Scorecard

Newenden Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI v Bearsted CC on Sun 17 Jul 2022 at 1:30pm
Newenden Cricket Club Won by 7 wickets

Match report Date : 17/07/2022

Venue : NCG

Result : Newenden won by 7 wickets ( Bearsted 205 All Out, G Smith 4-29. F Piper 2-15, Newenden 206-3 C Patel 63, D Edwards 58, J Bourne 33*)

Man of the Match : Garry Smith


Well it wasn't just the weather that was hot yesterday as Newenden turned up the heat on their title rivals with a resounding victory of second-placed Bearsted. We were all set for a proper contest but the game ended up being more one-sided than sitting on a see-saw with Cyril Smith. (for our younger readers - he was a grossly overweight political nonce from the 1970s).

The setting couldn't have been more perfect as the captains strode out for the toss, the sun filled a cloudless sky with the NCG looking truly resplendent in all her glory. Unfortunately I lost the toss and we were put into the field, which made me about as popular as Rishi Sunak down his local working man's club.

Prior to taking to the field, Sophie, who was embracing her new role as team physio (self-appointed I may add) encouraged/forced us all to drink a filthy concoction that she was passing off as replacing essential electrolytes. This was very different to our usual pre-match fluid intake of shot gunning a can of Red Stripe.

The drink must have had some affect, as we started strongly with Finn Piper taking out their dangerman in his second over, assisted by a superb low take in the slips by Patel. Chirag then struck himself, catching their number three of his own bowling. Their other opener had had to retire hurt after being struck on the hand by Piper, so it was left to their number four to lead the counter attack, and this he did.

He started to dispatch the ball to all parts, including one huge six off Patel that cannoned into a boat on the other Sussex side of the river, the couple inside must have thought they were involved in a recreation of the Battle of Waterloo, if such a thing was to occur, I have always thought Dave Wheeler would make the perfect Napolean.

We also saw a first yesterday, as Charlie Sloan, behind the stumps, was regularly getting penalised for moving his hands towards the balls too early, which reminds of a story I once heard about JB's initiation into the rugby club at Leeds Uni, but I digress.

Piper was bowling a beautiful spell from the Lossenham Lane end and picked up another wicket with the batsmen being caught behind by Sloan. Bradney replaced him and bowled some good stuff, but this was interspersed with too many loose deliveries that were deposited to the boundary. He did pick up a wicket for his troubles though.

This brought their number seven to the middle, after playing and missing at his first few balls, it looked like Don King was at the crease, but as soon as Dan Edwards was introduced he turned into Don Bradman. He was driving him to all parts, in fact he took such a liking to him I nearly booked them a room at the White Hart.

The pair started to put their foot on the gas and build what looked like a potentially match-winning partnership. They had raced through to 162-4 from 25 overs and we were staring down the barrel, but there was a man in our team that had other ideas. Whenever we're in trouble, there is one go-to-guy and that is the Gazzmeister.

Having been spanked for three boundaries in his first over, he found his rhythm and bowled their number seven in his second over. He then proceeded to pick up their main man two overs later. He fell for a valiant 98. The look of dejection of the batsman's face as he traipsed off, you would have thought he had been invited out for a night with Finn Piper. Gazz then mopped up the tail finishing with impressive figures of 4-29.

Bearsted posted a competitive 205.

We then stopped for a truly magnificent tea. Every week wonders never cease. Joy Rummery treated us to a truly veritable feast.There were superb sandwiches and savouries, my particular favourites being the egg mayo and crispy bacon bites and the coronation chicken rolls. There was fresh fruit, including water melon, which was ideal on a hot day, and a vast array of cakes, including Joy's wonderful cream and jam scones, delivered by Karl (great to see you back at the NCG mate). It was a cracking effort which will make calling the winner of the Tea Trophy that much harder. Thank you Joy.

We thought chasing 205 would prove a proper test, but Edwards and Patel had other ideas. Perhaps the electrolytes had finally kicked in, but they went into absolute overdrive. I haven't seen a pair cause this much mayhem since Jedward were booked for Ann Widdicombe's 70th.

They were scoring at a ridiculous rate and had taken us through to 135 from 14 overs before Edwards was finally dismissed. Patel continued the onslaught, ably assisted by Jonathan 'Sehwag' Bourne. We finally hit the winning runs in the 24th over.

It was a wonderful team performance, take nothing away from Bearsted they tested us as a side and we came through.

Four more league games to play, would be lovely to stay unbeaten for the second year running. Take a brave man to bet against it.

Bearsted CC Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
205 (35.0 overs)		     
Keith Robertson Retired Not Out  0
Christian Roberts ct  C Patel b F Piper 3
Ben Johnston ct  C Patel b C Patel 4
Richard Luxton b  G Smith 98
George Stevenson ct  C Sloan b F Piper 2
Will Terry ct  P Morris b H Bradney 17
Andrew Haggart b  G Smith 32
Alex Lush Not Out  17
James West ct  F Piper b G Smith 0
Euan Coveney ct  C Sloan b R Collingwood 0
Jamie Baker b  G Smith 0

Newenden Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Finn Piper6.011527.502.50
Chirag Patel9.0047147.005.22
Harry Bradney5.0036136.007.20
Dan Edwards2.001900.009.50
Reuben Collingwood7.0042142.006.00
Garry Smith6.102947.254.70

Newenden Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 3 wickets
0
206		        
Chirag Patel b  W Terry 62 2
Dan Edwards ct  Unsure b A Lush 58
Jonathan Bourne Not Out  33
Ben Browning b  B Johnston 14
Reuben Collingwood  
Philip Morris   1
Charlie Sloan   2
Finn Piper   1
Ben Gibbs Not Out  9
Harry Bradney  
Garry Smith  

Bearsted CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Alex Lush8.0077177.009.63
James West3.003300.0011.00
Ben Johnston3.0026126.008.67
Richard Luxton2.001400.007.00
Will Terry6.0038138.006.33
Christian Roberts2.002000.0010.00

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    Sophie James