1st XI Broadstairs CC v Tenterden CC
Broadstairs welcomed Tenterden this week on a scorcher of a day. We also welcomed our new overseas, Jayojit Basu (JJ).
Winning the toss, Chris Kidd opted to bat to the delight of the rest of the team. Jamie Dewell and Jack Wheeler opened up and batted sensibly, reaching 50 off the first 11 overs. Tenterden had dropped Jamie on the boundary and this demoralised them a bit. The Tents finally got their breakthrough in the thirteenth over, when Jamie was bowled for 24 and our opening stand of 56 was over.
In walked JJ on debut, a solid forward defensive first ball was followed by a sublime cover drive for 4 the very next ball, he looks the business! Two overs later Jack timed one too well to mid on and fell for a well made 46.
Alex Hogben fell LBW for 2 and at 82-3 off just 17 overs it was time to rebuild. Club stalwart and allround batting legend Scott Narraway joined JJ and immediately struck a boundary over mid off. A couple more text book cover drives from JJ and we were looking at 250+, but in the 26 over JJ smashed a full toss to the legside boundary where he was caught for 25.
Matt Frewin joined Scott and was aggressive in his approach, attacking the bowlers and find the boundary also with some nice cover drives. Tenterden were bowling well, the spinners bowled slower making it difficult to hit and the seamers were getting the Yorkers in making it difficult to score. Matt was bowled in the 44th over for a nice knock of 40, Scott followed in similar fashion for 48 and when Kidd fell for 6 we were 219-7, with a couple of overs left.
Cal Morgan (17*) and Alfie (4*) got us to 230. A competitive total and something for us to bowl at.
After a typical hearty Broadstairs tea, it was our turn to go out into the furness.
Masoud and Bradley opening as usual, Brad however had not warmed up and bowled a shocking first over, 4 long hops all going to the boundary. Tom Richards was being very aggressive opening up but we were feeding him with some poor bowling. Mas not quite finding his areas and after 7 overs Tenterden were 46 without loss, something had to change!
The eighth over is where things started to change, Ellison finally found his line and length and was started to move it, Richards picked out Matt Frewin at long off and 3 balls later he found the edge of Cramps bat and Chris Kidd did the rest. Diving low he managed to get his fingers just under the ball, a great catch enjoyed by the growing crowd of spectators who were soaking up the sun and Stella.
JJ replaced Mas and found the edge straight away, Jack taking the catch to remove Stickels and two overs later Jack dived around the batsman to grab the ball after Gadd had edge up in the air. 46-0 had become 53-4 and our tails were up. When Kent league journeyman Fattore also edged to Jack from JJ it seemed only a matter of time.
Ellison picked up 2 more wickets in his last 2 overs, after a poor dropped catch, the very next ball Matt Frewin took the catch at mid on and when Mangold played down the wrong line Brad had 4-40 from his 10, a decent come back after that first over!
At 71-7 Tenterden were just trying to salvage some batting points, Chris Kidd beat the bat and Jack whipped the bails off giving him his fourth victim. We were made to wait patiently for the next wicket, Cal Morgan taking a catch at long off to give Frewin a wicket and Kidd claimed the last wicket caught by Frewin. Tenterden were 134 all out and we finally had a victory!!.
No real stand out performers, but a good team effort, Scott (48), Jack (46 & 4 dismissals), Matt (40) and Brad (4-40) helped our cause and the buzz of having JJ in the team really helps.
We still have some work to do, fielding wasn’t fantastic yesterday and the early overs from the seamers need to be better. Better teams will make us pay as we’ve seen already this year.
We travel to Bromley Common this weekend, they are playing well and it will be a tough game.
2nd XI Canterbury CC v Broadstairs CC
Broadstairs travelled to Polo Farm for their game against Canterbury on what was to be the hottest day of the year so far. The toss was going to be pivotal as the winners would bat first on a batsman friendly pitch and avoid the scorching heat in the field. Unfortunately, the toss was won by Canterbury and they were to bat first.
Fox and McCormick opening the bowling for Broadstairs and Canterbury got off to a positive start. It took some sublime fielding from Harry Carter to get the break through as he ran out Niewoudt with a direct hit. Canterbury were 40 for 1 and a change of bowler saw Oli Frewin come on to dismiss Kinch (LBW) with his 3rd ball.
Broadstairs felt their spirits lift at this stage as Canterbury who didn’t look like losing a wicket, were all of a sudden 40 for 2. Taig and Line taking the reins and rebuilding for Canterbury before Taig holed out to the mid-wicket boundary for 53(caught Ellison bowled Frewin). 121 for 3 when Bobb joined Line. Bobb caught by A Marshall, off Ellison’s bowling, for 13 and Canterbury were 175 for 4.
White joined Line and Broadstairs would not take any more wickets, with Canterbury finishing on 239 for 4 after their 50 overs. Line being the pick of the Canterbury batsman ending on 128 not out. All in all, considering the conditions, Broadstairs felt that the Canterbury total was under par and were confident that 239 could be chased down.
A quick tea and Broadstairs began their chase with Tom Marshall and James Bond opening up. The reply started well with Marshall and Bond finding the gaps and picking up the odd boundary before Tom was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Wright with the score at 31. Fox coming in at 3 was next to go caught behind by Kinch off the bowling of Sullivan and Broadstairs were 40 for 2. Kidd at 4 and Broadstairs were still in with a chance of chasing this total as we were only 10 overs in. Step up Wright who managed to hit the pad twice in the following over, claiming the scalps of both Bond (28) and Carter (0) LBW.
So Broadstairs were now teetering at 43 for 4. A Marshall joined Kidd and after a boundary to get off the mark, Marshall (4) was caught behind by Kinch off the bowling of Wright. 49 for 5 and Joe McCaffrey walks to the middle with the mindset that we need to bat the 50 overs to be in with any chance of getting a result. Kidd and McCaffrey were looking solid before Kidd was caught in the slips by L White for 16 off the bowling of Oates. Broadstairs were 69 for 6 at this stage and staring down the barrel of a huge defeat. J Marshall and McCaffrey taking their time and trying to see out the overs, punishing the bad ball and rotating the strike before Marshall was bowled by K Niewoudt for 10. 99 for 7, Frewin in at 9 and a quick 23, punishing the bad ball and taking quick singles, before being caught Sullivan bowled Bobb having taken Broadstairs to their 1st batting point, 155 for 8.
All the while, McCaffrey building his innings, and McCormick joining him, something special needed to get a win. McCormick taking a liking to the short-pitched bowling of Wright saw his first 4 scoring shots as 4,4,4,6 and 19 coming off the 44th over. McCaffrey and McCormick pushed the score to 208 before McCormick succumbed to the bowling of Bobb, caught L White, for 33. Ellison joined McCaffrey and was bowled M Harris for 1. Joe McCaffrey unbeaten on 54 in the end and Broadstairs fell 25 runs short being all out for 214.
It was always going to be a hard day with the searing heat and some positives can be taken from the game for Broadstairs. McCaffrey unbeaten on 54 takes the Broadstairs man of the match as without him anchoring the tail end, Broadstairs could have been 100 all out. To get to within 25 runs shows that there is fight all the way down the order and if it hadn’t have been for a couple of quick LBW wickets early on, then the result could’ve been positive for Broadstairs.
This weekend sees the second round begin with BCC 2XI at home to Sidcup 2XI.