Double victory for Broadstairs Cricket Club

Cricket

Broadstairs  1st XI 

With a late Spring sun beating down on the ground at St Lawrence and Highland Court on Saturday, the last thing Broadstairs 1st XI expected was to be put into bat on a soggy pitch. But that is exactly the situation they found themselves in this week after a downpour earlier in the morning on an uncovered pitch meant that batting conditions were far from ideal and losing the toss could define the outcome before a ball was bowled.

After a careful start where the opening pair of Swaroop Dasari and Elliot Fox nudged the score onto 22-0, Dasari (16) was out with a leading edge at the end of the 7th bringing last week’s hero Chris Flint to the crease. This dismissal was quickly followed by the departure of Fox in the 9th over also trying to push the score on and edging to slip. With Dilkes and Flint now at the crease and the score on 32-2, it was clear that Broadstairs would have a mountain to climb if they were to post a competitive target under such testing circumstances.

Dilkes in particular was quickly into his stride. However, his partnership with Flint came to an end when Flint was caught at mid-on and was replaced by Jack Wheeler. Wheeler’s visit to the crease was short-lived as was next-in-line Sam Windsor’s, emphasising how tricky the conditions were and how well Dilkes was handling the situation. The partnership with Matt Frewin was more fruitful but shortly before drinks, Frewin fell for 6 with Dilkes on 29 and the score on 72-6.

Dilkes accelerated the scoring in the second half of the innings, firstly with Alfie Huntley and then Chris Kidd. When Dilkes was eventually caught for 62 in the 36th over, the score was 107-7 and it was down to Kidd to take up the reins. This he duly did with a series of mighty blows eventually being bowled for 26 in the 44th over, supported ably by Jamie Dewell (16). A few balls later Masoud Rangin was adjudged LBW and Broadstairs were all out for 159 –  a total they might have hoped to achieve given the conditions and one that seemed a long way off for much of the innings.

With the sun continuing to dry out the pitch, when the St Lawrence and Highland Court innings began there was sign of the dampness on the pitch that had made life so difficult in earlier in the match.

Despite this, there were early signs that there was still much to play for when Dasari struck in the 3rd over followed quickly by Kidd to reduce the hosts to 15-2. Wickets continued to fall at a regular rate and by drinks, St Lawrence and Highland Court were 86-6, albeit with a partnership between Hilton and McLeod beginning to become established. This partnership continued to frustrate Broadstairs and at 106-6, momentum was starting to shift away from the visitors.

A turning point came Kidd struck again to remove McLeod with Fox taking a spectacular catch in the deep. Although, the home side continued to offer resistance, in the end they were unable to survive the variety of bowling that Broadstairs were able to call upon and when Dewell struck in the 40th over, St Lawrence and Highland Court were all out with Flint, Dasari, Kidd and Frewin each claiming 2 wickets. Mention should also go to ‘keeper Wheeler who as well as taking a catch was responsible for a stumping and a sharp run-out at the bowler’s end.

The win is Broadstairs third in a row and places them among the mix of the top 4 sides in Division 2. Next week, they host Old Wilsonians and will be hoping to maintain their excellent start to the season.

Broadstairs  2nd XI

The hottest cricket day of the year so far saw Broadstairs 2’s take on Old Colfs, hoping to exact revenge on the home defeat suffered last season. A delayed start because Colfs were stuck in traffic meant Broadstairs were awarded the toss and chose to bowl.

Great opening spells from the experienced Bradley Ellison and the youthful energy of Farjad Yasir removed both openers early. More experience replaced Yasir in the form of skipper Andy Marshall who picked up 2 wickets. The old colfs batsmen struggled to find any scoring areas as the seasiders fielding was top class.

Ashley Ellison and Oli Frewin both chipped in with a wicket each and Yasir came back to claim 2 more wickets including a hat trick opportunity which was so nearly taken, finishing with 3 for 22 from his 11 overs. Marshall 2 for 48 from his 14 overs and Brad Ellison with 2 for 28 from his 15. Colfs were restricted to 149 from their 50 overs

 Club stalwarts, Brian Simpson and Lee Hewitt were then tasked with facing the new ball and both tucked into the early offerings despatching the ball to all parts in an opening stand of 71, before Hewitt was dismissed for 36, Simpson soon followed for 32 and old colfs got some wind in their sails.

Top wicket taker so far this season H Patel changed ends and increased his pace managing to remove Callum Morgan’s (6) off stump and Lewis Hewitt (2) was also cleaned up leaving Broadstairs 80-4. H Patel was now firing on all cylinders and looking to run through the rest of the batting line up.

He hadn’t realised that Adam Izzard and the ever reliable James Bond were now at the crease and both used their experience and calmness to take the sting out of old colfs tail!

 No chances were given for the rest of the innings, Izzard (48*) and Bond (20*) saw Broadstairs over the line with 15 overs to spare to secure a comfortable victory and move them into second place in division 2.

 Old Wilsonians are next up and leading second team wicket taker Callum McCormick returns to the Broadstairs side as they look to continue their winning streak