Andy Cox (distance to travel from parents house 3 miles) was late on the ground so stand-in tosser Rob Newmarch (distance to travel from home 150 miles) got the tour off to a fine start by calling incorrectly and consigning New Ash Green to field first on a very hot afternoon. Pete Burke and Dave Harrington made early inroads to have Gordano struggling at 16 for 2 but thereafter Gordano put together some useful partnerships. The spin twins, Matt Payne and Andy Cox, produced a couple of good spells but the pick of the bowlers was Ian Shambrook with figures of 6-3-5-1. NAG looked in trouble at 32-3 with the Gordano keeper Alex Payne taking two catches (and conceding 22 byes). Andy Harrington and Andy Cox then took the score on to 123 before wickets started to fall again. Matt Payne contributed a "2, 3, 6, out" effort to boost the run rate and then some aggressive running by Ian Shambrook, including one to the keeper, left four required off the final over. Two singles were scrambled before Alan Cottrell smacked the winning runs over mid-on.

Monday 30th July 2001
Coalpit Heath
Friendly – 40 overs
New Ash Green 200-7
Coalpit Heath 203-2
Coalpit Heath Won by 8 wickets

NAG were stuffed in emphatic manner. Pete Burke and Andy Harrington made runs. John Howland and Rob Newmarch joined the Primary Club (again). Dave Harrington bowled tidily. Andy Harrington took the only two wickets to fall. The rest were toilet. One of the Coalpit Heath blokes got 101*. Enough said.

Tuesday 31st July 2001
Failand & Portbury
Friendly - 40 overs
New Ash Green 242-7
Failand & Portbury 140 all out
New Ash Green Won by 102 runs

On Tuesday last the rural idyll that is the Failand & Portbury Cricket Ground was graced by a contest between XI gentlemen of New Ash Green and XI gentlemen from the locality. The visitors had first use of the wicket and suffered an early setback when Mr Browning poetically sliced a delivery from Mr Slocombe to cover. For the next forty-five minutes the crowd was treated to some fine flashing stroke-play by that Welsh wizard of the willow Mr John. The said Mr John was then unfortunately run-out but showed an admirable turn of speed to regain his position in the dressing room.

This introduced Mr M Payne to the wicket, who came and went in next to no time to allow his cuz, Mr Alex Payne, to assume his rightful place on the greensward. Mightily did his blade flash to produce 36 notches from as few as 29 balls received. The aged Mr Thorn was soon uprooted to allow Cox, professional of the parish, to the wicket. Now did the crowd receive due reward for their six-penny pieces as mighty hits carried to all parts of the field. A total of 48 notches were recorded off the 32 balls propelled to Cox, a veritable feast for the spectators.

And all the while Mr Quantrill had been steadily accumulating. With diligence and concentration were runs gathered and stored against leaner times. Alarums were weathered with determination until in the final over of the innings the landmark of a glorious century was achieved to general acclaim.

With close to two-hundred and fifty notches to be exceeded the home batsmen set off at a gallop. Sixty-three were recorded off just twelve overs. The New Ash Green bowlers toiled to no avail and there was much searching in the hedgerows to retrieve the mighty hits of Mr Prendergast and Mr Batchelor. Two wickets fell and then Mr Alex Payne, with a display of grace and athleticism rarely if ever seen before, in a single motion stooped, gathered the ball and threw down Mr Slocombe's wicket with the said gentleman some distance short of his ground.

Now stepped forward the colossus of the day, Mr Hurst took the ball. Cunningly was it propelled into the limpid air. Cunningly did it fall to the earth. Oh wretched batsmen to be confronted by such mastery of the mysterious arts of spin bowling. To no avail did they poke and prod their bats. To no avail did they attempt to strike the ball into the vacant acres of the field. Mr Hurst was equal to all their efforts and claimed six wickets at the paltry personal cost of sixteen. Great was the applause of the assembled throng as the teams left the field with Mr Hurst foremost in the crowd's approbation.

Eventually the spectators dispersed and the gladiators of the field repaired to their lodging to refresh themselves and to partake of such victuals as could be provided. Talk went on long into the night and who would deny these gentlemen their hours of relaxation after provision of such rich fare during that ever sunny afternoon.

Wednesday 1st August 2001
Keynsham
Friendly – 40 overs (12-a-side)
New Ash Green 273-2
Keynsham 250-8
New Ash Green Won by 23 runs

The sun shone again. Hursty and Axel smacked up 48 in no time in spite of playing and missing with great regularity. Thereafter it was the "old guard" on parade. Senior Pro came good at last until a twinge in the hamstring (and wallet?) caused a retirement on 98*. Chair also found the middle of the bat on occasion to record 82*. Over 200 were added for the 3rd wicket to establish a new Club record.

Keynsham made a great attempt to chase the runs with McAuthur scoring 129. Burkey was the pick of the bowlers with 3-27. Hursty's pies were not so effective as the previous day as he conceded 43 off five overs. Andy Payne picked up a couple of stumpings off Quibble and Burkey.

So there you have it. New Ash Green beat Trescothick's Keynsham!

Thursday 2nd August 2001
Barrow Gurney
Friendly

It bloody well rained! B*$!!*&. B*$!!*&. B*$!!*&. B*$!!*&. B*$!!*&. B*$!!*&. B*$!!*&. B*$!!*&. - and we went home

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