Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs won by 46 runs
Broadstairs won the toss and elected to bat first
Broadstairs posted 317-7 (50), Nathan Fox 139 (142 balls), Jake Benfield 63 (30 balls), Alex Hogben 47 (75 balls), Adam Jacob 29 (20 balls)
Leeds & Broomfield 271 all out (49): George Kidd 3-36 (10)
Match report
This week the 1s travelled to the picturesque ground overlooking Leeds Castle. The weather was grey and gloomy with a stiff fresh breeze, it certainly didn’t feel like June!
Stand-in captain Jake Benfield won the toss and elected to bat. Alex Hogben and Nathan Fox walked out to open the innings, the green top giving the Leeds bowlers some early movement, and the odd occasional extra bounce made it very tricky in the first 10-15 overs.
At 45-0 from the first 15 the two openers found the going easier with 27 coming from the next 5 overs; boundaries were coming with relative ease with Hogben also hitting a maximum.
The 22nd over produced the over of the day, after a first ball dot, Alex then hit the rest of the over for 20. Firstly an edge through the deep standing slips, secondly a classic cover drive piercing the field racing to the boundary, the third and fourth were also edges through slip before he finished the over with a clip through midwicket bringing up the hundred partnership and taking Alex to 47, just ahead of Nathan on 46.
The next over Nathan found the boundary to take him to his third half-century of the league campaign. If Alex could have asked for any delivery to get his half century I’m sure it would have been a long hop! Unfortunately he managed to smash it straight to cover who took the catch and Hogben walked back with a well=made 47.
Tom Marshall followed three deliveries later when adjudged LBW for 1, meaning George Kidd joined Nathan and stamped his authority early with a drive over the top for 4.
113-2 at drinks and we had a nice platform to build on. The Leeds bowlers got tighter after the break, but George and Nathan waited for the bad balls, Nathan hitting a six in the process and both were rotating the strike. Scrivens was into the attack and kept both batsmen on their toes. However, when attempting to take a catch at deep mid-off, Scrivens badly injured his finger and after a delay left the field to go to hospital.
This opened the door with a change of bowling and more freedom for Fox who cashed in with a boundary. Semmens then had George caught behind for 12 bringing Adam Jacob to the crease. A maximum second ball landing in the neighbouring field showed Adam’s intent.
A couple of overs later Adam launched another 6 followed by a boundary and taking us into the last 10 overs. Another 2 boundaries followed by 1 from Fox saw us get 35 runs from 3 overs.
Adam fell for a brutal 29 when he was stumped , bringing Jake to the crease. 199-4 with 9 overs to go, Nathan in the 90’s and we were hopeful of at least 250.
The 42nd over produced 13 runs, a maximum for Nathan followed by a single to bring up his century, a brilliant innings that gave only 1 chance in the 40’s. Jake finished the over with a boundary after the celebrations and it was back to business for the opener, he was seeing it well and cashing in!
Carnage the ensued, Jake, smashing 20 from the 47th over, 2 6’s and 2 4’s making his half century and the following over Nathan cashed in on the free hit for 6 and then 3 consecutive boundaries, before being caught in the 48th over for a brilliant 139 from 142 balls.
Jake continued with another maximum bringing up the 300 but he fell in the final over LBW for 63 from 30 deliveries. Olly Skelton and Freddie Corner saw the final over out with Olly getting stumped from the final delivery for 6.
We had set a score of 317 and although a great score, we were aware that Sevenoaks had chased 299 just a couple of weeks ago.
After the tea break Brad and the returning Chris Flint shared the new ball, a typical maiden first up from Brad and then Chris claimed Aitken’s wicket with his second delivery. Then in his third over he found the edge of Pope’s bat and Chris Kidd took the chance at first slip.
Flint’s lack of overs showed this season as he tired, 22 coming from his fourth and fifth overs and he was replaced by George. Batting wasn’t easy, there was some indifferent bounce, but the outfield was quick and the boundaries short.
Leeds had no choice but to have a good go at the target and they were picking up regular boundaries, Davis tucking into Brad’s 9th over with 2 6’s before he trapped Tulia LBW and claimed our third wicket.
After 20 overs the home side were 106-3, Brad finished his 10 over stint with 1-43 and was replaced by the captain. George then claimed the fourth wicket, the important one of Davis who had made 71 from 59, but could only find the hands of Jake.
After a 2 over stint, Jake was replaced by off spinner Freddie Corner and then George Kidd produced a magic 30th over, first Clarry McCague edging to Tom Marshall and then 2 balls later Drewe tried one hit too many and Flinty held the catch.
With 20 overs remaining, 173 was required but only 4 wickets in hand. Monty McCague had other ideas, taking on the spinners, Corner and Chris Kidd who had replaced George. Going at just under 5 and over for the next 10 overs meant 126 were required from the final 10.
Surely they couldn’t do it could they? 18 coming from the 42nd over caused a bit of panic, you could sense the tension around the field. Freddie had ended his spell of 10 overs for 49 and was replaced by Nathan, but McCague took him on getting 15 from the over and bringing up his own half century. A big 6 the next over had the Leeds spectators hoping, but the very next delivery the experienced Kiddy got his man, nicely held by Nathan.
Sturges then took over from McCague, bringing up his 50 with a boundary followed by 6 from Chris Kidd’s penultimate over. But now the requirement was 48 from 12 deliveries. Jake had brought himself in and the first ball of the 49th over bowled Sturges and then Alex ran out Harrison to ensure we stayed top of the league.
Scrivens was unable to bat after returning from hospital with a dislocated finger, had he been able to bat the result could well have been much closer.
Bowling figures:
Brad – 10-1-43-1
Flinty – 5-0-37-2
G. Kidd – 10-1-36-3
Jake – 10-1-36-3
Freddie – 10-1-49-0
C. Kidd – 9-1-65-1
Nathan – 1-0-15-0
This week’s MoM is clearly Alex Hogben for his brilliant 20 runs in 1 over . Just kidding, obviously it’s Nathan Fox for his brilliant 139, the building of the century was class, could have been 150.
