Snodland Community v 3rd XI

Even an 11 man involved coin toss couldn’t stop the Heath losing the flip for the second week running, and being put in the stifling hot field to watch the Snodland batters slow start thanks to two fantastic stingy spells, but unfortunately wicketless from Nick and Shuk. It wasn’t till Sam was brought on as first change that run rate upped, but so did the wickets, first he had both openers out bowled and caught at the wicket respectively, and then with score on 71 he clean bowled the no.3 and followed up next ball trapping their veteran no.5 plumb in front offering only half a shot. This set up the hat-trick ball nicely with Snodlands skipper attending the crease, Sam roared in, bowled a straight one and the batsman with head looking into the cloudless sky, swung from the hips, miss it and Monty celebrated his hat trick, and Five-for with his euphoric team mates. I think the batsman said to his exasperated squad as he passed them “Couldn't do nothing about that, it was a good nut!” Sam now had visions of him going one better than his 9 wicket haul on the same ground 4 years ago, but alas had to settle this time for just the Five. Snodland started to rebuild and looked to be getting away from the Heath until Steve brought back his two openers to great effect, Nick bowled probably his best match spells in an Heath Three’s shirt and that saying something has he has led the wickets for the last year and a half. His match figures was 10 overs 3 for 15 as he polished off the tail with Shuk picking off their last batsman for a more than deserved wicket. This again left the game evenly poised with the oppo all out for 149 at another candidate for best tea of the season. At the top of the order the skipper failed once again being bowled for 5, maybe his place is in danger. But he need not have worried about his other opener Graham and his replacement Darren, as these two raced to 55 in the 9th over. Graham (29) and Darren (21) went in fairly quick succession, Darren especially unlucky to be given leg-before so far down the track. Archie & Jotty started to steady the ship under the captain’s orders to bat for 20 overs. Steve had stated to them at the 14th over drinks break, if they are still there at the next drinks break, even without scoring excessively the game would be as good as won. Archie on 28 didn't quite make it as he fell for the double bouncer, trying to drive an almost rolling ball, hopefully he will have learnt from this and not fall for it again. Another middle order wobble with Mitchell & Shuk both going for ducks gave Snodland a little hope, but Sam’s run a ball 16, before he held out to long on had brought the Heath to within a couple of hits from victory, which Jotty did with two successive 4s to see us home with 3 wickets and nearly 8 overs to spare. Victory keeps Bexleyheath sitting proudly atop the 2A West division, but only slenderly ahead of the next 2 weeks opponents. The only thing harder than scoring runs for the skipper is deciding the man of the match, Sam’s hat-trick and 5 wickets on any other day would have won it hands down, or Nick’s 3 for 15, but Jotty’s absolutely faultless match winning 38 not out under pressure picks up the award.