Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs Cricket Club
Skipper Hardy’s heroics see Broadstairs over the line in gripping, last gasp drama.
After the nail-biting finish to last week’s match, Broadstairs were hoping for a more comfortable ride when they entertained Bromley Common at Park Avenue. On a bright, sunny day, the match did not get off to the best of starts with the visitors winning the toss and, unsurprisingly, electing to bat first. This was perhaps a sign that this was going to be another rollercoaster ride for the Seasiders. As it turned out, the Bromley Common innings was fairly unremarkable with pace-off bowling proving the most successful approach against the succession of left-handed batters. Bromley Common were eventually bowled out for a below-par score of 202 with Chris Kidd 3-30 and Matthew Frewin (3-30) the pick off the bowlers. The remaining wickets were claimed by George Kidd (2) and one apiece for Jau Basu and Jake Benfield.
In reply, despite the early loss of Basu, Broadstairs rapidly reached 88-1 with Nathan Fox and Alex Hogben looking untroubled and the chase appeared to be under control. However, once Fox (40) saw the umpire’s finger raised, this precipitated a collapse which on most other days would have been match defining. Indeed, over the course of fewer than 10 overs, 5 wickets were lost with just 22 runs added. Times like these call for extraordinary performances and skipper Matthew Hardy along with Alfie Huntley, returning to the cricket field for the first time in over two years, were up for the challenge. Together they put on 47 runs with Huntley in particular hitting a series of sumptuous drives. Eventually, after miscuing another attempted lofted drive, Huntley (25) departed and it was down to the skipper to work with the lower order to see the team home. With 46 runs still needed, only 3 wickets remaining and fewer the 10 overs left, few around the ground expected a home victory. As two further wickets fell in quick succession, the win seemed even less likely but Hardy and tail-ender Bradley Ellison held their nerve to see the hosts home with 1 ball to spare and 1 wicket remaining, Hardy (54) completing an outstanding half-century in the process.
The win consolidates Broadstairs 5th position in the league and as the season nears its conclusion, they can start to look upwards in the table rather than concern themselves with a scrap for survival. Next week, Broadstairs face 4th place Bickley Park and will be hoping to repeat the winning performance that brought them victory in the home fixture earlier in the season.
