Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs travelled to Polo Farm for their game against Canterbury on what was to be the hottest day of the year so far. The toss was going to be pivotal as the winners would bat first on a batsman friendly pitch and avoid the scorching heat in the field. Unfortunately, the toss was won by Canterbury and they were to bat first.
Fox and McCormick opening the bowling for Broadstairs and Canterbury got off to a positive start. It took some sublime fielding from Harry Carter to get the break through as he ran out Niewoudt with a direct hit. Canterbury were 40 for 1 and a change of bowler saw Oli Frewin come on to dismiss Kinch (LBW) with his 3rd ball. Broadstairs felt their spirits lift at this stage as Canterbury who didn’t look like losing a wicket, were all of a sudden 40 for 2. Taig and Line taking the reins and rebuilding for Canterbury before Taig holed out to the mid-wicket boundary for 53(caught Ellison bowled Frewin). 121 for 3 when Bobb joined Line. Bobb caught by A Marshall, off Ellison’s bowling, for 13 and Canterbury were 175 for 4. White joined Line and Broadstairs would not take any more wickets, with Canterbury finishing on 239 for 4 after their 50 overs. Line being the pick of the Canterbury batsman ending on 128 not out. All in all, considering the conditions, Broadstairs felt that the Canterbury total was under par and were confident that 239 could be chased down.
A quick tea and Broadstairs began their chase with Tom Marshall and James Bond opening up. The reply started well with Marshall and Bond finding the gaps and picking up the odd boundary before Tom was adjudged LBW off the bowling of Wright with the score at 31. Fox coming in at 3 was next to go caught behind by Kinch off the bowling of Sullivan and Broadstairs were 40 for 2. Kidd at 4 and Broadstairs were still in with a chance of chasing this total as we were only 10 overs in. Step up Wright who managed to hit the pad twice in the following over, claiming the scalps of both Bond (28) and Carter (0) LBW. So Broadstairs were now teetering at 43 for 4. A Marshall joined Kidd and after a boundary to get off the mark, Marshall (4) was caught behind by Kinch off the bowling of Wright. 49 for 5 and Joe McCaffrey walks to the middle with the mindset that we need to bat the 50 overs to be in with any chance of getting a result. Kidd and McCaffrey were looking solid before Kidd was caught in the slips by L White for 16 off the bowling of Oates. Broadstairs were 69 for 6 at this stage and staring down the barrel of a huge defeat. J Marshall and McCaffrey taking their time and trying to see out the overs, punishing the bad ball and rotating the strike before Marshall was bowled by K Niewoudt for 10. 99 for 7, Frewin in at 9 and a quick 23, punishing the bad ball and taking quick singles, before being caught Sullivan bowled Bobb having taken Broadstairs to their 1st batting point, 155 for 8. All the while, McCaffrey building his innings, and McCormick joining him, something special needed to get a win. McCormick taking a liking to the short-pitched bowling of Wright saw his first 4 scoring shots as 4,4,4,6 and 19 coming off the 44th over. McCaffrey and McCormick pushed the score to 208 before McCormick succumbed to the bowling of Bobb, caught L White, for 33. Ellison joined McCaffrey and was bowled M Harris for 1. Joe McCaffrey unbeaten on 54 in the end and Broadstairs fell 25 runs short being all out for 214.
It was always going to be a hard day with the searing heat and some positives can be taken from the game for Broadstairs. McCaffrey unbeaten on 54 takes the Broadstairs man of the match as without him anchoring the tail end, Broadstairs could have been 100 all out. To get to within 25 runs shows that there is fight all the way down the order and if it hadn’t have been for a couple of quick LBW wickets early on, then the result could’ve been positive for Broadstairs.
Next week sees the second round begin with BCC 2XI at home to Sidcup 2XI.
