Broadstairs CC narrow loss to Harvel CC in tight encounter

Jay Basu

Broadstairs 1st XI (at home) v Harvel CC (visitors)

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts could not have got off to much a worse start, losing both Nathan Fox (8) and Jake Benfield (0) within the fifth over. Newly-arrived, returning from overseas Jay Basu and Andrew Bailey were able to rebuild the innings with careful batting on a docile pitch and battling against a slow outfield.

By drinks, the pair had advanced the score to 89-2 and a total approaching 200 was looking possible. However, when Bailey was dismissed for 31 in the 29th over, Basu would need to continue to anchor the innings and hope he wouldn’t run out of partners. However, only George Kidd (6) and Tom Marshall (12) managed to see off 20-plus deliveries and eventually, Basu fell just 5 runs short of what would have been a well-earned century. The Broadstairs innings then limped to a final total of 186 all out with a possible 16 balls still remaining.

The total proved just short of defendable and despite some good bowling performances and at times, sharp fielding, Harvel managed to reach the target with three wickets and one over to spare. Wickets were shared amongst George Kidd (2), Chris Kidd (2), Jay Basu (1) and Nathan Fox (1) and a special mention goes to Guneet Singh for his return to Broadstairs  cricket with an outstanding display of ground-fielding.

Next week, Broadstairs host New Beckenham and with a some absentees from this week likely to be available again, they will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways and climbing back up the Division 1 table.