The weekend’s fixtures got off to an indifferent start with us turning up to find a kid tearing up and down the wicket on a mini motorbike. Luckily the opposition turned up and we moved to the adjacent ground to find a wicket without tyre tracks on it.
At the half way point we were 80 odd for 5 and due for another bollocking by captain cowlo, but Rosie (92) and Matt W (42) came to the rescue and we ended up with 260-8 off 46 overs with a brilliant 35 from Reedy. Ramsgate Corinthians never really got started and the run rate climbed as wickets fell. There was some resistance towards then end of the innings but we ended up bowling them out for 120 off 39 overs. It could have been over much sooner had Reedy and Tom bothered to aim at the stumps and we held our catches. Harsh fines well handed out to one of the culprits who will now be making sure that all future drops are subject to the same treatment. The game started with a mini-motorbike and also ended with one. As we were leaving the ground a “menacing youf” appeared on the outfield with his motorbike and the regional attire of tracksuit and balaclava. Couldn’t see a helicopter overhead but we may be appearing on Police Camera Action in the years to come.
And now for the surprising bit….Sunday’s match saw the highly unlikely return of our ex-umpire extraordinaire, Keith. Following his hurried departure many years ago he decided to return to our ground as Mersham Le Hatch’s umpire. After jaws were picked back off the floor the Sunday XI were treated to a batting masterclass from MLH’s Richard Coles who carried his bat with 166 off 92 balls featuring 18 6’s. The owner of a Peugeot 207 was less impressed with his hitting as they now need a new back windscreen.
252 proved to be out of reach for Saltwood (202-8) despite good knocks from Richard Hall (37), Jeremy (50), Tristan (20*) and fully registered new player (rule 12.d.2) Shah Rajput (32). Biff was set for a big score but fell victim to some questionable umpiring (guess who!), being given out LBW to a ball that pitched outside leg and then hit him on the hip. Most people would accept that Biff isn’t the biggest person on the team, but his LBW decision takes the micky. Harry (10) and Arthur (4*) continue to improve and we look forward to them captaining the team in 2020.
