Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September
Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September
East Kent Feeder League - 46 Overs per side
The Mote (20 pts) 221-5 (46 overs)
New Ash Green (2 pts) 79 all out (26.2 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 142 runs
A match to end the league season that somehow encapsulated so much of the season. Lots of people unavailable, but a good start with Andy and Vic Mayers putting the Mote batsmen under considerable early pressure with little luck, some good fielding mixed with occasional silly mistakes and dropped catches and the opposition batsmen taking advantage. There was another good display from Keith Bushell, picking up 3-39 in 12 overs, and promising ones from Ben Cooke and Olly Cooper. There was controversy, with the Mote umpire not spotting a leg side nick that Freeborn got to Ben Cooke, and the batsman having been superbly caught down the leg side, admitting that he had hit it but not walking. And as ever there ended up being a 200+ total to chase.
As with the first innings, so with the second – another mirror image of most of the season. A big score to chase, but a batting collapse with one or two brave bits of resistance – this time from Ian Davies, who made 27. And, of course, no sign of bad weather saving New Ash Green when they are losing, that solely being reserved for games when they are on top. Maybe a human sacrifice is in order to appease the cricketing gods before the start of the next league season, they certainly haven’t been on our side this year.
Scorecard
Current League Table
East Kent Feeder League - 46 Overs per side
The Mote (20 pts) 278-7 (46 overs)
New Ash Green (3 pts) 131 all out (41 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 147 runs
The 2nd XI had a similar experience to the firsts, the season flashing before their eyes as despite two early breakthroughs by Lee Saunders, bowling an excellent couple of spells and showing how he has been missed this year, the Mote rattled up a big score. All the other bowlers were expensive, though Dan Lewsey was slightly less so than the rest and did pick up 3 wickets. Adam Reeves was the only other bowler to keep it under a run a ball. The Mote’s number 3 made a maiden century, and plenty of other runs were hit.
The reply also had a familiar shape to it. John Harding held the top order together, Dan Lewsey helped the tail wag a little, and Lee Saunders hit a few in between, but there were four ducks and no other double figure scores. The innings nearly went the full distance, but never came within range of even bonus points, never mind a win.
Scorecard
Current League Table
Friendly Match - "Proper Cricket"
New Ash Green 100 all out (37.2 overs)
Brasted & Sundridge 88 all out (24.5 overs)
New Ash Green won by 18 runs
On a very worn end of season pitch at Manor Field John Harley failed to persuade the opposition captain that the relative strengths of the teams suggested that the visitors should bat first, and on losing the toss it was New Ash Green who had first go at dealing with the very awkward bounce. Once again it was principally John Harding and Dan Lewsey who held the innings together, but there were useful contributions also from Tim Cooper and debutant Clive Jewel, who each made 9 useful runs. A more than useful 22 extras contributed to dragging the score into 3 figures, though it took almost a full 40 overs to do it.
With Brasted and Sundridge having regularly made good scores against New Ash Green 100 should have been well within their reach, even on this difficult wicket, but John Harley and Dan Lewsey opening the bowling soon had them under pressure. There were two early wickets before a 3rd wicket partnership steadied the ship. Just as a change of bowling looked imminent, though, a wicket fell, and from there on they continued to fall at a steady rate. With a victory in their sights the two bowlers were spurred on to feats of stamina previously undreamt of, bowling over after over as the batsmen continued to chip away at the total, but continued also to struggle with the conditions. Good catching and a magnificent run out from Jewel aided the bowlers, and eventually the batsmen feel 12 short of their target. Epic spells of 12.5 and 12 overs respectively brought Harley 6-46 and Lewsey 3-31, and also profuse apologies from the skipper to those who had not had a go. Perhaps in the end the result justified the means, but there was certainly a feeling that two bowler matches need to be a one off outside of the league.