League Week 2

1st XI away v Cobham

Batting first, Marden didn't get off to the best of starts with both openers losing their wickets within the opening 4 overs. Although Paul batting at 3 was looking in good shape, he was fast running out of partners. Some resistance was however offered by Brewer until bowled by Skate's impressive in-swingers and Samuel until run out. At 80-odd for 6 with about half the overs gone, things weren't looking good, until Karim stepped up to the crease. Harry demonstrated considerable control in a very important stand with Paul, comprising solid defence, limited sweeping and a newly patented 'bitch slap' shot round the corner! Harry later succumbed for 15, but Blythin (with the help of his outside edge) maintained the support for Paul socring 19, whilst Sunnucks reached his hundred with a flurry of boundaries. The tail kept wagging with Mattison and Ward before Paul was bowled in the final over to ensure no overs were offered to the opposition, and a very decent target of 220 was set.

The Cobham reply got off to a steady start, but were contained by good opening spells from Samuel and Tomkinson. The bowling change however brought two wickets in two balls, the first a fine catch from Brewer in the covers, the second a run out courtesy of some good work from Ward. The restbite was short lived however as their numbers 3 and 4 soon got stuck in, with their Skipper Corden hitting a sizeable six of Blythin, ensuring his spell was brought to an early end! Mattison continued to provide control with another fine 12 over spell yielding 3 wickets, and although wickets were falling, Corden continued to prove extremely effective, keeping their run rate above that required. The dolliest of dolly drops from Blythin didn't help the Marden cause, but Conbham eventually reached their target with two wickets to spare in the 40th over, despite a fine and pacey last spell from Tomkinson, which included an early contender for catch of the season from Paul Sunnucks at slip, diving to his left one handed.

A big effort from the team and fine performance from Paul with the bat, but unfortunately not quite enough against the hitting of Cobham.


2nd XI Home v Bearstead

Bearstead won the game by two wickets having held Marden to around 150.