Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th August
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th August
East Kent Feeder League - 46 Overs per side
New Ash Green 130-all out (39.4 overs)
Old Williamsonians 133-1 (28 overs)
Old Williamsonians won by 9 wickets
Another Saturday at Manor Field for the 1sts started with the hope of getting some points out of a home fixture for the second week running after last weeks wash out. Things started to go wrong from the off, when Mick Sumner lost the toss and NAG were asked to bat first. Marc Klus partnered Matthew Quantrill opening the innings, with both making solid starts before Quantrill was caught at cover for 16. Michael James was next in, falling for an unlucky duck to one that kept so low the opposition barely celebrated the wicket. This brought Ian Davies to the crease, who just like a certain tour story involving an eastern european woman and a dancefloor, didnt last long and was out for 3. The Mayers twins were in next and both fell for 1 each. Whilst his batting partners lost their way, Marc Klus remained, playing an array of shots, including an epic six over mid-wicket (which was the longest boundary he could hit too!). Klussy eventually fell cuaght behind for a very respectable 87. Mick Sumner then came to the crease hoping to play a captains innings after brother Paul Sumner had made a quickfire 13. NAG's captain was out of luck as he was given out by Matthew Quantrill LBW despite taking such a large stride forward he was almost stepping on the bowlers toes. The rest of the batting order faded quickly, with Matthew Clark ending not out on nought, although, he did have the time to send Bushe back for an easy single (that was Bushe's call) and get him run out.
Despite being up against it from the off, NAG came out ready to fight. In the opening exchanges there literally was almost a fight as Daniel Buckle struggled to run around Mick Sumner, going on to call him something we have all suspected for years (unfortunately i cant type what was said, but it was alot stronger than the early season 'Moron-gate' that Sumner was also involved in!). Mick was economical returning 0-24 off 7 overs (including one maiden). Andy Mayers at the other end bowled with great aggression and pace, despite fighting off swine flu. Keith Bushell and Paul Sumner were the first change with both batsmen deciding they would attach the pair of them. Paul Sumner was to take the first and obly wicket of the innings, trapping Buckle LBW for 37. Vic Mayers came on for a very tight 2 overs before Ian Davies decided enough was enough, giving the batsmen 15 off his solitary over. Old Williamsonians won comfortably, with Luke 'Harry Potter' Butcher unbeaten on 66.
In summary, Klussy batted very well, but, the rest was an all too familar story against a side pretty much a shoe-in for the title.
Scorecard
Current League Table
East Kent Feeder League - 46 Overs per side
Sheppey 236-6 (46 overs)
New Ash Green 97 all out (36 overs)
Sheppey won by 139 runs
Match summary provided by Dan Lewsey
Sheppey got loads (200odd). We just failed to reach the 100 mark. John Harley opened with very good spell 1-23 off 12. 3-63 off 11 for Graeme Poole, 2-73 off 12 for Campari(wickets 50&51) but he bowled like a retard. 1st wicket was taken by Harley with Spot taking a blinder behind the stumps. our batting was not very good on the flattest wicket ive played on this season only Poole 16 & Campari 28 reaching double figures. on a more positive note they had a really nice bar ! the end !!!.
Scorecard
Current League Table
Friendly
Greenfell 195 all out(35.3 overs)
New Ash Green 94-7 (39 overs)
Match Drawn (YAWN)
Match report by Matthew Bushe
JH won the toss and inserted the opposition, having agreed a timed game.
JH opened the bowling and following a wayward first over bowled a tidy 6 over spell (0-23).
Dan Lewsey made an early breakthrough, with Adam Reeves taking a good catch over his shoulder.
Their remaining opener and the no. 3 then built a solid partnership, which took the score past 100, with the opener particularly harsh on any balls that were short or wide.
Dan was unfortunate not to pick another wicket, when the no.3 was dropped at mid-on and then the following ball he couldn't quite reach a return catch on his follow through. He finished with 1-28 from his 7 over spell.
Kieran Poole, playing his first game of the year, replaced John and finally broke the partnership towards the end of his spell, with the no.3 skying one which was easily taken by the safe hands (2 games, 3 catches) of Phil Wallis at mid-wicket.
Matt Lemon came on after Dan and despite an inconsistent first couple of overs, bowled an accurate 5 over spell, following the shortening of his run up, to finish with 0-26.
Adam Reeves replaced Kieran, and after a poor first couple of balls found a consistent line and length. The no.4 bat was deceived by a ball that swung in a little and edged onto his stumps and three balls later the no.5 was on his way back following a good low catch by Matt Bushe in the gully. A double wicket maiden for Reeves.
Bushe bowled an awful three over spell, after Lemon, and finished with 0-26.
Following a couple of lusty blows back over Reeves' head, the no.6 tried to cart him over the mid-wicket boundary, but didn't really time it properly and could only pick out Kieran Poole stepping back towards the rope.
In his next over Reeves also picked up the wicket of the opener, for 85, thanks to a great two handed diving catch from Matt Bushe, again in the gully.
Andy Harrington had come on after Bushe and in his second over deceived the no.7 with a ball that swung like a banana, pitching outside leg stump and hitting the top of off.
In his final over, with no.8 and 9 at the crease, Reeves was looking for another wicket, to complete a maiden 5-wicket haul. Early in the over the no.8 tried to take a single to Karl Bartlett, who had fielded brilliantly all day, at cover, and a direct hit saw the non-striker run out at the keepers end trying to complete the risky single. This brought the number 10 to the crease with 3 balls of the over remaining. Reeves only needed one as the batsmen guided a dolly to Bushe at gully, finishing with 5-30 from his 6 over spell.
The innings was ended in the next over as the non striking no.8 attempted a suicidal run, which was refused and Dave Harley calmly threw the ball to Andy Harrington (1-9) at the bowlers end to complete the run out.
The opposition were 195 all out from 35.3 overs.
Following a splendid tea (thanks Karen), the skipper decided to put all his eggs in one basket and open with our only two recognised batsmen, Andy Harrington and Phil Wallis.
Unfortunately for NAG this plan backfired early on, as although seeing out the first couple of overs relatively easily, despite the accuracy of the bowling, Wallis was extremely unfortunate to be given out LBW, for 0, as he took a stride down the pitch and edged onto the knee-roll!
With no other volunteers, Dave Harley came in at 3, but despite a 2 early on was finding it difficult to score. Harrington wasn't finding it particularly easy either, but did keep the score ticking along by putting away any loose deliveries.
Having seen off the opening bowlers, Harley was soon undone by the change bowling, without adding to his earlier tally. This brought Bartlett to the crease, looking to build on the runs he scored on Saturday. Unfortunately for Karl, he stepped away from a ball he thought was a no-ball that hit the top of middle stump. He departed, rather unhappily, without troubling the scorers and moved to joint second in the duck cup.
This brought the second elevens top scorer from Saturday, Dan Lewsey, to the crease. Whilst Saturday was Dan's day, Sunday was clearly not as he was struggling to hit the ball of the square, if at all.
With Dan unable to accumulate any runs, the scoring mantle fell firmly on Andy Harrington's shoulders. He continued to punish anything loose and picked up further runs where he could.
Having put on 41 for the fourth wicket, Harrington perished (caught) for 42 trying to up the scoring rate against the further change bowling.
This brought Bushe to the crease, eager to avoid picking up a pair for the weekend. Almost immediately, Lewsey was caught, fencing a rib-tickler to the close in square-leg. Phil Markham was next man in and was soon off the mark following a drive past mid-off for two.
Bushe was yet to get off the mark and with Karl now umpiring, was keen not to get rapped on the pad and give Karl the opportunity to give him out and move back ahead in the duck cup.
The danger was soon averted, with two crisp boundaries hit along the ground through the mid-wicket region. Markham was out in the following over, bowled, having missed a straight one.
Despite having been playing for draw since the start of his innings, Bushe decided to tell the incoming batsmen, Lemon, to do the same. With less than 10 overs remaining over 120 were still needed, which was probably beyond their and the remaining batsmen's capabilities.
The opening bowler was back on, from the pavilion end but was seen off with relative ease by both batsmen, despite the close fielder's insistence on telling the bowler to 'Squeeze the Lemon'!
The opposition reverted to slow loopy spin from the top end to try and get the batsmen to hit out as they needed to pick up wickets to win the game, and a change from medium pace to quick from the bottom end.
Despite picking up the occasional 1 or 2, both batsmen were happy to defend the straight ones and let everything outside off go past. However, from the second ball of the last over, Lemon was surprised by one from the spinner that pitched behind his legs, turned and hit leg stump. He departed for 5.
At this stage the opposition needed three wickets in four balls to force an unlikely win. Reeves came in next and was given his instructions. Don't do anything silly, but if it's there to be hit, hit it! He tentatively prodded at the next delivery and was almost stumped, but then hit the next three deliveries for 4, 2 & 3 (1 & 2 overthrows) to finish 9*. Bushe finished 16* with NAG on 94 for 7 from 39 overs.
Thanks to Ryan Marsh for umpiring for 50 overs, before feeling ill, and Martin Bartlett for doing spells of umpiring and scoring, despite only coming down to watch Karl play.