Saturday 7th July & Sunday 8th July
New Ash Green v Addington
Mid-Kent League Match - 46 Overs per side, Maximum 12 per bowler
New Ash Green (19 pts) 185 all out
Addington (14 pts) 183-8
New Ash Green won by 2 runs.
NAG were once again asked to bat first, on a wicket that looked as though it would offer some assistance to the bowlers, and so it proved with NAG quickly finding themselves struggling at 26-3. However, this brought Steve Hurst to the crease and his no nonsense approach soon had the scoreboard moving. Another mini collapse saw the fall of 3 quick wickets and with Matt Meehan getting carried away after some lusty blows NAG were precariously positioned at 94-7. This brought in Ian Shambrook who seemed intent on carrying on from his 84* the previous week, and with Hurst they put on 58 for the 8th wicket, with Hurst passing his 50 in the process. When Hurst was last man out in the final over NAG had posted a respectable 185 all out.
In reply, Addington made a cautious start scoring only 17 runs in the first 11 over of their innings. However, on the fall of the 2nd wicket their overseas player came to the crease and with the opener set about the NAG attack. A contest was now on the cards and with some sloppy fielding Addington were back in the game. The game was to swing back in NAG's favour when Shambrook changed ends and removed the opener. He then ripped through the middle order looking to put the game well beyond the visitors at 134-8, taking 5-37 in the process. However, after some fine batting by the number 10, Addington still required 24 off the final 2 overs. With Matt Meehan choking in Tim Henman like proportions it was up to Andy Cox to prevent Addington from scoring the 9 runs they required, and with some fine bowling NAG managed to close the game out with Addington falling just 2 runs short.
Bell's Yew Green II v New Ash Green II
Saturday 7th July 2001
Friendly Game - 30 overs per side
Bell's Yew Green 32-4
Match Abandoned - Rain
With no 2nd XI league match this week a combined 2nd & 3rd XI seemed to be in luck in picking up a bureau fixture with Bell's Yew Green. The venue for the game in Eridge Park has to be one of the most picturesque grounds in Kent, set in the grounds of the ancestral home of the Nevil family and approached by a long driveway through pastures, the pitch itself is surrounded by fields and woods with a wooden fence running round the boundary. The wooden pavilion, which from the photographs inside appears unchanged since Victorian times, is set back from the boundary leaving an area of lawn for spectators to sit and relax.
Unfortunately New Ash Green were unable to see this lovely setting at its best as low cloud and drizzle marked their arrival at the ground. Taking the view that a full game was going to be impossible the captains decided to try for 30 overs a side, and Bell's Yew Green won the toss and chose to bat. Two overs were possible at the first attempt, and then a bit later another three, before the weather brightened up and a good eleven overs were played before the rain really came down, puddles appeared all over the field and the game was abandoned. In the conditions it was difficult to pass judgement on anyone, except to condemn Matthew Payne for not noticing the second re-start and arriving on the field an over late. However Matthew Scanlan bowled an impressive spell of 5 overs (or 1, 2 & 2!) taking 1-6, and Jon Brandling-Harris also bowled well, taking 2-12 in 5, though he wasted his hat-trick ball! Dave Harrington was his usual steady self in these conditions, and produced one ball that reminded us why he has earned the nick-name of 'Dangerous' that nearly struck the startled batsman in the face as it spat off the pitch. Oliver Harding, in conditions utterly unsuited to spin bowling, retained remarkable control and also picked up a wicket. The real star of the show was the fielding though, with Jon Brandling-Harris, James Oliver, Neil Howick and Dave Harrington all holding onto the slippery ball to take all the chances that were offered, that is if you accept Pete Burke's assurance that the one he belly-flopped in front of would never have carried.
The one consolation we thought we had as we set off for the long journey home, that our league rivals would all be dropping points through abandoned games, was also cruelly dashed as the trip north revealed higher clouds and bone dry roads - all in all a very disappointing day!
New Ash Green v The Grove
Sunday 8th July 2001
Friendly Match
New Ash Green 172-6 declared
The Grove 173-4
The Grove won by 6 wickets.
After preparing his team talk for a game against Bexley Hospital skipper Darren Phillips was in shock when The Grove turned up.
NAG won the toss and elected to bat on a cloudy afternoon. A good opening partnership of 67 between Vic Mayers (41) & Kieron Hoddinott (20) helped NAG on their way. Skipper Phillips decided to send in pinch hitter Sharad Bawdekar at No.3, but the only thing that was being pinched were the rest of the NAG batsmen as they tried to keep themselves awake as Bawdekar scored 4 runs in 45 minutes at the crease. The returning Vaughan John made an impressive unbeaten 57* with shots all round the ground. Quick knocks at the end of the innings by Phillips (16) & Andy Mayers (10*) helped NAG to their final total of 172-6.
When bowling it was the Mayers family who were asked to take the new ball and with 4 slips each they both bowled with plenty of pace. Vic Mayers picked up an early wicket caught by Andy Mayers. After that the fielding performance went to pieces. Alan Cottrell had a catch dropped first ball in the gully which was without question the easiest catch that our reporter has ever seen dropped in seven years of cricket with NAG.
No names will be mentioned - if you would like to know more ask Oliver Harding.
(Editor's Note - It looks as if Oliver may have caught Adolphe Syndrome - the ability to field brilliantly close to the wicket except when it is easy!)The fielding did not get any better with more catches going to ground. Vic Mayers finished with figures of 1 for 16 from 7overs.
The batsman who was dropped in the gully went on to score 78 Not Out and guide his side home for the win.