Saturday 31st July & Sunday 1st August
Saturday 31st July & Sunday 1st August
Kent Regional Cricket League - 46 Overs per side
Horton Kirby (20pts) 188 all out (32.2 overs)
New Ash Green (5 pts) 89 all out (23.2 overs)
New Ash Green lost by 99 runs
A New Ash Green weakened by injuries and exhaustion following tour made a good effort against a resurgent Horton Kirby side who are finally showing the form that made them league favourites at the start of the season. There were a couple of early wickets for Mick Sumner and although Darren Bull anchored the innings well and there were a couple of decent partnerships New Ash Green never let the batsmen get completely on top. Andy Harrington chipped away at the batting with four wickets, Ashley Woodward picked up another two and Vic Mayers helped polish off the tail with a couple to ensure the score was kept under 200 and that New Ash Green had full bowling bonus points with plenty of time to spare.
Although New Ash Green had 13 extra overs in which to get the runs it was always going to be a tough ask against probably the best opening attack in the league. County trialist Darren Bridges was fast but a little wayward, but Ananda Bhattiprolu is the man who has been taking wickets recently and it was he who did most of the damage with 6-17 from 9 overs. Andy Mayers showed some brief fight with two 4s and a 6 in his 16, but the spin of Dane Bull accounted for him and Karl Bartlett, and although Chris Bartram put up a brave fight against the change bowlers he was finally out for 31 before the first bonus point had been achieved.
Scorecard
Current League Table
Kent Regional Cricket League - 46 Overs per side
New Ash Green conceded
Yet again a second eleven could not be raised, not helped by the absence of the selectors on tour. Time may be nearly up for the second eleven, but it would be good to see a final effort being made to revive it before the end of the season.
Current League TableFriendly Match - Proper Cricket
Wilmington 249-4 dec. (40 overs)
New Ash Green 166-6 (37 overs)
Match Drawn
Wilmington chose to bat first against a side starting with 9 men while Tim Cooper finished preparing what was an excellent tea. Somewhat short of bowling John Harley partnered himself initially with Edward Quantrill, but neither were able to make much impact on the opening batsmen. Neither were Ryan Harley and guest player Phil Steers, but eventually Phil Wallis was able to put a little bit of a brake on the scoring and end the first wicket partnership at 133 when a full toss was hit straight to the safe hands of Steers. The real brake on Wilmington's progress, though, came with the unlikely combination of Matthew Quantrill and Tim Cooper. Quantrill kept it tight, by some distance the most economical bowler, while Cooper took the wickets, his first and second for the club coming in quick succession with catches by Steers (again) and John Harley. However the change to Phil Markham and the returning John Harley saw the rate creep up again. Markham looked to have his first wicket for the club when Matthew Quantrill held the ball well above his head on the boundary, but unable to keep his balance and stay on the field had to drop the ball back in to save six as he stepped back. Markham was not to be denied, though, with the batsman dancing down the pitch next ball and missing, to be stumped by Dave Harley. He could have had another next ball, but the loop off the back of the bat deceived Harley, and the batsman escaped to pile on a few more runs.
Wilmington eventually declared at 249-4, but probably had batted on for a few overs too long. With New Ash Green now having little incentive to chase an almost impossible target Wilmington had not left themselves enough time to get them out, and although Dave Green went early after a promising start Phil Wallis showed what has been missing all season with a solid innings, and Karl Bartlett, arriving at tea time to discover the team still one short, rediscovered his form and confidence with his season's highest score. Bartlett eventually fell for 42, while Wallis went on to make 58. As the wickets began to fall a typical Sunday collapse and a tight finish might have been expected, skipper John Harley showing the way with a second ball duck, but brother Dave and (slightly unexpectedly) Phil Markham showed more resolve and took the team to safety, before Markham, having been wittering about how being not out would be heaven had a huge swing at the last ball and was bowled, much to the amusement of the Wilmington fielders who collapsed on the ground laughing!