Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs move out of the relegation zone with their third win of the season away at Hayes. Having finished on the same number of points last season, Hayes and Broadstairs had seen their paths diverge in the first division this year, with the Bromley side enjoying life in the mid-table while the Seasiders sat bottom of the league going into Saturday’s clash. On a hot day and what looked like a flat hard pitch, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first but found life hard on a wicket that was slower than first expected. Opening bowlers Bradley Ellison and Jamie Dewell kept things tight to begin with, with the latter taking the first wicket in the second over. Having only scored 27 runs off the first 10 overs, the Hayes openers tried to advance the scoring but succeeded only in handing Dewell his second wicket. Ellison would then join the party, claiming the wicket of keeper Liam Buttery who hit an ‘easy catch’ to mid on, and when Chris Kidd took a smart catch off the bowling of Jay Basu after Ellison had taken his second wicket the hosts were staring down the barrel at 55-5. They would then mount a mini-recovery, managing to not lose wickets in clusters and get up to a score of 144, with all the Broadstairs bowlers contributing with at least one wicket. Despite the slow nature of the pitch, Broadstairs were confident that they could use the fast boundary to reach their target, but that confidence looked premature when opener Alex Hogben was dismissed second ball to a brute of a delivery that just managed to take his edge. This brought overseas Basu to the crease, who looked far more comfortable than anyone else had all day as he compiled a match-winning 61, while others batted alongside him. On a pitch that was taking a lot of turn especially in the second innings, he was able to manoeuvre the ball into gaps and pounce on the bad ball. A mini collapse at the end put pressure on the lower order as 3 runs were still needed with only two wickets in hand and the opening bowler back on, but Alfie Huntley confidently strode down the wicket and cover drove him for four to win the game for his side. Broadstairs travel to Folkestone next week where they hope to continue their push for survival.
