8th June v Farningham (H)
This week was different, huzzah! We actually scored some runs, quite a few of them too…
Winning the toss on what looked like a good deck, I reluctantly chose to bat, given our performances this season. However my fears were quickly assuaged by a superb opening partnership from happy and muddy, both looking fluent to bring up a 100 run opening partnership, 30 more than the entire team’s total last week.
Sadly Happy fell for a well made 43 playing across the line to a spinner, followed by Muddy for a superb 55. Sadly J Flem fell shortly after bringing the returning prodigal child mr Crees to the crease to join yours truly, with everyone hoping this wouldnt be another patented Speldhurst collapse. Fortunately it wasnt, with myself and Creef starting cautiously, before accelerating throughout putting on 73 before I decided to miss a straight one.
Dunmall joined Creef, smashed a 6, then immediately got out, with Eamo, Plunkett and Nash joining Ollie to try and push the total as high as possible in the last 5 overs. This lead to a very strong 236-7, with Creef not out on 52, what a first game!
Siraj and Hodor opened up yet again, probing but without much success until their opener hit one straight to Barkhan, called yes, and was run out by several metres after his partner rightly told him to go back. Bringing their skipper and best bat to the crease, Dunmall making him look edgy swinging the ball back in, before forcing a miscued pull shot and a superb catch by creef at midwicket, diving to his right. Eamo then also managed to bag their number 4 just as he started to get going, a beauty that swung in and nipped away to bowl him.
Throughout this period their opener remained, looking relatively secure and punishing any wayward bowling, of which there was plenty. Even with the wayward bowling, wickets fell regularly, leaving the game well within our grasp with their opener falling to a horrible long hop from Nash, and the score at 124-6.
However, they very much had the Labrador of batting lineups, with the happiest waggiest tail imaginable. In overs 25-35 they scored 115 runs for only 2 more wickets lost, with numbers 7, 8 and 9 all making 30+, with several large sixes struck.
We fell agonisingly short on a day where we were in front for 75% of the match, but for the first time this season we were good with the bat, but weren’t quite tight enough on the bowling side of things. Hopefully next week we can string together a complete performance with bat and ball, and with it a win!
June 22nd v Marden
Sadly the story is all too familiar this season, so I’m going to try and keep this weeks report short and sweet.
Welcoming back Jo Price from the West End, and Tom Hinton from Mensa, I chose to bowl first with Marden forfeiting the toss due to lack of umpire. JP and Dunners opened up, tying down their skipper, but their other opener got off to a flying start, crafting a quick 50.
A sharp Andy eames run out, as well as a superb spell of bowling from Charlie Barkhan, restricted Marden continuously. Combines with bringing on Muddy, tying up the other end meant Marden were reduced to 119-7. Sensing blood, we attempted to finish Marden off, but some clever batting from their tail managed to get them up to a very competitive 206, frustrating not to finish them off for 50 lower than that.
Sadly much like most of our games this year, our batting did not perform as well our bowling, and whilst there were glimmers of hope throughout, regular wickets falling left us always behind. A 35 run partnership from myself and Hinton, as well as a well made 30 from Adam Nash, and a couple of lusty blows from Dunmall being the highlights from our innings. We were bowled out for an eventual 117, well below the required 207.
Still searching for our first win of the season, we play Penshurst in a local derby match this weekend.
27th June v Penshurst
Unfortunately these reports are getting a little like Game of Thrones: worse the further through them we get.
Forfeiting the toss on a roasting hot day on a very good-looking deck, we took to the field with 9 fielders… An early wicket from Dunmall was a bright spot, with Omar as his opening partner, being given the thankless task of opening up for the 1st team against the two best batters in the league with 2 fewer fielders… Charlie Barkhan came on and quickly removed their skipper and very good bat, and continued to bowl a superb spell without much more luck.
Pat, Charlie, Siraj and Muddy toiled away in the heat without much luck from the pitch, and runs flowed quickly and consistently, with me wondering if we would be chasing 400 plus. As the ball softened up, we managed to take the wicket of their best bat and opener after a very well-made 120+, but the damage was done and left us with a daunting 309 to chase.
Depressingly, the fielding and bowling performance was actually the better portion of our day, with a mixture of bad shots, suicidal running, and good bowling on a deck that had died out, which meant we were rolled for 63, our lowest total this year. Charlie Barkhan was the one bright spot with a well-made 19 not out, no one else made double figures…
Thanks to everyone who made their full debut for the 1s this year: Shaz, Omar, Oak and Pat’s mate Chris, who made the trip over from Haywards heath that day to be our 11th man and took to the field with 5 balls to spare. Everyone toiled away on what was a pretty miserable and charming day from a cricket perspective. Luckily the weather was gorgeous, and the pub was excellent after the game. Silver linings!
Speldhurst Cricket Club 