Broadstairs CC – 2nd XI vs Bickley Park CC – 2nd XI

Report

While London suffered grey skies and the odd shower, the 2nd XI set off (via the obligatory fuel/burger/fries and fizz emporium) to sunny Broadstairs young leg spinner cloning factory Cricket Club.

All things being equal, the first part went well.  Enough cars, enough players (even managing to rendezvous with V.C Pym as we tore through, sorry swung by, Faversham ), arrived on time, warmed up, had an umpire (Thanks again to Ali G) and we even won the toss!

Skipper Crowdy decided that to bowl first was the right thing to do (and while we all agreed, there is a suspicion that he had been there before and simply knew what the tea offering was likely to be)

Horner and Aimey began proceedings and while each picked up a wicket runs flowed, as the openers picked up on any width or loss of length. It is fair to say the wicket didn’t help the seamers much and the short square boundary on one side was an obvious draw.  PC replaced Jack for the 15th over, but there was little evidence of spin initially, (that’s not to say it wouldn’t have spun if PC had actually pitched the thing!!!!) Marcus again bowled his spell through, finding the edge on several occasions, but not, alas, the required fielder.  

Harry Stafford replaced Marcus from the pavilion end, and PC began to find a length that was at least on the cut strip (it’s alright, I’m not playing next week anyhow!).  With drinks due, Harry finally cleaned up the hamstrung opener (for 44), and the next ball PC trapped the number 4 (on 31). 

90 for 4 with two batsmen yet to face a ball at the crease. Paul pouched a simple return catch to leave the home side teetering 95-5, which became 105-6 courtesy of Stafford. 

After that, it is fair to say that we let them off the hook. At number 8, Andy Marshall isn’t the most mobile or svelte of cricketers (sorry Andy) but he’s got a shed load of experience, a cricketing brain and patience. He knuckled down and simply worked the ball into the gaps, a testament to all that indoor cricket that Broadstairs excel at.

Debutant Owen Davies bowled with promise, albeit looking a bit rusty, as he struggled to find the right line to the settled batsmen, and David Firth broke out his off spin, as pace off the ball appeared to be the best method of containing the runs.

In spite of this, and a heroic diving effort from the skipper who leapt like a salmon, ok.. well he leapt…., I say leapt…..  (3rd XI beckons for the author) but Paul grabbed a fiercely cut  ball and was unfortunate for it to be jarred out as his elbow hit the deck, the home side nudged, nurdled and on occasion smashed their way to 224, the tenth wicket falling to the last ball of the innings with Firthy deservedly picking up 3 wickets for his efforts

Then there was tea.  This tea was designed for anyone who wasn’t due to field or open the batting shortly . It was simply sensational.  Future captains reading this report: When visiting Broadstairs: Field First. that is all you need to know!  Unfortunately for us, the home team have developed a strategy of squirrelling away their tea for after the game, so that they can all still move when required to field.

The Bickley reply started seemingly without concern, as Alex Cooper and Parag Patel opened up. Coops fell with the score on 17 and Will Holcombe joined P in the middle. As Will settled, Parag looked to push on and again looked in fine touch as the total passed 50.  The home bowlers hit good areas and as the pressure built, wickets began to fall, as we subsided from 57 -1 to  61-5 as Will, Parag, Mick King and Firthy all back in the hutch. Only Harry managed to survive the flurry of wickets, and with Pym steadied the ship to 88 before he too succumbed to the guile of the Broadstairs twirlers.  Davies and the Skipper both delayed proceedings for a short while, and with Harry still punishing the odd loose balls get the score to 133, still 17 runs shy of the first batting bonus point.  Marcus added just three before misjudging the line of a ball he tried to cut, and that left Jack to hold up an end while Stafford brought up first the 150 run bonus point, and secondly a hard fought person triumph of a half century.  He perished soon after selflessly trying to get the total to 175.    

Not our greatest moment, but credit to Harry for applying himself against what was, in retrospect a very talented young spin attack. As was pointed out in the bar afterward, Broadstairs are top not in-spite of their young players.. but because of them! 

We look forward to having another crack at them in August, hopefully on another hot summers day!