It seems to have been something of an eventful weekend, but being away in Devon I have little to go on bar the scorecards and one or two rumours! Brief reports and links follow, but any additional information about these games would be welcomed and may be added to the reports at a later date.

New Ash Green (12 points) 141 all out (44 overs)
Pembury (8 points) 142-8 (43.5 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 2 wickets

The firsts lost their umpire shortly before the start due to a car breaking down and the seconds being left short of a player. It appears this may have had a critical effect on the game as apparently the Cowdrey team were rather aggressive in their sledging, which the umpire did nothing to stop, and also a little more lenient on wides and other decisions with one side than with the other. Being asked to bat first in what were presumably difficult conditions following rain in the week New Ash Green's innings was anchored by Vaughan John who stayed a long time for his 38, and was thus a witness to and butt of much of the “chat” going on. Marc Klus made 14 and Matt Dehaney 22, with Micky Sumner continuing his current good batting form with a brisk 35 not out at the end. They ended up being all out for 141 with 2 overs to spare.

Having knocked off the runs in the return fixture in less than ten overs Cowdrey may have been expecting an easy time of it, but that was a game where New Ash Green were decimated by the call of the Sumner nuptials. This time they put up much sterner resistance. Micky Sumner bowled a tight opening spell, going for juts 25 runs in 12 overs, and although Matt Dehaney was expensive early on the other bowlers were all tidy as well. Oddly it was the most expensive, Andy Mayers, who was also the most incisive, taking 5-47 in ten overs. Having sledged Vaughan John for his slow scoring rate Cowdrey captain Glen Warner was only just quicker, taking 6- balls over his 19, and Thomas Probert even slower with a 71 ball 10. Vic Mayers took 1-7 in 8 overs, and Paul Sumner 1-9 in 4.5, but in the end Cowdrey scraped home with 2 wickets to spare. Not quite the convincing win needed to justify their initial attitude, and it shows that (possibly too late in the season) New Ash Green actually can be a match for even the top sides in this division.

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Littlebourne (20 points) 300-8 dec. (45.3 overs)
New Ash Green (5 points) 204 all out (45.3 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 96 runs

The last minute loss of Dan Lewsey, replaced by John Harding, strengthened New Ash Green as a batting side, but did leave a hole in their bowling. With even the experienced bowlers going for runs (John Harley 1-55, Keith Bushell 2-66) the fill ins were really struggling, but they did pick up wickets at the end, Matt Bushe taking 2-29 in 4 overs and Kieran “Golden Arm” Poole 3-40 in 4.3. Littlebourne opener Paul Spratt made 130 not out, though, and for the second game running the seconds conceded a huge score, though a declaration in the last over at the fall of the eighth wicket gifting them an additional bonus point.

The reply was a spirited one, with John Harding Anchoring the top half with 49, well supported by Matt Clark who made 17. Martin Pickering came in at 5, and the pair of Oxford old boys added 42 before Harding went. There was then a bit of a clatter of wickets before John Clack became the 4th batsman to make his season's highest score as the 8th wicket pair put on a season leading 59. Clack eventually went for 32 and Pickering was out for 52 in the last over, perhaps looking in vain to make the seven additional runs needed to collect a batting bonus point. A heavy defeat, but on the batting front a more encouraging game.

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New Ash Green 195-7 dec. (40 overs)
Wilmington 137-3 (36 overs)
Match Drawn

A stronger than usual Sunday XI would have had high hopes against Wilmington, beaten once already this season, but those hopes too a bit of a blow with the early losses of Marc Klus and Simon Freeman for ducks, after skipper for the day Dan Lewsey had chosen to bat first, something of a rarity for the Sunday side. James Porter's run out soon afterwards put further pressure on, but John Harding and Matt Bushe steadied things and when Harding was out for 24 Andy Harrington joined Bushe in a partnership of 89 for the 5th wicket. In the course of the partnership Matt Bushe passed his highest ever score, then doubled it, made his maiden fifty and went on to make 67 before finally succumbing to the returning Tim Cotton, comfortably Wilmington's best bowler with 3-28 from 11 overs. Once Bushe had gone there were runs also for Joe Elisak (14) and Lee Saunders (13*) and Harrington ended up with 49* as the total reached 195-7 when the declaration came at tea.

In response Dan Lewsey also bowled a captain's spell, taking 1-16 in 9 overs, but after losing one wicket Wilmington with Cotton making 52 and opener Squire batting through for 58 not out. A variety of bowlers seems to have failed to tempt them into indiscretion – whether the bowling was tight or the batsmen made no effort to go for the runs I don't know. Andy Harrington was eventually able to remove Cotton, and took another wicket, but the game seems to have died away as a dull draw, Wilmington ending up on 137-3.

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