The Mote (19 pts) 197-8 (46 overs)
New Ash Green (8 pts) 138-9 (46 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 59 runs

Due to various traffic problems New Ash Green looked like having to start with just 8 in the field, but Andy Mayers arrived just in time, while Vic followed after two overs. Andy Harrington made it from Cardiff in time to complete the eleven before the batsman could start exploiting any gaps in the field. With neither side having an umpire there was always room for controversy, and Raveendran, umpiring for the Mote, ensured it would be a game without LBWs when giving Richard Feltham not out in the second over when he was trapped right in front, as plumb as they come, by Andy Mayers. Feltham went on to make most of the runs in an opening partnership of 52 before edging Mayers to first slip for a deserved wicket. With Mayers bowling another excellent spell, and the Mote batsmen struggling with the slower pace of Keith Bushell, they were never able to take advantage of their strong start, but they kept nudging the score along, particularly opener Paul Merwood who survived another doubtful decision when he appeared to be run out by a foot or two and anchored the innings with 72. Raveendran added a bit of urgency with some big blows when he first came in, but was completely at sea against Andy Mayers on his return and was bowled swiping hopelessly at a straight one. After that tight bowling from both Mayers and Mick Sumner in his second spell, along with some excellent catches ensured that the Mote were unable to accelerate at all – indeed their scoring rate plummeted in the last few overs – and New Ash Green were able to pick up some bonus bowling points and keep the total under 200.

A full toss first ball driven for 4, and some more loose deliveries, gave New Ash Green a sound start, and even when the bowlers tightened up a bit the biggest danger looked to be irritation from the constant chatter of Raveendram, who was temporarily silenced by dropping Martin Pickering. It would have given even his Mote team mates a certain amount of pleasure if Pickering had gone on to score the winning runs, but it was not to be. The advent of spin bowling in the form of Chris Feltham and Robert Adams turned the game, with Matthew Quantrill falling first when he failed to keep a pull shot down enough from a short ball, being caught at ankle height. Martin Pickering missed a straight ball from Adams and once again New Ash Green's middle order were perhaps guilty of looking to be over aggressive too soon, losing wickets they really shouldn't have done against relatively gentle bowling. Andy Harrington held up an end for a while before perishing having a last throw of the dice in going for the win, and Matt Clark played a very solid innings to be second highest scorer at number 9, before Matt Bushe and Keith Bushell eked out one more bonus point and denied the Mote maximum points in the last couple of overs.

Scorecard
Current League Table

The Mote (20 pts) 181 all out (41.2 overs)
New Ash Green (10 pts) 139 all out (42.5 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 42 runs

A solid bowling performance by New Ash Green had the Mote on the rack at 93-6, but Mansoor Khan made 75 at number 7 to rescue the Mote and enable them to end up with 181, Joe Elisak being the pick of the bowlers with 4-39.

Elisak turned his hand to batting in the second innings, playing almost a lone hand as New Ash Green were unable to deal with the opening attack of Dickerson and the very slow Damen. From 21-3 there was a partial recovery as James Oliver, in his first game of the season made 24 in a partnership of 43, but after he went the rest collapsed again until John Harding joined Elisak with the score on 99-9. Not fully fit Harding was still able to safely keep an end up while Elisak made the runs, and they had added a season leading 40 for the last wicket and kept victory hopes flickering faintly before Elisak finally found a fielder for a career best score of 68.

Scorecard
Current League Table

Chelsfield Park 211-4 dec. (37 overs)
New Ash Green 173-8 (39 overs)
Match Drawn

Early hopes for New Ash Green when John Harley took a wicket were dashed by a partnership of 184 for the second wicket, with Pinchip making 104 before finally falling to Matt Bushe. Bushe took another and Andy Harrington added one to ensure a slightly more respectable gloss was added to the score by the time of the declaration.

New Ash Green's top order didn't fare quite so well, with Carrett removing numbers 2-5 for a combined total of 2 runs, and when Andy Harrington perished to the other opener, having made 24 out of 28, New Ash Green were in dire straits. Dan Lewsey was able to play his usual limpet like role in steadying the ship, while at the other end Lee Saunders showed what New Ash Green have been missing through his exams, dominating season leading partnerships of 97 for the 6th wicket with Lewsey and 33 for the 7th with Tim Cooper and making a maiden century in the process. Saunders finally fell in the final over, giving Carrett a sixth wicket, but he had ensured that New Ash Green were able to hold on for a very respectable draw and keep up their unbeaten run on a Sunday.

Scorecard