Saturday 14th June and Sunday 15th June
Saturday 14th June and Sunday 15th June
Kent Feeder League (East) Match - 46 Overs per side
Bobbing Court/Lower Halstow (20 points) 160-8 (46 overs)
New Ash Green (12 points) 144 all out (44.5 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 16 runs
Having inserted the newly combined Bobbing Court/Lower Halstow 1st XI New Ash Green were rewarded by decent opening spells from both Matt Dehaney and Andy Mayers, who both beat the bat without much luck. Mayers took an early wicket, but in a crucial second wicket stand of 53 both batsmen were dropped and never looked comfortable. The change bowling brought a change of fortune as well, firstly with Lee Saunders having one well held by Paul Sumner above his head, then with a remarkable start to the season from Paul Sumner. He was a little lucky to get away with a couple of poor balls in his first over, but for someone who hadn't had even a net this year to start with five consecutive maidens is nothing less than astonishing. Those batsmen who lost patience and tried to attack paid the price and by half way through his sixth over Sumner had 3-0. The game perhaps turned again when Darren Millbanks went to slash Sumner away and his shot just evaded Arron Ward's full length dive – a few inches closer to Ward and Sumner would have had 4-0 and the game been virtually over. As it was Millbanks continued to slash away at anything outside the off stump with good effect on the way to making 42 and helping “Bobstow” recover from a shakey 77-5 to reach 160-8 by the end. Sumner finished with 3-14 from 9 overs, and Vic Mayers shook off injury to keep the runs down at one end in the last overs, taking 2-19 in six overs. Lee Saunders also returned to take the wicket of Millbanks and overall New Ash Green could feel satisfied with their efforts, though the familiar “what if…” feeling about dropped catches still pervaded the tea discussions.
What goes around, comes around though. Matthew Quantrill's working hours prevented him travelling with the seconds to Westgate-on-Sea, and he opened the innings with Ian Martin. A steady start was boosted by Quantrill being dropped twice by first slip before Martin dragged one onto his stumps. Marc Klus followed quickly, before a cameo innings from Matt Dehaney, who had to leave early, lifted the run rate dramatically. Unable to get himself out he pushed his time to the limit before retiring for a brisk 19 from 15 balls, soon to be followed by Joe Dodson and Andy Mayers, who both fell in the first over from Paul Dennington. Suddenly finding themselves at 54-5 New Ash green were in difficulties, but Arron Ward counter-attacked to knock up a quick 14 before being fooled by Ian Linsdell's slower ball. Dennington and Linsdell were a difficult proposition in these conditions, and in the next few overs were able to keep the scoring rate down and build the pressure on New Ash Green. Lee Saunders made a steady 9 before also being beaten by the Lindsell slower ball, and Vaughan John fell LBW to Dennington. With 47 needed from the last 6 overs Vic Mayers joined Quantrill, who had been accumulating steadily but not striking the ball spectacularly. After a steady over from Linsdell the equation became 45 from 5, but three of those overs were to be bowled by the returning Paul Bacon, who had seemed the easiest of the “Bobstow” bowlers to get away thus far. With both batsmen now playing aggressively and running even more aggressively this proved to be the case. Bacon's first two overs back went for 18 runs, and were sandwiched by 10 from a Linsdell over, leaving 17 needed from the last 2, and the game suddenly wide open again. Linsdell regained control however, and Mayers couldn't get him away, eventually being run out (or stumped?) setting off down the wicket when the ball had gone only a foot or two from the keeper. In Paul Sumner New Ash Green still had a no.11 who was more than capable of getting the runs, but an in-dipping middle stump Yorker isn't the easiest ball to start your season with, especially when you are looking for the big hit, and the New Ash Green, having had brief hope, had ended up 16 runs short with Quantrill carrying his bat for 81*, but not quite doing enough to make “Bobstow” really pay for their dropped catches.
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New Ash Green (3 points) 98 all out (38.5 overs)
Westgate-on-Sea (20 points) 100-2 (23.1 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 8 wickets
Coming up against an opposition with an umpire for the first time this year New Ash green were inserted on what were apparently excellent batting conditions – a theory perhaps supported by the high proportion of runs scored in boundaries throughout the match. Deprived of their normal opening batsman through the travelling times the opening partnership didn't last long, but Joe Elisak (23) and Martin Pickering (28) steadied the ship but perished before they could build a really big innings. David Baker maintained his form from the previous week, but ran himself out when getting going, and after that only Dan Lewsey could make double figures as the innings subsided to 98.
In response Graeme Poole produced a decent spell in his first game of the season, taking 1-16 in six overs, and Keith Bushell had 1-2 in his first five overs before rather losing it is his last. Neither John Harley or Dan Lewsey could advance their pursuit of the club wicket taking record, Lewsey in particular being taken apart, and Westgate cruised home with plenty of wickets and overs in hand.
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The Sunday Curse struck yet again, with the opposition pulling out on Saturday morning - by which time all the available fixtures from the bureau had been taken.