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

New Ash Green (20 pts) 174-6
Paddock Wood (9 pts) 141 all out
New Ash Green won by 33 runs.

NAG once again lost the toss and were asked to bat on a relatively friendly wicket, and it didn't take long to adopt the all too predictable top order collapse. Payne and Mayers started off well, both putting away the bad ball, until the visiting umpire had no hesitation in upholding an lbw appeal against Mayers to leave NAG 30-1.

Steve Hurst followed in identical fashion for 0, although he may well consider himself unlucky. An out of form Andy Cox strode to the crease next to join the impressive Payne. Unfortunately he fared little better, being bowled for just 1 as Payne continued to keep the scoreboard moving and was next joined by Meehan. It wasn't long before Meehan was also adjudged lbw for 0 to complete an impressive top order collapse even by NAG's standards. At 45-4, there was lots of pressure on the young shoulders of Klus, though you would never have known as he compiled a stylish innings and together with Payne led the hosts to over 100. Klus was finally dismissed for 28, though he had managed to form a crucial partnership with Payne who had reached his 50, and score freely off the dangerous spinner, Fung-on.

It was Simon Duke who went on the attack next, hitting a number of lusty blows to keep the scoreboard ticking as Payne, visibly tired, struggled to match his earlier stroke play. With just a few overs to go Duke was out playing one big shot too many and it was left to Shambrook and Payne to nurse NAG to 175-6 at the close. Although probably 30 runs short, it could have been far worse. With Andy Payne batting through the innings on his return to the first team, the hero of the hour gave the NAG attack something to bowl at.

Shambrook and Stuart opened the bowling with the old ball, though Stuart struggled for rhythm up the hill before finally finding his direction to grab the crucial first wicket with Payne holding on to a good catch at mid-on. Shambrook then followed suit with the very next ball, albeit with a long-hop, with the other opening batsman holing out to Duke, who took a good catch at mid-on. This brought Fung-on to the crease and he wasted little time letting his intentions be known. With little batting left he made a one man assault on the NAG attack. After surviving a 'HUGE' lbw shout off the bowling of Stuart he set about the NAG attack, hitting Stuart for a straight 6 and then getting tucked into Shambrook as well, forcing NAG to take the new ball and turn to Cox and Meehan. This made little difference to Fung-on as he continued to smash the ball to all parts before Cox ended a third wicket stand of 54 dismissing the number 3 batsman for 4 runs!

When Cox struck again, it gave NAG the chance of bowling Paddock Wood out around Fung-On as he was never in any trouble following the early lbw that he survived, with his 50 coming up with the score at just 64! Meehan struck another crucial blow before drinks but Paddock Wood were already over the 100 mark. Drinks proved the break in concentration that NAG needed and just three balls later Fung-on holed out to Shambrook at mid wicket off the bowling of Hewitt for an awesome 75, and the game finally swung towards the home side. The Paddock Wood tail was swept aside by Hewitt once Stuart had held a sharp running catch off Shambrook and NAG completed a 34 run victory after surviving one of the most destructive counter-attacking innings witnessed for many a year.

Paddock Wood II v New Ash Green II
Saturday 21st July 2001

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

New Ash Green (20 pts) 173-9
Paddock Wood (7 pts) 107 all out
New Ash Green Won by 66 runs.

Plenty of overnight rain and a pitch which didn't seem to have seen sight of a roller in some time made this a vital toss to win, but unfortunately New Ash Green captain Matthew Quantrill called incorrectly and had to open the batting on a pitch which was bordering on unplayable as almost every ball broke the surface and bounced unpredictably. Nonetheless it was more poor shot selection than the pitch which left New Ash Green on 16-4 after ten overs, though the pitch and slow outfield were responsible for the lack of runs.

With warm sunshine and a brisk breeze the pitch was already visibly improving, and Rob Jansen and Christian Hoddinott played sensibly to see off the opening bowlers and start to pick off the change bowlers as the conditions swung more and more in favour of the batsmen. They put on 82 for the fifth wicket before Hoddinott went for 40 when opening bowler Simon Gale returned, but the pattern of the game was totally changed now. Jansen also went for 40, skying an attempted drive, but Matthew Scanlan stayed to the end for 21*, while Paul Sumner swung mightily, and when he kept his eye on the ball not the clouds hit it a long way in making 23. Even Richard Slatem joined in, pulling Bill Robertson for a six which nearly smashed the pavilion clock and with the score almost doubling in the last ten overs New Ash Green finished with a very respectable 173-9. Dominic Adolphe also enlivened proceedings by not noticing that the over had ended at the same time as a wicket had fallen and umpiring one ball from deep extra cover rather than square leg! His determination to avoid the 'Joker, Melon & Clown' award for an 8th consecutive match was in vain!

Had Paddock Wood had to bat in the same conditions as New Ash Green the game might have been over very quickly, but with the pitch much drier and several bowlers missing there was no certainty that New Ash Green had enough runs. Andy Hollins showed the difference by hitting powerfully at anything loose, but with Paul Sumner cutting the ball in sharply and Richard Slatem moving it both ways to each take a wicket Paddock Wood didn't have things all their own way. Sharad Bawdekar also bowled a few loose balls, but took two more wickets, and when Neil Howick took two wickets in his first over, including the vital wicket of Hollins for 57, well caught by Matthew Scanlan off a steepling, spinning ball, the match was virtually over. The tail end batsmen swung the bat, but none could stay for any length of time and the match was over when Howick took his third wicket, giving him 3-16, as the last man gave him the charge, swung, missed and was stumped by a long way as Quantrill finally made a useful contribution to atone for the lost toss!

New Ash Green III
Saturday 21st July 2001

With a large number of players away for the weekend there weren't enough to raise a third XI this week, but hopefully the third XI will be back next week.

New Ash Green v Skyliners
Sunday 22nd July 2001

Friendly Match

New Ash Green 234-7
Skyliners 152-8
Match Drawn.

Sumner, Chris Hoddinott, Payne, Adolphe & "Golden Arm" Phillips all picked up a wicket each. This now leaves Phillips with 13 wickets at an average of 13.15 surely he must be first choice spinner for the 2nd's. (Editor's Note - I see that Mr. 'Golden Arm' failed to winkle out the tail though....)