Sometimes you have to take your hat off to a member of the opposition, simply shake their hand and say "well played, you were different class today". Yesterday was one such occasion for Bickley Park.
Bickley won the toss and got off to a disastrous start at 14-3. The ship was mainly steadied by an excellent innings from Saf Imtiaz though he was left stranded on 111* with Bickley's last 5 wickets going for just 10 runs. 230 all out with still another 3.1 overs to go.
Bromley Common lost one of their openers with the very first ball of the innings. In strode Will Clark, a former NZ U19 cap AND who plays for Central Districts. From the off everything came from the middle of his bat, mainly on the deck too (no 6s) and a chanceless innings culminated with him hitting the winning run to finish with 148* (135) for his side to win by 5 wickets with 6.5 overs to spare. Such was his dominance that the batters at the other end managed just 56-5 off 124 balls. Well done young man.
Bickley have now missed their best player, all rounder Elliot Hooper, for three games (one win, one loss and one incomplete) and simply do not have the strength of squad to cope with one player missing let alone one of the calibre of Hooper.
By contract, the KCL might just as well give the Championship title to the Vine now. It isn't just the fact that they are 24 points ahead of Bickley but, more. because they are, simply put, the best side in the division. Or should I say they have the best batting line up in the whole of the Kent League and that includes the KPL in my opinion. When the Vine haven't had the services of ex-England batter, Nick Compton (381 runs at 63.50), they've managed to bring in his cousin, Kent opener, Ben Compton (71 runs @ 35.50). Add Evert Bekker (431 runs @ 67.00), overseas Bradley Hope (568 runs @ 107.75) and former SA State player Luke Schlemmer (568 runs @ 94.67 and their top four have amassed 1,853 in 8 matches at an average of 232 per game and at an average of 77.21 per man.
Fair to say that Old Colfeians 1s had a good win yesterday - especially as Wilson, opening the batting, scored more on his own than any other team in the division amassed as a whole: https://oldcolfeians.play-cricket.com/website/results/6746125
Sometimes you have to take your hat off to a member of the opposition, simply shake their hand and say "well played, you were different class today". Yesterday was one such occasion for Bickley Park.
Bickley won the toss and got off to a disastrous start at 14-3. The ship was mainly steadied by an excellent innings from Saf Imtiaz though he was left stranded on 111* with Bickley's last 5 wickets going for just 10 runs. 230 all out with still another 3.1 overs to go.
Bromley Common lost one of their openers with the very first ball of the innings. In strode Will Clark, a former NZ U19 cap AND who plays for Central Districts. From the off everything came from the middle of his bat, mainly on the deck too (no 6s) and a chanceless innings culminated with him hitting the winning run to finish with 148* (135) for his side to win by 5 wickets with 6.5 overs to spare. Such was his dominance that the batters at the other end managed just 56-5 off 124 balls. Well done young man.
Bickley have now missed their best player, all rounder Elliot Hooper, for three games (one win, one loss and one incomplete) and simply do not have the strength of squad to cope with one player missing let alone one of the calibre of Hooper.
By contract, the KCL might just as well give the Championship title to the Vine now. It isn't just the fact that they are 24 points ahead of Bickley but, more. because they are, simply put, the best side in the division. Or should I say they have the best batting line up in the whole of the Kent League and that includes the KPL in my opinion. When the Vine haven't had the services of ex-England batter, Nick Compton (381 runs at 63.50), they've managed to bring in his cousin, Kent opener, Ben Compton (71 runs @ 35.50). Add Evert Bekker (431 runs @ 67.00), overseas Bradley Hope (568 runs @ 107.75) and former SA State player Luke Schlemmer (568 runs @ 94.67 and their top four have amassed 1,853 in 8 matches at an average of 232 per game and at an average of 77.21 per man.
Fair to say that Old Colfeians 1s had a good win yesterday - especially as Wilson, opening the batting, scored more on his own than any other team in the division amassed as a whole: https://oldcolfeians.play-cricket.com/website/results/6746125
It's the consecutive hundred partnerships where the other blokes got 28 and 16 that really seal it
Sometimes you have to take your hat off to a member of the opposition, simply shake their hand and say "well played, you were different class today". Yesterday was one such occasion for Bickley Park.
Bickley won the toss and got off to a disastrous start at 14-3. The ship was mainly steadied by an excellent innings from Saf Imtiaz though he was left stranded on 111* with Bickley's last 5 wickets going for just 10 runs. 230 all out with still another 3.1 overs to go.
Bromley Common lost one of their openers with the very first ball of the innings. In strode Will Clark, a former NZ U19 cap AND who plays for Central Districts. From the off everything came from the middle of his bat, mainly on the deck too (no 6s) and a chanceless innings culminated with him hitting the winning run to finish with 148* (135) for his side to win by 5 wickets with 6.5 overs to spare. Such was his dominance that the batters at the other end managed just 56-5 off 124 balls. Well done young man.
Bickley have now missed their best player, all rounder Elliot Hooper, for three games (one win, one loss and one incomplete) and simply do not have the strength of squad to cope with one player missing let alone one of the calibre of Hooper.
By contract, the KCL might just as well give the Championship title to the Vine now. It isn't just the fact that they are 24 points ahead of Bickley but, more. because they are, simply put, the best side in the division. Or should I say they have the best batting line up in the whole of the Kent League and that includes the KPL in my opinion. When the Vine haven't had the services of ex-England batter, Nick Compton (381 runs at 63.50), they've managed to bring in his cousin, Kent opener, Ben Compton (71 runs @ 35.50). Add Evert Bekker (431 runs @ 67.00), overseas Bradley Hope (568 runs @ 107.75) and former SA State player Luke Schlemmer (568 runs @ 94.67 and their top four have amassed 1,853 in 8 matches at an average of 232 per game and at an average of 77.21 per man.
Fair to say that Old Colfeians 1s had a good win yesterday - especially as Wilson, opening the batting, scored more on his own than any other team in the division amassed as a whole: https://oldcolfeians.play-cricket.com/website/results/6746125
It's the consecutive hundred partnerships where the other blokes got 28 and 16 that really seal it
AshBurton Jr’s understated role in facing the entire opening spell of the division’s quickest bowler was also key, with the double century maker very keen to stay at the other end. Shame he immediately got out to their offie having done the hard work, doh!
Hayes and former Kent player, Alex Blake hit 101 off 35 balls yesterday for Cornwall against Dorset. Fellow Hayes' team mate, Will MacVicar, was somewhat pedestrian by comparison with 48 off 51 balls in Cornwall's total of 213-7 off 20. They ended up winning by just 6 runs.
Drugged with pain killers lolwray ventured onto the greensward for his first appearance of the season to make it 51 consecutive years of playing club cricket. Sidley 2nds making 198 and Little Common 3s 189 in reply. I didn't bat but bowled a tidy 8 overs for 27 ..2 overs at the death only went for 4 so I was more than happy with that. Even happier that I am alive still to type it
My eldest grandson has started playing for Whitstable under-11s. It makes me so proud to see him in his whites. And he’s a nippy little bowler and has taken some amazing catches. His nanny would have been incredibly proud — even though she didn’t get cricket at all.
My eldest grandson has started playing for Whitstable under-11s. It makes me so proud to see him in his whites. And he’s a nippy little bowler and has taken some amazing catches. His nanny would have been incredibly proud — even though she didn’t get cricket at all.
He'll get some excellent coaching there. Good luck to the lad.
My eldest grandson has started playing for Whitstable under-11s. It makes me so proud to see him in his whites. And he’s a nippy little bowler and has taken some amazing catches. His nanny would have been incredibly proud — even though she didn’t get cricket at all.
My 10 year old has been turning out for Bexleyheath's U11s, batting 3 and keeping, i absolutely love watching him play cricket his team mates are all good lads too. He (and I) get so much more out of cricket than playing for his football team. Hope you Grandson sticks with it and you both continue to enjoy yourselves. That transition to hard ball can be tricky though.
If you don’t mind - why did they both get into cricket?
I love the game and I know the ECB have been funding the all stars program, but with so many schools not playing it , I am interested on what’s bringing the youngsters to the clubs.
Through my love of cricket and a chance flyer through our letterbox from Bexleyheath CC advertising their All-stars programme at just the right time. We're hoping he passes his 11+ as his main driver is going to a school with a cricket team!
If you don’t mind - why did they both get into cricket?
I love the game and I know the ECB have been funding the all stars program, but with so many schools not playing it , I am interested on what’s bringing the youngsters to the clubs.
At my club in Herts, the Juniors section had folded until the All Stars initiative. Every Sunday there's more than 100 kids from 6-10 up on the Common doing it - a real sight for sore eyes.
The first group which started are now U13s and half a dozen (including my boy) are also playing senior cricket this summer.
ECB have got many things wrong over the years but the All Stars programme has been a massive success - along with Central Contracts would say their two best decisions of the last 10-20 years.
Hundred obviously being the worst but we won't get into that again just now!
I have been coaching kids down here for the last 5 years and the 9 year olds of 5 years ago are just beginning to make an impression in adult cricket. I can't believe how excited I get when one of them takes a wicket
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The first group which started are now U13s and half a dozen (including my boy) are also playing senior cricket this summer.
ECB have got many things wrong over the years but the All Stars programme has been a massive success - along with Central Contracts would say their two best decisions of the last 10-20 years.
Hundred obviously being the worst but we won't get into that again just now!