Friendly Match - "Proper Cricket"
New Ifield 200 all out (41.4 overs)
New Ash Green 139 all out (33.2 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 61 runs
With a weakened team New Ash Green invited New Ifield to bat and promptly set about giving their batsmen multiple chances. Tim Lawrence was removed early to a good low catch from Graeme Poole's bowling, but over 100 were put on for the second wicket, despite good spells from Lee Saunders, bowling with pace but no luck, and Simon Freeman bowling spin in a match for the first time, and acquitting himself well, though again without luck or much assistance from his fielders. It took the advent of John Clack to make the breakthrough, getting plenty of swing he removed both the 'in' batsmen. From here on the fielding improved and the bowling continued to be tidy, with Dave Harley picking up a couple of wickets and Dan Lewsey mopping up with 3-9 as the New Ifield batsmen continued to go for their shots, the final wicket completing a remarkable double of three catches and three stumpings for Matthew Quantrill.
New Ash Green's hopes had suffered a blow near the end of the first innings when Ian Martin went down with a hamstring injury, but they started positively enough, with Quantrill looking in good touch. However John Howland fell early reaching for a wide one, and Quantrill then clipped a full toss hard off his legs only to see square leg bend and catch it by his ankles, to the amazement of his entire team, including himself. Matt Bushe and Lee Saunders raised hopes for a while with a season leading 54 for the third wicket before Bushe was bowled. Ian Martin managed one big swing away, but was obviously handicapped by his injury and fell soon afterwards. Saunders went on to make 52, but no one else troubled the scorers much as the tail slumped dramatically to defeat.
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Medway Sunday League Match - 40 Overs per side
Old Williamsonians 267-8 (40 overs)
New Ash Green 47 all out (30.1 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 220 runs
Unlike the last two years Old Williamsonians weren't needing a win to clinch the league title, and perhaps that told in their batting line up. John Harley and Kieran Poole, with the help of two run outs, reduced them to 24-4 and a partial recovery was halted as they reached 136-6. However possibly their best batsman was lurking at number 7, and he made a rapid 94, punishing all the bowlers and taking the final total to 267.
New Ash Green's reply was somewaht less convincing, with very little in the way of recognised batting. The best that can be said for it is that Toby Hawkins lasted a long time for his 5, and that Phil Markham exceeded all expectations as the only person to reach double figures, ending with 10 not out.
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