Broadstairs CC 2nd XI battle on despite terrible weather conditions

Cricket

Broadstairs CC 2nd XI

On the worst forecasted day of the cricket season Broadstairs travelled to Old Colfeians in the hunt for points and to continue their promotion push.

Returning captain Andy Marshall lost the toss and Broadstairs were asked to bat on a very green wicket. Old Colfs have Harshil Patel, the best bowler in the league who was relishing bowling on this seam friendly pitch and so it showed when he removed Lee Hewitt early for 5. Brian Simpson and Andrew Bailey were able to keep him out but both fell to Alapati for 17 apiece. Patel then cleaned up James Bond and Luke Palmer (6 & 4 respectively) Adam Izzard also fell for 4 to the bowling of Retin Patel but thankfully skipper Marshall and Oli Frewin steadied the ship.

Old Colfs decided to take H Patel off much to the batsman’s delight and they tucked into the many poor deliveries on offer. However with Broadstairs able to up the run rate through some superb counter attacking from Frewin, Patel was brought back into the attack, removing both Frewin for a well-made 32 and then Bradley Ellison for 1. Marshall fell to the bowling of Singh for a patient and vital 19,  George Kidd finished the innings unbeaten on 10 and Broadstairs set a decent target of 163.

With the rain falling throughout some of the first innings and continuing through tea it had eased slightly to enable play to begin. Ellison and Kidd opening the bowling and it was Kidd who made the breakthrough, Luke Palmer taking the catch, Ellison then picked up and LBW and Kidd taking another good caught and bowled. Colfs were 18-3

That soon became 30-4 when Kidd took another, well caught by Izzard at slip. Singh batting at 5 was taking the attack to Broadstairs, hitting any loose deliveries and looking in pretty decent nick. Ashley Ellison then picked up 3 wickets with brother Bradley getting his second as well and Colfs were 8 down. Captain Retin Patel who usually bats top order came in at number 10 and his stand with Singh frustrated the Broadstairs bowlers.

Singh was eventually removed by Frewin ,the leg stump flying out of the ground showed just how wet the ground had got, he’s not renowned for his pace! And with 1 wicket left Colfs now required 20. Broadstairs were hopeful of getting the final wicket and even Luke Palmer in his new boots couldn’t quite find the magic delivery to get Broadstairs 20 points. Patel finished unbeaten on 28 and Broadstairs had lost in the 40th over.

Kidd and A. Ellison both picking up 3 wickets.

A well-played game in some terrible weather at times. However with all other games rained off they are still in with a chance of promotion.

They welcome second in the table Old Wilsonians next week hoping to be back to winning ways.

Broadstairs CC 1st XI

After losing the toss and being invited to bat, Broadstairs lost the early wicket of Chris Flint but were then able to re-build, with successive partnerships between Scott Narraway and Elliot Fox (19) then Isaac Dilkes (18) advancing the score to 70-2 off 27 overs.

The dismissal of Narraway (28) heralded a middle-order collapse, despite the best efforts of Jack Wheeler (20) to keep the score ticking over. Eventually, the hosts were all out for 135 and with the rain looking set for the remainder of the afternoon, the match was abandoned.

With just 5 matches of the season remaining, things couldn’t be tighter at the top of Division 2 and next week’s visit to title-contenders Old Wilsonians could be one of the toughest matches of the season.