Friendly Match

Highways called this match off on Wednesday, and with a distinct lack of enthusiasm from NAG, possibly due to a certain Association Football match being played on Saturday evening, we didn't seek a replacement game.

New Ash Green II v Frindsbury II
Saturday 1st September 2001

Mid-Kent League Match - 46 Overs per side, Maximum 12 per bowler

Frindsbury (20 pts) 145 all out
New Ash Green (9 pts) 94 all out
Frindsbury won by 51 runs.

A crucial top of the table clash was given extra spice by the fact that both sides had no first XI game, New Ash Green having no fixture and Frindsbury having their first XI game conceded by Ditton. With no league rules preventing first XI players being selected the temptation was there for both sides, but hopefully neither gave way to it - certainly New Ash Green didn't.

New Ash Green did have the benefit of winning the toss, and with torrential rain falling in the previous 24 hours being able to bowl first on a wicket that despite extensive rolling was still distinctly sporting. Mick Sumner and Pete Burke made excellent use of the conditions, removing both openers, including the prolific Barry Martin, cheaply. Runs were at a premium as the bowlers moved the ball in the air and off the pitch, and bowled very little that was loose. Sam Dudgeon was dropped twice as he played one or two successful shots, but he eventually was caught and bowled by Burke, and when the drinks were taken after 23 overs the score was 37-5, Burke bowling through his 12 overs to take 2-19.

Tim Jones and Mark Vipond launched a counter attack for Frindsbury, attacking wherever they could, and the father and son combination of Dave and Andy Harrington were both hit around, although both could have taken wickets with a bit more luck. Eventually Sumner had to come back and removed Vipond almost immediately as well as having Jones dropped, despite which he finished his 12 overs with 3-22. At the other end young Matthew Scanlan produced probably his best spell of the season and did get Jones well caught in the deep for 64. After that the wickets went as cheaply as early on, and Scanlan took the last wicket with the penultimate ball to finish with 3-14 and leave Frindsbury all out for 145.

Such a total should have been well within New Ash Green's reach, as they had not yet been all out all season, and had not scored less than 170 in a full innings. However Frindsbury are clearly blessed with tremendous bowling resources this season, as their second team attack was magnificent. It is hard to imagine how good their first team bowlers must be if these four have been unable to break into the 1st XI, as they bowled with good pace and unerring accuracy (apart from Jones' beamer on the first ball of the innings!) throughout. Matthew Quantrill and Rob Newmarch were solid at the start, and grafted their way to 47 without a single successful attacking stroke, and should have given their side the base from which to make the required runs. However once they were out, Quantrill to a superb close catch from Chris Stock and Newmarch run out by his runner after straining his groin, the rest were unable to cope with the relentless accuracy of the bowling. Only Andy Harrington managed double figures, playing some of the few successful attacking strokes. Dominic Adolphe was left stranded on 7 when Dave Harrington faced his second ball of the league season and failed to stop it hitting the stumps and New Ash Green were all out for 94. They did manage enough runs to ensure that they remain 1 point ahead of Frindsbury in the league, ensuring that they will still take the league title if they gain maximum points next week.

As for whether either side played any ringers, that will have to be for others to judge. If this was a genuine 2nd XI contest, then Frindsbury would be worthy winners, and would be worthy winners of the league - they were clearly the better team on the day. One can only marvel at how good their first XI must be this season, and we assume they will be marching to a comfortable league title in division 1B!

New Ash Green III
Saturday 1st September 2001

No game.

New Ash Green v Aquila
Sunday 2nd September 2001

Friendly Match - 40 overs

New Ash Green 162-7
Aquila 106 all out
New Ash Green won by 56 runs.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat on the wicket directly next to the cursed wicket from saturdays game skipper Phillips' was'nt sure what to expect.

Graham Hampsheir made steady progress while Shannon & Wederell both fell quickly. Hampsheir departed for 25 off what he said was a head high no ball, but the all knowledgable umpire Alan Cottrell decided otherwise.

Charles Duguid & Andy Mayers both made 22 with a number of fours and sixes being hit.Both batsmen fell within a few balls of each other leaving the score 91 for 5 of 25 overs. Andy Payne (34) & Darren Phillips (22not out) guided the team towards their final score.

When bowling NAG need only 8 wickets for victory, when Bawdekar picked up 3 wickets in his first nine balls NAG were on their way to victory.Bawdekar finished with figures of 9-3-15-4. Some indifferent keeping by Andy( 2 drops, 1 missed stumping and failure to catch the ball on a clear run out) Payne was a highlight of the fielding, BUT he did stand up to the stumps to Andy Mayers. Phillips picked up 2 for 16, bowling the opening batsmen who had made 56.

Andy Payne showed he can still pick up wickets(2 for 4) with his spin as Phillips held a catch at short leg and then he clean bowled the last batsGIRL first ball. No MERCY!!!!!!!