Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs Cricket Club
Missed Opportunities
Broadstairs lost the toss against Folkestone who elected to bowl in a match that had plenty of rain interruptions.
Fortune was not with the home side when Jack Wheeler was adjudged LBW early in the innings having scored a brisk 15. He was quickly followed by Chris Flint who was caught behind and the home team were 20-2. Jamie Dewell took the attack to Folkestone, finding a few boundaries but with the ball seaming around it was Alex Hogben who fell next to a second LBW, Jamie followed soon after, again LBW and Broadstairs were 55-4.
Chris Kidd joined Scott Narraway and they set about building a partnership, Kidd hitting the off spinner into the trees, but on reaching 21 he couldn't decide which shot to play and ended up giving point an easy catch. Matt Hardy on his 1st team debut played well with Scott.
The bowlers were getting plenty out of the wicket so Scott went after anything wide. There were 2 or 3 rain interruptions and an early tea making it difficult for the batsmen to get into a rhythm, Scott managed to bring up his half century but was dismissed a few balls later to a good return catch by the bowler.
Harry Wise, Masoud Rangin and Ian Marshall were all dismissed quickly and a last wicket run out with Brad and Matt meant we had totalled 186 from 47.2 overs.
Because of the rain delays it meant we weren't going to be able to bowl 50 overs, Folkestone had to go for it!
Andy Bray promoted to open the batting and get on with it, we knew we would get chances, we just had to bowl in the right areas. Unfortunately the bowling unit decided that length was the way to go, the only way it went was into and trees and nearby housing estates! Bray must have thought all his Christmases had come at once, he gave us a chance on 20 odd but the high catch was dropped and he went on to get 42 from 17 balls before finally offering another chance and Jack taking it.
61-1 inside 10 overs had got them off to a flyer, bowling changes didn't work as we still bowled length and the batsmen were able to hit too many sixes. Chris Flint picked up the second wicket but at 84-2 and plenty of overs left we had to keep it tight.
Stuart Graham had other ideas and was enjoying the buffet, half volleys, full tosses, beamers, we bowled the lot! Graham saw them home with an unbeaten 53 with around 13 overs remaining, we picked up two more wickets but dropped a couple of catches that would have given us one more point.
Jamie came away with three wickets, the bowling unit knew they hadn't done their job. Dropped catches, a missed stumping and poor fielding were the big difference between us and the opposition.
If we want to survive in this league we have to play to win, we need to be ruthless! The attitude within the team needs to change, from supporting the batsmen while they are in the middle, backing up the bowlers in the field, helping put stuff away after the game and then enjoying a beer.
If all 11 can come off that field at the end of the day knowing they have given 100% then we can take losing to a better side, but at the moment we're only getting 50% and that will cost us!
