Northfleet 181-6 dec. (39 overs)
New Ash Green 182-3 (32.5 overs)
New Ash Green won by 7 wickets

After last week's victory at Manor Field, spirits were high for the visit of Northfleet, Mick Sumner winning the toss and choosing to field to ensure maximum use of the only new ball used in the game. Sumner and Olly Cooper opened the bowling, both bowling very well, Cooper at times looking an heir to Sumner's throne as the club's number one left arm seamer. Cooper got the first breakthrough, Karl Bartlett taking a spinning catch on the edge of the freshly mown infield. Sumner picked up his solitary wicket, taking a catch off his own bowling, finishing with figures of 1-9 from 7 overs. The bowling changes saw Ian Davies and Keith Bushell into the attack, Bushell taking 2 wickets in his eight overs for only 16 runs. At this point the Northfleet innings could well have been over if NAG had taken their catches, eight going down in all leaving NAG chasing 182 to win from their hour and 20 overs, Marc Klus and Quantrill bowling the final few overs to finish off the innings.

Quantrill and Martin Pickering were sent out to chase the figure. Both played solidly and slowly, leaving everyone on the boundary somewhat perplexed. After the drinks break, the two batsmen's plan then kicked into action, with the scoring rate increasing rapidly. After a stand of 116 for the first wicket, Pickering was out LBW for 42. John Howland and Bartlett were dismissed for 3 and 5 respectively, leaving Klus to join Quantrill at 137-3. Quantrill continued to increase the run rate above what was required with Klus joing in with a few fours of his own. The innings came down to the last over of the game, NAG needing 9 from the over, and finally two from the final ball. At this point Sharma bowled so far down the leg side that Klus could afford to take four steps to his right and still miss the ball, Quantrill scampering through for the second wide to ensure a second successive home win on a Saturday. Quantrill ended up on 100*, an extremely important and ultimately match winning knock.

An excellent effort all round from NAG, a much needed confidence boost before both teams start their league campaigns next weekend.

Scorecard

New Ash Green 158-9 (40 overs)
Brasted & Sundridge Exiles 161-4 (38.4 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 6 wickets

Perhaps remembering New Ash Green's remarkable successful run chase in the equivalent fixture last year Brasted and Sundridge chose to bowl first on winning the toss. The New Ash Green innings featured no single outstanding innings, but a number of decent contributions in the middle order, including 15 on debut from Sam Plummer kept the scoring steady, and David Baker (27*) and Andy Mayers (25) added 45 for the eighth wicket to ensure a respectable total at the end of 40 overs.

Dan Lewsey and John Harley ensured the pressure was on Brasted & Sundridge from the start with tidy opening spells, each removing one opener, and Andy Mayers also took a wicket as the score was reduced to 59-3. From here on, though the game was dominated by Brasted & Sundridge number 4 Nick Hubbard (103*), who saw them home with an over and a half to spare, despite a wicket from Matt Bushe courtesy of John Harding's 4th stumping of the season.

Scorecard

New Ash Green 225-8 (40 overs)
Wilmington 130 all out (32.3 overs)
New Ash Green won by 95 runs

After last season's debacle of a pitch at Wilmington New Ash Green must have been dreading losing the toss, but with Scott McKechnie again standing in at short notice and Andy Harrington steady at the other end Wilmington would have been very disappointed to concede 137 for the first wicket before McKechnie found a fielder, having made 82. Harrington carried on steadily to make 76, and although there were a few wickets thrown away in what was presumably a late order slog Micky Sumner made 20 not out and with Dan Lewsey rather risking his 'not out king' title by being out to the last ball of the innings for the second day in succession New Ash Green racked up a very impressive 225-8 in 40 overs.

In reply Wilmington were never in the hunt, with 8 of their batsmen reaching double figures, but none getting to 20. John Harley took 3-32, Dan Lewsey picked up a couple and Micky Sumner ensured there was no chance of Wilmington getting the runs with an economical spell in the middle. Debutant Ryan Marsh went for two fours from his first two balls, but came back well to end up with 3-22, and Andy Mayers had barely warmed up when he took the final wicket in a crushing 95 run victory.

Scorecard