Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th June
Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th June
Kent Regional Cricket League - 46 Overs per side
New Ash Green (4pts) 162-8 (46 overs)
Blue Star (19 pts) 163-3 (44 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 7 wickets
With neither side having an umpire New Ash Green had hopes of being able to win the toss and bowl first, taking advanatge of Keith Bushell's availability until 6pm. However Dan Lewsey's tossing record continued to be poor and despite the sweltering conditions Blue Star asked New Ash Green to bat first. They started soundly enough before Karl Bartlett suffered a rush of blood, but Joe Elisak and Matthew Quantrill set a solid foundation. Unfortunately as the humidity and heat increased Quantrill lost all fluency and timing, and others could not stay and build on good starts. David Baker made a very welcome return and looked sound, particularly for one who has not played for nearly a year in making 24, and after Quantrill finally perished for 46 Paul Sumner struck a few lusty blows in making 20, but the innings never really built on its potential against a relatively ordinary attack, and ended up with just 162 after a late flurry from Keith Bushell.
Nonetheless New Ash Green did not go down without a fight, with Keith Bushell striking in the first over and he and Dan Lewsey starting with four maidens between them. Unfortunately a generally good fielding display was marred by crucial missed chances with catches and stumpings going begging. Few were easy, but they were chances that had to be taken in a game of this nature, and despite two more wickets being picked up, a very tidy 12 overs from Dan Lewsey and some great balls from Olly Cooper and Paul Sumner the wickets didn't come and Blue Star were able to make it to victory with a couple of overs to spare, though the game was tighter than the 7 wicket margin suggests.
Scorecard
Current League Table
Kent Regional Cricket League - 46 Overs per side
New Ash Green (12 pts) 81 all out (28.4 overs)
Blue Star (20 pts) 85-8 (29.3 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 2 wickets
Both teams professed to be very weak in this game, and turned out to be well matched. New Ash Green were asked to bat first, and John Harding and extras led the way, though there were also useful contributions from Mark Chapelhow, John Harley and Matt Lemon. There were also a number of ducks, but they came from new players with little experience who will hope to develop in time.
New Ash Green were out before tea was ready, so had a chance to bowl at Blue Star immediately, and John Harley took advantage with a burst of early wickets, reducing Blue Star to 15-5. The other bowlers all performed well, with 2 wickets for Matt Lemon and one for Adam Reeves, but the lower order batted solidly, and the 9th wicket pair were able to add 33 to rescue Blue Star from imminent defeat at 52-8 and carry them to victory. Nonetheless it was a good result for a weakened side, and again shows some hope for the future.
Scorecard
Current League Table
Friendly Match - Proper Cricket
Nuxley 190-3 dec. (39 overs)
New Ash Green 131-8 (40 overs)
Match Drawn
Having managed to dodge the worst of the rain, and prepared a pitch soaked by thunderstorms overnight New Ash Green chose to bowl first on winning the toss. The early bowling was reasoanbly tight but could not make breakthroughs, and Nuxley were able to build a very respectable total in the conditions, their equilibrium disturbed only by a Lee Saunders run out, a maiden wicket for Mark Chapelhow on his first bowl for the club and one for Ryan Harley.
New Ash Green made a decent start, with Phil Wallis making 32 in his first game of the season, Dan Lewsey anchoring the innings with 37 and Lee Saunders also making 32. Once he was out, though, the chances of making the runs seemed to have gone and the remaining batsmen were unable to make many, but did survive to hold on for the draw, the entire Harley family remaining unbeaten at the end.