Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th April
Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th April
Friendly Match - "Proper Cricket"
Buckhurst 288-8 dec. (39 overs)
New Ash Green 168-6 (39 overs)
Match Drawn
The first game of the season at Manor Field usually involves a damp green wicket on which the ball rarely rises above ankle height. This year a perfect cloudless day was matched by a hard flat track and a fast outfield, on which the usual opening par score of 125 or so had to be revised upwards. New Ash Green won the corresponding fixture last year, but after something of a struggle to raise a side they were somewhat weaker his year, while Buckhurst had merged with Penshurst Place, a stronger side, and were considerably stronger than the previous season, including overseas player Mike DeCoster, fresh from making over 3000 runs last year including an alleged 19 centuries. Transport chaos meaning half their side were late as well as the conditions and the strengths of the sides all contributed to Buckhurst being more than pleased to bat first on winning the toss. John Harley and Matt Lemon started steadily enough, and although the openers started to accelerate after a slow start Harley made the first breakthrough with his third, and best LBW appeal. Dan Lewsey was not at his best on replacing Lemon, and the batsmen continued to up the pace. First change at the pavilion end was a small moment of history for New Ash Green, involving the first known third generation New Ash Green player at senior level, Edward Quantrill. He started nervously, but settled down to bowl reasonably steadily and his poor balls came close to bringing catches in the backward square leg area several times. Eventually he made the breakthrough, bowling a former Kent Premier league batsman for his first wicket in men's cricket. With Olly Cooper following up with a deserved wicket shortly afterwards New Ash Green felt they were getting back in the game, but this brought DeCoster to the crease to join his skipper, and he was aggressive from the start, particularly ruthless on anything slightly off line. 83 were added in quick time for the 4th wicket before Joe Elisak eventually made the breakthrough, and although Lewsey picked up another and Elisak had DeCoster caught trying to smash a good ball away the damage was done. There was a late wicket for Harley and a debut wicket for Bradley Lonergan, but a huge score, even allowing for the batsman friendly conditions, was already on the board.
The Third Generation
Bradley Lonergan had to leave early for work, so opened the batting with Matthew Quantrill, and they made a sound start. After a few overs Lonergan started trying to accelerate as he was going to have to leave, but his lack of regular recent cricket probably showed in not quite being able to throw the bat. As so often when someone doesn't mind getting out they seem unable to do so, and the pair ended up putting on 74 for the first wicket before Lonergan eventually felt he had to retire for 30. Karl Bartlett then carried on the good work he started the previous week, looking confident and solid as the score went past 100 without a 'proper' wicket falling. Buckhurst tried to open things up, but their score was so big that New Ash Green were never going to reach it, so while they went for runs that were there they couldn't be tempted into too big risks. Quantrill brought out his reverse sweep on his way to 52 before holing out tamely to point, but Bartlett batted on to the end against a variety of bowling, including some quite sharp pace from DeCoster, especially given that the light was starting to fade. Tim Cooper was unlucky on a day when balls had flown past motionless slips and gullies on a regular basis to see his first ball taken by a full length diving catch by DeCoster, but despite a moment or two of nerves as wickets tumbled New Ash Green never looked in real danger of losing and ended up on a respectable 168-6 for a draw.
Cancelled
Having had 8 players available on Monday New Ifield had been hoping to raise a full team by the weekend, but instead found that by Saturday night they had lost 2 rather than gaining any, so the game was called off too late for an alternative fixture to be sought.