Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th & Monday 25th May
Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th & Monday 25th May
East Kent Feeder League - 46 Overs per side
Littlebourne (20 pts) 238-9 (46 overs)
New Ash Green (6 pts) 159 all out (39.5 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 79 runs
Yet another cobbled together side saw the first and second team captains opening the bowling in tandem once more, but it was the second team skipper, Dan Lewsey, who made the early breakthroughs. A caught and bowled and a smart one handed slip catch from Martin Pickering accounted for both openers, and with Micky Sumner once again causing problems for all the batsmen at the other end New Ash Green were in the contest. Littlebourne’s number 3, Ben Davies, had one or two play and misses and one or two shots in the air, but he also played some very powerful off side shots as he kept the run rate ticking over. Sumner picked up two wickets of his own before the end of his spell, and John Harley then continued the excellent showing of the second team bowlers by picking up three quick wickets, one courtesy of a magnificent catch by Andy Mayers flinging himself backwards. At 140-7 Littlebourne were on the verge of being dismissed for a very makeable score, but Davies was still in and scoring well from anything on the off side, and New Ash Green paid for missing a couple of chances to dismiss the number 9 Gareth Cornhill. He supported Davies in a partnership of about 80 for the 8th wicket, ended only when Davies went into out and out slog mode in the last couple of overs and was well held by Micky Sumner from a towering shot, ending up (after several scorer’s recounts) with 148. Andy Mayers picked up one more wicket, but New Ash Green missed another chance and so the opportunity of maximum bowling bonus points in the last over.
The final total of 238 was much higher than had looked likely in the early part of the innings, and with the Littlebourne opening bowlers getting all sorts of bounce out of the pitch with the new ball New Ash Green were soon behind the run rate. Nonetheless the opening pair looked solid enough until Matthew Quantrill was given out to a lifter that brushed his arm. Martin Pickering and Andy Harrington looked comfortable enough, though, and as the ball softened they scored at a steady enough rate, both getting in the 30s and taking the score to 81 before New Ash Green’s batting nemesis was brought on to bowl. In a crucial burst he removed Harrington, Vic Mayers and Pickering in quick succession, all bowled, and with Matt Clarke unable to repeat his lengthy innings of the previous week the score was soon reduced to 93-5. There was no complete collapse though. The next four batsmen all made double figures, with Andy Mayers unfortunately run out when his bat jammed in the ground as he was sliding it back in, Micky Sumner caught and Arron Ward and Karl Bartlett joining those bowled by Davies, though not before they had each hit several thumping boundaries. It was enough to get New Ash Green a couple of batting bonus points for the first time in the season, and enough to show the game would have been very competitive if they hadn’t let the 8th wicket pair get away from them. Small progress, but again showing that if they can ever get a nearly full first team side out both they and the subsequently strengthened second team should be able to compete at this level.
Scorecard
Current League Table
East Kent Feeder League - 46 Overs per side
Littlebourne (20 pts) 326-5 (46 overs)
New Ash Green (2 pts) 140 all out (44.4 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 186 runs
It was a long trip down to Canterbury with an under manned team in tow, New Ash Green knew it was going to be hard. Upon arrival New Ash Green were treated with a short boundary, and maybe thought we could get some runs, this was not the case because the opposition decided to bat first. With a make shift opening bowler pair of Ollie Cooper and Joe Elisak things were sure to get interesting. Elisak's first over was like a spray gun and John Harding was forced to dive everywhere - superb Wicket Keeping. However Ollie showed him how to bowl by bowling much tighter lines and then Joe's next over was much tighter and Joe get he's reward when he got the opener bowled top of off - text book.
It was now the turn of Bushe and Baker to see what they could do and Bushe was bowling stump to stump (don't know if it was swinging because I was down at fine leg). Baker got the ball swinging and the batsmen were struggling to play him only being able to hit the over pitched balls. Baker bowled well to both batsmen, in particular Adam Arnold who didn't have a clue what Baker was doing with the ball and the ball had gone through his defences countless times but each time the ball missing the stumps. In the end another text book ball top of off and the bat was out. However the Littlebourne skipper was batting much better but decided to play a rash shot to Baker's bowling and top edged straight up to the well positioned Lemon and it was game over for him. This brought Neil Davey to the crease just when Baker had finished his spell. From this point on it was carnage but New Ash Green kept plugging away but it felt like every ball was going for 4 or 6. Bushe was hit to the short leg side boundary countless times and the ball was getting lost amongst the tree's and vegetable patches. Nothing much else to say on the New Ash Green bowling performance other than Bushe eventually got his man after smashing 95.
With a tired John Howland and a low on confidence batting line up Baker volunteered to lead the line at number 1. Baker looking to rotate the strike Bushe wasn't following suit and was getting bogged down and that showed in the shot he played lofting it straight up in the air. Enter Elisak who was gone in a flash giving catching practice to gully. Now it was Ollie Cooper's turn and with the field closing in around him he hit over the top to the short leg side boundary and Ollie and Baker had a good partnership full of hard running and good shots. With Baker continually fighting to not swing to the short boundary he was like Alcatraz, a Rock. With solid defences good timing he was going along nicely. With Ollie getting out for 24 and John Harding and Howland not hanging around that long it was James Cisco Porter's turn to give Baker company. He did play slogs to the short boundary and effective it was and a beautiful leg flick for six which lost the ball amongst the Beetroot giving the Baker a much needed rest. Baker was run out by a direct hit but after a Titanic innings giving hope to the remaining Batsmen. Porter was out shortly after Baker and the rest of the line couldn't hold out and bat the 46 overs. There were some positive's to take from the game but nothing to get the trumpet's out over.
Scorecard
Current League Table
Proper Cricket
New Ash Green 188-5 (35 overs)
Cobham 171-8 (37 overs)
Match Drawn
Upon arrival Cobham appeared to have brought their under 15's to Manor Field for this friendly, making NAG believe they were in for an easy ride. NAG batted first, the captains agreeing that it made sense with Cobham hving alot of younger players. Scott Mckechnie and John Harding opened up, starting off extremely slowly, despite some wayward bowling. Harding fell for 15, brining Andy harrington to the crease. Harrington took quick advantage of the poor bowling, picking up a fair few bouandaries in his 37, before being caught. This brought Ian Davies to the crease, who immediately put a 14 year old in his place with 2 crunching fours in quick succession. Davies allowed Mckechnie to up the rate until he got clean bowled for 86, the experience no doubt will be crucial next time he plays in the Kent Premier League. Davies followed for 32 soon after, spooning one up in an attempt to increase the run rate. Lewsey, markham and Bushe finished the innings with 1, 3 and 6 respectively. 188 for 5 was not a decent return, although it would have been nicer if more people down the order got to sample the bowling that was on offer.
Cobham started out chasing 189 for victory with their captain doing alot of the leg work. He ended up with 81 as Cobham ended up 171 for 8 from their overs/time allocation. A target that should never have been close was risked with some pretty poor bowling, especially Davies who looked nothing like the Death Bowler he was at the start of the season. Despite Davies's poor bowling, he did hold onto his first catch since returning to the club, just a shame Mick Sumner wasnt around to see it! Ryan Marsh bowled well, as did Adam Reeves, two very good prospects for the future of NAG. In the end it was experienced Andy Harrington who saved the draw with 4-20 from 5 overs.
In the end a tight game of cricket which left the writer of this report wondering how we didnt win despite the other team failing to chase our target, but we will save that for another day. Big thanks to Karen Harley for all her hard work in making the tea.
40 Overs
New Ash Green 155-9 (40 overs)
St. Marys 157-9 (34 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 1 wicket
Baker won the toss and decided to bat giving everyone the opportunity to have a game. With 2, 3, 4 not showing much resistance it was left to Matthew Quantrill to scratch around and make 50 and he done this with John Harding who made 38 and played some good shot's. Hopefully the time in the middle will help them on Saturday. However New Ash Green's run rate was just too slow Baker and Harrington came in with about 3 over's left and scored quite quickly but 155 was just not enough, but Tea was good.
New Ash Green took to the field with Harley and A. Mayers opening and the Meyers removed 2 but this brought Mckechnie to the crease who played as good as ever. A. Harrington bowled but just couldn't remove Mckechnie who was moving St. Mary's Green into a winning position. Baker turned to Bushe who was bowling well just couldn't get Mckechnie out. Baker needed a turn to guy and with New Ash Green's leading wicket taker in the team it was tempting, but in the end Baker brought himself on. With some thinking out of the box bowling removed Mckechnie plus 3 others and changed the game. Bushe then started chipping in with wickets in the pouring rain but New Ash Green just couldn't remove the last batsman. Not the best of games with poor fielding, slow batting not a game we should really dwell on.