New Ash Green (4 points) 179-6 (46 overs)
Yalding (18 points) 180-3 (36 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 7 wickets

A steady batting performance from New Ash Green, anchored by Ian Martin's 38, with contributions from most of the batsmen and then boosted at the end by an unbeaten 65 from Vic Mayers saw them to a respectable 179-6 off the 46 overs.

Yalding's innings also started steadily with Matt Dehaney and Lee Saunders keeping it tight early on, Saunders getting one wicket and Dehaney unlucky not to get some as well. Ian Martin and Vic Mayers kept it tight and picked up a wicket each, and with 100 needed off the last twenty the game looked very much in the balance. From here, though, it swung decisively Yalding's way, with Yalding debutant Phil Hulston striking the ball very cleanly. Many of his shots were in the air, some not entirely under control, but all very well hit, and with the bowling struggling under pressure and James Emmit joining in the attacking theme the required runs were knocked off with ten overs to spare. A disappointing ending, but New Ash Green had been in the match for most of the game, and if they can eventually get a full strength side out should be able to be competitive in most of their games.

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New Ash Green (3 points) 78 all out (25.4 overs)
New Ifield (20 points) 80-2 (24 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 8 wickets

Knowing New Ifield were struggling to raise sides it was something of a shock to see how many strong players were in their second XI for this game, though it transpired at tea time that they had in fact conceded their first team game and were putting out only one eleven on the day, a fact which is to be discussed by the league and is likely to result in the points being awarded to New Ash Green.

Unaware of this as the game started New Ash Green were disappointed to lose the toss and be put in on a wicket of distinctly variable bounce, especially from the quicker bowlers with the new ball. New Ifield had the bowlers to exploit this in Michael Foster and Martin Lindenberg, though both bowled a few loose balls early on that were picked off by Matthew Quantrill. After a solid opening partnership, though, John Howland failed to get in line with one, and was quickly followed by Matt Bushe who played on from one that kept low. Karl Bartlett, a last minute call up, edged three off his first ball, but was bowled by his second and New Ash Green were looking on the ropes. Quantrill still looked solid, though, and he was ably supported by Josh Hudson, who showed great bravery in getting in line and blocking everything straight. The pair put on 32 for the 4th wicket, and looked as if they might see off the opening bowlers before Quantrill was beaten by one that took off from Lindenberg, and was caught behind. This prompted a clatter of four wickets for one run as Hudson lost patience and swung at a straight one, Dan Lewsey was beaten by a shooter and James Porter couldn't reign in his attacking instincts, giving Foster a fifth wicket. Having nearly seen off the opening pair the damage was now done, and although Ruby Shah and John Clack made some effort to mount a rearguard action the innings ended in the first couple of overs from the change bowling for a dispiriting 78.

Things didn't go a great deal better on the bowling front. A few early loose balls aside the bowling wasn't too bad, but with a little less pace and a softer ball the New Ash Green bowlers couldn't extract the same demons from the pitch that New Ifield had done. They also had little luck, especially Ruby Shah who braved an injured toe to play and bowl a very tidy ten overs with no luck until the very end. Finally with all seeming lost and just nine needed to win a straight drive from Foster was touched onto the stumps and caught his partner backing up too far, and the very next ball Foster mis-timed a pull and was well held by Kieran Poole. That, though, was it, as the next batsman, Stephen Carey, finished the game off in the next three balls.

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Disappointingly Holcombe called this game off on Friday evening, by when it was too late to find a replacement fixture. Given the terrible weather forecast it is probbale that no clubs were trying too hard to find fixtures, but although it rained very hard on Sunday morning it actually brightened up in the afternoon, and may well have been playable.

While a game might have been possible on Sunday it certainly wasn't on Monday, torrential rain in the morning followed up by wind and constant light rain all day, leaving parts of the ground waterlogged.