duck. This gave Green his five-for. In the following over, Burns was brought back on to replace Thomas (4 – 0 – 9 – 2) and it was he who took the final wicket. Manning caught jasper off him for 5 runs. Burns’ figures ended at 4.4 – 0 – 33 – 1 and Green’s ended at 7 – 1 – 23- 5.

Matt Bushe was 0 not out and NAG was left 104 for 9 off 27.4 overs.

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