Saturday 28th July & Sunday 29th July
New Ash Green v Yalding
Mid-Kent League Match - 46 Overs per side, Maximum 12 per bowler
New Ash Green (20 pts) 200+
Yalding (? pts) <100
New Ash Green won by ?? runs.
I am composing the 2nd XI report before leaving on tour, but I have heard, second hand that the first XI comfortably beat Yalding, with the scores approximately as above. I can't vouch for the accuracy of this information!
Upchurch II v New Ash Green II
Saturday 28th July 2001
Mid-Kent League Match - 46 Overs per side, Maximum 12 per bowler
New Ash Green (20 pts) 202-9
Upchurch (10 pts) 165 all out
New Ash Green Won by 37 runs.
Blazing sunshine all week brought the hardest pitch of the season by a distance. New Ash Green won the toss, and despite being depleted by two separate family illnesses which had cost them two batsmen and forced them to press umpire Keith Bushell into service, chose to bat. It soon looked like a mistake as Darren Phillips was bowled shouldering arms, a feat which (together with a dropped catch and some loose fielding) finally ended Dominic Adolphe's monopoly of the 'Joker, Melon & Clown' award. Shortly after that Matthew Quantrill and John Harding were both given out LBW to decisions which many umpires might not have given, but having chosen to play their own umpire and let one of Upchurch's first team bowlers do the job NAG could not complain, except Domonic, who complained a lot.
A mini-revival was staged by Vaughan John (22) and Neil Howick, but they were both bowled, John being Tim Mullis's fourth victim as he took 4-31 in bowling through his 12 overs. The Sumner brothers quickly perished, leaving New Ash Green on a precarious 72-7 nearly half way through their overs. The strength in depth of New Ash Green's batting was shown again though by the arrival of Pete Burke, a former opening batsman for the first XI at number 9. Despite little batting this season he looked the part with a number of fine shots early on, before he was caught and bowled by Martin Karm for 28, having added 49 for the eighth wicket with Domonic Adolphe. Adolphe had been struggling early on, and was indeed dropped 4 times by Upchurch, mistakes which were to be very expensive indeed. Given staunch support by the press-ganged umpire Keith Bushell Adolphe started to cut loose with some very hard hitting, eventually losing the match ball when he sent it clear out of the ground and over the neighbouring road. He was finally stumped for 89 off the penultimate ball of the innings, but he and Bushell (9*) had added 81 for the 9th wicket and the score now looked very respectable indeed. Adolphe's dismissal gave Dave Harrington, who had earlier been expecting a long bat, the chance to face his first ball of the season, which he successfully blocked.
With Upchurch, who must have thought they had the game in the bag earlier, now looking like a beaten team, New Ash Green sought to press home their advantage. Mick Sumner lacked his usual hostile pace, but Pete Burke started a magnificent spell of bowling with a wicket in each of his first three overs, including both openers, who had looked very competent bats. With Sumner picking up a wicket with his chinaman Upchurch were in deep trouble at 14-4. Martin Karm at number 6 played a steady innings to rebuild a bit, but others could not stay with him, and runs were difficult to come by, especially off Burke who bowled through, getting figures which reflected quite fairly the quality of his bowling - 12 overs, 4 maidens, 5 wickets for just 17 runs. Dave Harrington was also bowling a steady spell, and when he bowled Karm for 30 the game seemed all but over. Paul Sumner was a little expensive, but took two more wickets and at 109-9 with only 13 overs remaining Upchurch seemed to have little hope. Once Dave Harrington had finished his spell with 1-33 in 12 overs Dave LLoyd and Dave Dorsett began to set about the bowling, and Paul Sumner's 4th over, which cost 20 runs, brought the run rate back into the realms of the possible, if still very unlikley. Mick Sumner came back to replace Harrington, but couldn't completely stem the flow of runs, while Neil Howick, on for Paul Sumner, was also suffering a bit. When Lloyd brought his 50 up with a six off Howick 47 were needed off 4 overs and 4 balls, and that seemed quite gettable. However Howick pegged the batsmen back with his next 4 balls, and Mick Sumner then bowled an excellent over in which only two wides were scored, and the rate had again become impossible. Attempting to do the impossible Lloyd (55) finally holed out to Matthew Quantrill at deep square, the fourth good catch New Ash Green had taken in the outfield, compared to none taken by Upchurch. The tenth wicket had added an improbable 56, meaning the top two partnerships in the match had been for the 9th and 10th wickets of the two innings, and leaving the top order batsmen on both sides wondering where they had gone wrong!
New Ash Green III v Otterden
Saturday 28th July 2001
Friendly Match
New Ash Green 207-7
Otterden 171-5
Match Drawn.
Playing a "home" game at Waller Park New Ash Green won the toss and had first use of a well-prepared wicket. Mike Wederell was looking to score quickly but misjudged the line and was bowled in the second over. Duncan Shannon also set off in a hurry hitting three boundaries before being bowled in the third over. This brought Graham Hampsheir and James Thorn, making an occasional guest appearance, to the middle. Mixing stout defence and lusty blows, and with very little running up and down, the pair added 119 for the third wicket before Thorn holed out. The lower order all contributed runs with Shane Hampsheir batting exceptionally well for 14 not out. Matt Scanlan also recorded 14 not out with a total of 207-7 being posted.
Otterden’s reply was slow and steady with less than 30 on the board after the first twelve overs. John Brandling-Harris bowled a particularly economic opening spell of 6 overs for 10 runs. The openers continued to take no risks and none of the bowlers were able to make any impression. Young Hayden Giffard then joined the attack and took two wickets in successive balls. The later batsmen had more of an inclination to "get on with it", increasing the run rate at the expense of further wickets. However neither side could force the victory and the last of the twenty overs saw the innings close on 171-5. Matthew Hayden finished with 3 for 39 off four overs with John Harris claiming the other wickets with 2-32
.
New Ash Green v NAG Under 15's
Sunday 29th July 2001
Friendly Match
New Ash Green Colts 150 all out (1st innings) 20 overs
New Ash Green Colts 128 - 6 (2nd innings) 20 overs
New Ash Green C.C. 156 - 4 (1st innings) 20 overs
New Ash Green C.C. 123 - 7 (2nd innings) 19.4 overs
New Ash Green won by 3 wickets.
After wondering if the two teams were going to be able field full teams it was a bonus when the game started 11 v 10 in favour of the colts. If Keith Bushell had not pulled his back doing the gardening early on Sunday morning the men would have had a full team.
Matt Scanlan won the toss and elected to bat on a day when it must have been at least 30 degrees plus.
Matt Scanlan started well hitting a number of fours, although he did look in a bit of trouble against new FAST bowler Phillips who looked impressive with the new ball. Paul Sumner bowled well and picked up two wickets, those of Duncan Shannon ( 0 ) and Chris Wade( 6 ).
Scanlan continued hitting the ball to the boundary off all of NAG's nine bowlers, he reached his fifty after he was dropped by Mike Wederell at mid on. He was finally out for 62 when he attempted a reverse sweep and was caught at first slip. Tom Strong (26) & Mark Klus (25) both batted well to help the colts reach a more than respectable 150 in their first innings.
Andy Mayers & Graham Hampsheir opened the batting and decided to smash every ball as hard as they could. They put on a partnership of 91 before Hampsheir was run out for 42.
Paul Sumner hit a typical quick fire 20 off just 11 balls before he was caught. Mayers was next to go when he was bowled for 53 by Brandling-Harris. Skipper Phillips made 20 not out off 14 balls which helped give NAG a six run lead on first innings.
A change of batting order left big hitters Mark Klus & Tom Strong to open the batting. They both fell early for 11 & 16 respectively. More wickets fell, which left the colts 43 - 4 after nine overs and looking in a bit of trouble. John Brandling Harris (37*) & Chris Reid (18*) pushed the score along, extras chipped in with 32 including 17 wides. Somehow Graham Hampsheir picked up 2 wickets for 14 runs. The colts had set a target of 123 for the men to win.
NAG started the second innings and at some point the Sunday collapse had to happen. NAG were left 15-4 after 3 overs,(Duguid 7, M.Wederell "0", Alderman "0" & Sumner 1).
It was left to Phillips & C.Wederell to build a partnership of 81 before Wederell went for 25. Phillips went on to make 42 when he tried to smash the impressive Chris Wade for six but was stumped by Duncan Shannon even though he did his best to mess it up. NAG required 21 off the last 3 overs to win the game, Bawdekar made 11 before he tried a quick single with Geoff Shannon. Bawdekar's brain seemed to work fast than his legs as he tripped himself up and belly flopped head first in to the middle of the wicket. This would have without doubt won MQ's joker, melon & clown award for the entire season if he had been there. Geoff Shannon made 10 not out to see the men home with two balls to spare.
The whole day was a success, thanks to John Harding for umpiring the whole game. Chris Wade & Chris Reid must be pushing for regular games in men's cricket sooner rather than later.