Broadstairs 1st team
As the 2018 season reached the half-way mark, Broadstairs 1st XI stumbled to their first defeat away to Division 2 leaders Upchurch. Batting first after losing the toss, the Broadstairs top order showed a fragility that hasn’t been seen so far this season.
By the mid-point in the innings, the visitors had lost all 6 of their top order batsmen with the addition of just 84 to the score and only Swaroop Dasari (21) getting into the twenties. A rear-guard action led by skipper Chris Kidd (23) along with Farjad Yasir (15) and Alfie Huntley (10) brought some respectability to the final total of 141 as the side were bowled out with still 15 overs remaining. Wickets were shared across the Upchurch bowlers with David Masters (3-17), Aaron Johnson (2-19) and Harry Mawson (2-31) doing most of the damage.
Broadstairs knew that early wickets were essential if they were to defend such a modest total and Dasari obliged, removing openers Aaron Walker and Daniel Parker with just 11 runs on the board. Overseas Johnson and Michael Hales Jnr then established a 64 run partnership that put Upchurch in the driving seat. Despite some excellent bowling from Dasari (3-33) and 15 year-old Harry Carter (2-20), playing his first match for the 1st XI, Upchurch reached the target with 3 wickets to spare, Matthew Frewin and Jamie Dewell pitching-in with a wicket apiece.
A big thank-you to Josh Marshall for taking on scoring duties for the day.
Whilst this defeat is a set-back in their bid for promotion, Broadstairs remain 32 points ahead of 3rd place Hayes; they will be keen to get back to winning ways as the second half of the season starts this week with a trip to local rivals Chestfield.
Broadstairs 2nd team
Broadstairs continued their winning run with a comprehensive win over Old Colfeins.
Winning the toss, stand in skipper Lee Hewitt chose to bat first. Nathan Fox (31) and Lewis Hewitt (12) opened up. Lewis playing his swashbuckling 20/20 style, hitting a 6 and 4 before offering the bowler a catching opportunity which was gladly accepted.
Archie Ralph-Harding (53) joined Natty and was quickly into his stride, showing no respect to the various array of buffet bowling on offer he had a seat at the table and was tucking in! Natty worked the ball around well whilst also joining Archie with some boundaries, including a six which sailed into Park Gate close. He eventually fell the same way as Lewis, with the bowling taking a very good low catch.
Luke Palmer (53) returning from injury, started slowly, knocking the ball around but he quickly got into his stride, taking 18 from 1 over, including another 6 into Park Gate. Archie fell just before the half way stage, advancing down the track and unable to get back in before the keeper took the bails off. A fantastic innings.
We were well set at 141-3 from 25. Tom Marshall (52) helped Luke add 45 for the 4th wicket before Luke was harshly adjudged LBW, an innings in which he never looked in trouble. George Kidd joined Tom in the 31st over and the two youngsters tucked into the bowlers, mixing boundaries with clever flicks and pushes, this was a partnership of great maturity from both players.
As the partnership grew, we got to thinking what is the highest league score by the 2nd XI, we eventually found out that 300-3 against Cuaco in 1999 in which a certain L. Hewitt scored 120, or so he tells us.
George brought up his 50 in the 43rd over, Tom a couple of overs later and we were 302-4 from 46 overs! Tom was bowled in the 47th over his fantastic innings was over and the stand with George was worth 135, a brilliant partnership!
Cal McCormick joined George and had 1 job, try to guide George to three figures. He was 89* with 11 deliveries to come and managed to find plenty of 2’s in the outfield and when he was on 99* with 7 to go and flick down the legside brought up his maiden century for the 2’s and capped a brilliant innings. He eventually finished 113* from 75 balls faced, 17 4’s and 2 maximums. We finished 358-5 with 90 runs coming in the last 10 overs, 42 coming form the last 3 overs!
Colfs had nothing to lose, they came out swinging and punished anything full. The first wicket came courtesy of a brilliant stumping by Lee from Bradley Ellison, Archie then removed the dangerous opener Singh with a wicked bouncer that could only be fending off via glove and Luke Palmer took a great diving catch. 41-2 became 55-3 when the Walrus (Ash Ellison) took a catch at point to give Brad his second wicket and he got his third when Patel was plumb LBW trying to slog sweep. The ageing seamers first 4 wicket haul of the season again involved Lee taking a great caught behind and Colfs were 96-5.
Cal McCormick picked up an LBW and then the spin sensations of the Walrus and Oli Frewin tucked in. Ash getting the 7th, caught by Lewis at mid off, Oli then picked up another bowled (60% of his wickets have been bowled this year), Tray then picked up another bowled and Oli finished with an LBW to leave Colfs 152 all out and we won by 206 runs!!
Bowling figures
Brad – 10-2-47-4
Archie – 6-0-36-1
Callum – 6-1-39-1
Ash – 7-2-18-2
Oli – 4.2-0-11-2
Plenty of stand outs for MoM this week but it could only go to George for his brilliant ton.
A fantastic day’s cricket and great to watch young cricketers get better and better and also great to see so many spectators dotted around the ground.
At the half way stage of the season the team sits second, 2 points behind Bickley Park and with a very good chance of promotion.
The team is home again this week against Sidcup who will no doubt be try to exact revenge after their defeat in the first game of the season.