FARLEIGH FAIL TO STOP 1ST TEAM WINNING STREAK

SECOND TEAM SLIP UP AT SHIPBOURNE

Marden 1st XI beat West Farleigh 1st XI V’s by 30 runs

Match report to follow…

Leeds at home 1:30pm start – Saturday 12th July.

1. HUNTER

2. BLYTHIN

3. SUNNOCKS T

4. SUNNOCKS P

5. LANGRIDGE

6. BREWER

7. TWG

8. STILEMAN

9. SAMUEL

10. THOMAS D

11. MATTISON

Shipbourne 2nd XI beat Marden 2nd XI by 6 Wickets

The second team travelled to this delightful cricket ground with a surfit of bowlers and a distinct lack of specialist batsmen. It transpired that Shipbourne were in the same boat but they had called upon the services of a young man called Guy Willis from Judd School who happens to be in the Kent set up. He opened the innings scored a chanceless century and was effectively the difference between the sides.

This is the third occasion in four weeks that an opening batsman has taken 100 off us and Willis who is only 14 made the job look relatively easy, despite some early playing and missing against Ben.

We won the toss on a useful looking batting pitch and despite some early nicks which were grounded Nick began to make batting look straight forward. Shipbourne opened their attack as ever with Peter Philips and Tim Bentall, two of the “meanest” seamers on the circuit and it wasn’t long before Tim got one past John Jones defences. Tony and Nick repaired the damage with a partnership of 60 and Ben Tomkinson also begun to put bat to ball when Tony was caught at wide mid on. Ben (26) was eventually bowled by Bentall and number 5 Steve Mattison was caught at wide mid on. Nick (71) continued on his way but was eventually brilliantly caught by the keeper standing up off the young seamer Austin and this was possibly the turning point in the game.

The skipper (15*), John Murray (13), Matt Mortimer (12) and Gareth (12*) all tried to hit out in the last 10 over’s but picked out the fielders with uncanny accuracy and the innings ended on a below par 174 for 7.

Ben steamed in and caused some early problems but the edges didn’t come despite an eager Nick Burdge doing an excellent job behind the timbers. Mattison drew first blood trapping David Bell the opener LBW for 11 and Ben bowled the number 3 bat shouldering arms for a duck. At 40 for 2 with only the skipper Stonell (who scored 133 last week!) left of the recognized batsman we scented a chance but Stonell rode his luck and Willis carried serenely on his way with a match winning stand of 80 before Stonell was bowled round his legs by Gareth by 39. A couple of catches were dropped in the deep but all the time Willis remained hitting the ball cleanly and straight there was no question who would run out the winner. Willis didn’t prolong the agony, belting Gareth for 4 4’s in his last over and although Nav and John Jones both bowled short excellent spells the game was up!

The side to Leeds & Broomfield away 1:30pm start, meet at the ground:

1. THOMAS

2. JONES

3. WATTS

4. ANDREWS

5. KARIM

6. MORTIMER A

7. TOMKINSON B

8. WARD

9. NAV

10. HUMPHREY R

11. MACAFFERY

Tony it would be great if you could give Nav a lift and Chris you had better bring your wicket keeping gloves! Good to see Chris back to strengthen the batting and with a more balanced side and with a bit of luck we hope to get back to our winning ways.