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

Report

BPCC 2nd 11 made the trip down to Canterbury knowing another defeat would make promotion very difficult. For the vast majority of Saturday, this looked to be the case…

Winning the toss, captain Crowdy opted to make first use of a firm-looking pitch, with initial thoughts of a score well over 250 required. This didn’t prove to be the case.

Openers Cooper and Patel made a steady start, before Cooper was joined by Holcombe, with the pair negotiating some excellent spells of bowling from the Canterbury seamers, regularly finding a good line and length to trouble both. With Holcombe bowled just before drinks, BPCC were well placed (albeit slightly slowly) at 65-2 at drinks. However a mini collapse ensued, with King, Cooper (who top scored with a well-made 30) and Stafford falling in quick succession to leave the score at 90-5. Russell and Ramsey put on a good, busy stand, to help take the score to 164-8 off 50 overs.

Certainly under-par, but with the wicket doing more than expected, it looked a defendable total. And so it proved.

Williams and Russell started well with the new ball, bringing the early wickets required to have a chance of pulling off an upset. Williams ended with 4-35 in an excellent spell, whilst Russell took the key wickets of Niewoudt and Wright from the opposition, picking up 3-53. With Canterbury struggling at 94-7, the game looked well and truly in favour of the visitors. However an excellent partnership by 8 and 9 dragged Canterbury up to 149-7, with the game seemingly in the bag.

Cue an excellent ending from BPCC, taking 3 wickets for very little, including a wonder catch by “Magic Mike” Cooper off captain Crowdy to take the winning wicket, to scrape home by 8 runs.

BPCC batted poorly, bowled averagely, but dragged themselves to victory with fantastic character and team-spirit.

A thoroughly enjoyable game, and nice to be on the winning side!

We go again next week.

Thanks as always to Ali G for umpiring and to club legend Richard Brewer for cheering us on from the sidelines for most of the game!