Shipbourne 2nd XI
2nd July 2022
Firstly, Speldhurst hosted Shipbourne at the Rec in a team missing their regular captain but featuring a host of heroes to eventually bring home 20 deserved points. Bowling first, stand-in skip J Flem (1-31) nipped out their opener early and Siraj Deane (1-35) showed his class and quality with nine tight overs going for just 35 runs. However, the plaudits were stolen by M Flem, spinning and twirling his way to 6-25 (his first over went for 11) including the key wicket of their gun batsman 150 short of the 200 he looked like getting to begin with. Mark was ably supported throughout by Jamie White with the gloves, seven excellent overs from Omar Farid (1-29), Calypso (1-4), and Oh Jimmy Jimmy Thompson.
With just 143 to win, the chase was conducted with relative ease. Better than a run-a-ball contributions from White and J Flem vital, but Calypso shone with a dazzling 62. Punching on the up through extra cover and, his highlight, a flat maximum flicked off his toes into a tree. 20 points secure with 15 overs left.
Scorecard: https://speldhurst.play-cricket.com/website/results/4995409
Southborough 2nd XI
9th July 2022
Secondly, came Southborough. Following a close loss at the start of the season, this was due to be a good game. Unfortunately, a lack of depth in numbers was ultimately our undoing. Inserted into the middle on a hot day, Speldhurst got the ball rolling…. slowly, despite the lightning outfield. Southborough kept their bowling tight enough, and regular wickets meant the rate of scoring was circumspect. Iqbal and Nash both departed early for mistimed attacking shots, captain Harrison was made to look a little daft by medium pace, and in-form Calypso, fresh from shadow batting his six from the previous week, beaten by a straight-ish LBW. Joe The Oak and Ed The Head took the attack back to Southborough after drinks, the former with a swashbuckling 30, and the latter with an excellent, patient 70. Some silly running from Paul Eames eventually got us to 174.
It was a total fairly short of par on a good pitch and rapid outfield, and the Southborough openers showed us how to do it. An opening stand of 165 quickly beat any enthusiasm out of an under-strength bowling attack. Adam Nash (0-40) opened excellently with his newly-remodelled medium pace and Sean Carroll (1-52) impressed (again), taking our only wicket in seven probing overs of nippy medium pace. A heavy loss, but onwards and upwards.
Scorecard: https://speldhurst.play-cricket.com/website/results/4995412
Leigh 2nd XI
16th July 2022
Leigh conceded
Weald 1st XI
23rd July 2022
Stuck into the field on a hot day at the end of July (we’re all used to these by now), and Weald started dangerously: both opening bowlers of Nash and Fowler bowled well, but leaked runs at 6/over. Nash with the only breakthrough of the opening spells. Experience and Youth came together as first change, M Flem continuing his fine form with three wickets, and young Sean Carroll picking up two excellent scalps, both bowled, over this nine overs. In the end, 207 seemed a lot, but with a hard track and a quick outfield, anything was possible.
Unfortunately, Weald are battling it out towards the top of the table, and their bowling was wise and tight. Young Arthur got a good ball early, and a promising partnership between Tristan and Joe the Oak was brought to an unfortunate end before too long. Wickets, however, brought Adam Nash to the crease. Having struggled with batting form all year, Adam was feeling the weight of pressure and expectation. A range of positive leg-side clips, drives and a 6 in front of square (!) were counters to wickets falling at the other end. Eventually Adam found a more long-term batting partner in Sam Harman (22) who batted well after a few weeks away from cricket. Eventually, the bowling was too tight and Adam’s 72 got us to 176, losing by 31 runs.
Scorecard here: https://speldhurst.play-cricket.com/website/results/4995419
Four Elms 2nd XI
30th July 2022
A tricky weekend. With a village wedding taking the majority of the clubs regulars away from the game, concerns were for the viability of two teams. But, with a fantastic club effort, we fielded two sides. The 2s travelled to mid-tablers Four Elms with the odds stacked against us.
Fielding first, the young opening pair of Amir and Sean had some Four Elms big guns in their sights, and bowled admirably despite the 6/over run rate. Siraj tightened the rate slightly, bowling tightly and taking the important wicket of their opener. Omar was targeted by their eventual century-maker, but bounced back to take two great wickets before the opposition finished in a fairly mammoth 310.
With a total that large, losing Mark to a run out early on was not the ideal start. Iqbal (25) and Ejas (31) rebuilt well. Siraj (43) joined Ejas later on for a fun Deane partnership with plenty of lusty blows and smart running. After that, the tail crumbled under bowling and scoreboard pressure, but not before batting points we’re scraped!
Scorecard here: https://speldhurst.play-cricket.com/website/results/4995421
Speldhurst Cricket Club 