22nd June v Langton Green
A youthful Sunday team, featuring eight U21s, took on nearby rivals Langton Green on Sunday, who had zero.
After letting us know they were a much better bowling team, the opposition captain chose to bat, presumably with a Sunday evening dinner reservation in mind. And so it seemed, as Omar and new man Sooraj quickly reduced the home team to 17–3 from the first six overs. Ignoring his first-ball beamer (that he followed with a wicket from a half-tracker), Omar bowled excellently with rhythm on his return from revision purgatory.
Sensing an opportunity to get two of the youngsters into the game early, on came Greenway Jnr and debutant Tommy PM. George bowled with his customary F&G (Flight & Guile) and picked up the plumbest LBW in the history of the world. Apparently his on-field appeals need some work, however.
Tommy’s first over in senior cricket yielded zero runs and several plays and misses. He then took four EXCELLENT wickets (three of which were bowled) for just one run to close out his first spell, constituting perhaps the best bowling introduction to the club in recent (or even living) memory.
With the home side reduced to 55–8, the tea break was at risk of becoming a brunch and several teammates were looking understandably forlorn that they might not get an opportunity to boost their batting average (Adam Nash).
In order to remedy this, the skipper persuaded older Nash brother, James, to crank up his bowling shoulder. Naturally, this immediately resulted in yet another wicket (to the unbridled delight of the travelling Nash fans) as James bowled with pace and occasional control. 60-9.
Fielding was exemplary. Superb catching from James and Charlie, whose ground fielding was also excellent, as the ball followed him around the outfield like a clingy girlfriend at a party. And Sam Harman, whose job behind the stumps on a spicy pitch was unrelenting. Top work all.
The rest of the innings was comparatively uneventful as myself and Anthony shepherded their numbers 10 and 11 to a score resembling a challenge. 144 on the board, all wickets taken by youngsters.
The Langton Green opening bowlers were fired up, however, presumably fuelled by the several pizzas consumed at the innings break. Siraj and Sam weathered a very tricky first five overs before both succumbed before the seventh finished. They triggered an entertaining double-Nash partnership of 30-something, featuring several lusty blows from both. James successfully riled the opening bowler when he announced “those were my first runs in about a decade” as he flayed a perfectly good delivery through the covers for four.
James eventually fell for a sharp 20, and Adam for an elegant 25. Shot of the day goes to Adam’s vicious maximum over cover to get off the mark, as he continued his excellent form over the last couple of weeks. Lots more to come from him, one thinks.
From 40-4, Sooraj and Omar pushed the rate well before Omar, and then Charlie, fell to good balls. I then had the pleasure of watching Sooraj slash a few excellent boundaries before he tried to hit one to Groombridge — and failed.
With approximately 70 to win, Greenway Jnr joined myself in the middle with the instructions to get forward and be positive. And that he did.
Taking some wayward bowling on its merit, and by blocking out the handy stuff, the two of us negotiated about 10 overs to knock off the remaining runs without too much stress. George talked us through the chase like a well-seasoned pro, and looked right at home blocking out the opening bowlers who didn’t take a whole lot off their usual pace when bowling at him. Unflappable.
In the end, a three-wicket win, set up by some very threatening bowling and flawless fielding. A great day for Speldhurst and its next generation.
Scorecard: incoming
Speldhurst Cricket Club 