Match Report
Sunday 20 July –v- Blue Bell Hill at Common Road
Following another glorious weekend at the Kent Beer Festival, a slightly dishevelled half of the team arrived from the South of Kent and was joined by what was hopefully a more alert contingent from the North. Bill having taken several hours to pack down his duvet-laden tent, during which time he had ample time to moan about Camra, beer running out, bacon, inadequate camping facilities etc.., was still whingeing when we arrived at The Toastmasters; a mood that was not lifted either by the prospect of an afternoon’s cricket nor by a fabulous pint of Thor’s Thunder.
Jim continued his fine form with the bat without wasting too much of anyone’s precious time and his departure provided the bedrock to another dismal batting display. Timmo flattered to deceive, playing fluently either side of a shocking run out of Gord, before he gave the bowler a simple return catch. Our innings was rescued by a patient recovery partnership between Paine and Moyse, which dragged us towards our declaration at 154-7, leaving the still disgruntled Webb, batting at 9 only a few balls to face; a situation guaranteed to ensure the dark clouds over him remained.
Timms and Whale exerted early pressure on the Blue Bell Hill top order, reducing our hosts to 13-3 at one stage. Smith and Steel (78*) led the recovery, with Crusaders change bowlers unable to maintain the momentum. Wilsdon, Clements and Schultz remained wicket-less, but were not helped by dropped catches (Bill – very dark under that cloud) and poor out cricket. It was a typical fielding display from a team of which half had put in their best performance the day before in a tent in Canterbury. Two late dismissals from Darren were a little too late to influence the outcome and Blue Bell Hill cruised home with five wickets in hand.
