3rd XI v Dartford

With not much chance of getting a full game in, Steve decided to have a bat first, even though his side was much depleted due to the Club wedding of the century. So when we found ourselves 28 for 4 with Skipper (Duck), Darren (2) M&M (5) and Marc C (Also a duck), back in the hutch there wasn’t much alarm, as the weather will save us from humiliation Steve thought. But as the innings progressed the anticipated rain was nowhere to be seen and soon panic in the Bexley Grammar School ‘Pavillion’ started to arouse. Jotty was his normal steady self, but the surprise of the innings was Anthony DS, who was playing an intelligent knock, playing himself in and always on the lookout for a quick single or two. His confidence soon grew and in the space of an over and half hit four 4s and soon put on a partnership of over 50 with Jotty, who having made 20 missed a lofty full bunger and wasn’t given the benefit of height and up went the LBW finger. Anthony followed soon after being bowled for 27 very useful runs. With the tally nearing the 100 mark, a par score for the wicket and atmospheric conditions, a last few overs push could put us in command. By now though the rain had started to fall persistently, skippers conversed and Neil the Dartford captain suggested we play through to tea and have a rain check (excuse the pun). Nick P, Cooky, Mare, Ben A & Dippers all played little cameos without hitting double figures, and when Ben was runout off the last ball of the truncated allotted 35 overs, The Heath had posted an all-out score of 118, helped by the grateful top score of 36 extras. Tea was taken as the drizzle rain persevered, but as the last crumb of cake was devoured the rain briefly stopped, get pads on and get out there both teams agreed. Dartford innings started sprightly with 5 off the first over before Nick fell into his normal unerring rhythm, but it was Steve who struck first blow, trapping the unlucky skipper LBW who got a grubber. Nick cleaned bowled the dangerous opener for 13 and next over Steve bowled a beautiful sinking delivery that bamboozled and yorked their keeper. Nick & Steve’s first 15 overs spell between them had gone for 15 and 12 respectively, Steve looked around for a first change bowler, Shuk; nope he’s in the 2’s Billy H; nope 2’s also, Ryan F; nope he’s away, Archie; what he’s away as well, Cooky; he’s here, but the game isn’t safe yet. Steve called Bradley Ward over, put his arm around him and built him up as if he was calling Jimmy Anderson on, “What end do you want Dippers”, “I’ll take Nick’s crater end”, he gently retorted. And in the blink of an eye had sublimely ripped through the Dartford’s middle order with a spell the aforementioned great man would have been proud of, 8 overs, 5 for 13. By now the game was won, except for the possibility of an abandonment, as by now the rain had increased from a wet drizzle to a teeming down. The Dartford Umpire and Skipper were well in their right to called it off, especially as their hope off winning had diminished, but fair play to them, they agreed to carry on. So it was fitting that their last two batsmen put on a bonus points earning 30 run partnership, before Nick picked up the last wicket in the final over to leave Bexleyheath victors by 29 runs. We can’t thank Neil and his team enough for their effort and willingness to get this match done, because with New Ifield also dodging the rain and winning, it is still close at the top with us holding a 5 point margin. Man of the match was close, on any other day Antony’s 27 in a low scoring match would have won it, but you can’t take it away from Bradley Ward with an awe-inspiring performance with the ball.