Broadstairs Cricket Club
Broadstairs Cricket Club
Defeat for Broadstairs by 77 runs
The Mote won the toss and elected to bat first, posting 245-4. George Kidd 2-62, Freddie Corner, 1-41. Jake Benfield 1-42
Broadstairs 168 all out (43.2) Jake Benfield 38, George Kidd
This week Broadstairs travelled to Maidstone to face league leaders The Mote.
Having lost the toss Broadstairs were asked to bowl and things started ok. Brad and George shared the new ball and both bowled well, on what seemed like a decent wicket with a quick outfield. With the score at 48, it was George who took the first wicket, bowling Conway and then in his next over he got the dangerous Harvey, well taken by Matt Frewin low down at backward point.
While Brad kept it tight from the other end, Jake Benfield was brought on to replace George and he struck in his second over straight after the drinks break, another catch for Frewin at point.
Brad finished his spell without any wickets but conceded just 20 runs from his 10 overs and he was replaced by the left arm spin of Frewin. At the halfway stage the home side were 84-3 and it looked pretty even.
However, the track was quite flat and the batsmen never looked in any trouble as they continued to knock the ball around ticking the scoreboard over. Nathan Fox and Freddie Corner were brought into the attack to try and snaffle a wicket, which unfortunately neither could provide.
Matt was brought back into the attack and should have struck almost immediately, White flicking one to short fine leg but Brad was unable to hang on to the chance. The next over the South African De Villiers picked George out at cover who also failed to hold on. In this division, if you don’t take your chances you get punished and so the two batsmen passed their half centuries and looked to go big.
With 10 overs remaining The Mote were 167-3, with the bowlers changing around to try and produce something, It wasn’t until the 49th over when De Villiers charged at Freddie and Hardy whipped the bails off. The home side finished on 245-4.
At tea we certainly didn’t think it was out of reach, the outfield was quick, the wicket was decent enough and we had batsmen in form.
Alex & Nathan opened up and were going nicely; after 10 overs we were 37-0, but then a mix up resulting in Nathan being run out for 23 in the 11th over. Alex (12) was stumped in the 12th over Tom Marshall followed the next over, LBW without scoring and we had slumped to 49-3.
However, we have a fighting spirit this year and with Matt & Jake at the crease we knew we still had a chance of chasing this. The pair saw us through to the first drinks break and into the 20th over where we were 90-3. But in the 23rd over Matt offered a return catch to the league's top wicket taker Luksich and departed for 20. 5 overs later Jake was found LBW for 38 and we knew it would be an uphill struggle at 112-5.
George and the skipper pushed on past the second drinks break where we had moved to 142-5. But just as the young Kidd looked like making a big score, he was also dismissed for 31 in the 37th over. Hardy (21) then followed suit in the 38th over when he was also caught and from 158-7 it was a case of getting to the next batting point at 175.
Adam (5) was run out going for a second in the 41st over and two overs later Freddie (5) was stumped leaving Callum & Brad to get the 7 runs needed for another point. However, it took just 1 ball from Luksich to trap Brad in front and the umpire raised his finger. 168 all out was disappointing but it was a learning curve for this young team.
Catches win matches and when batsmen get in, they have to make the most of it. This week we welcome back our overseas Jayojit fresh from his exploits in the Bengal T20 competition and we look forward to facing Bromley at Park Avenue.
Bowling figures
Brad – 10-3-20-0
George – 10-0-62-2
Jake – 9-0-42-1
Matt – 6-0-32-0
Nathan – 7-0-44-0
Freddie – 8-0-41-1
This weeks MoM goes to Jake for his 1-42 and 38 runs
