Charlton Down Cricket Club

Upon losing the toss Sid was not unhappy to be sent out to the field 1st up as he felt with a nice shiny new ball that inroad could be made. And oh how that turned out to be true, after 10 off the 1st over from Kim Symene were reduced to 14-5, Kim with 4 and JP with the other, Kim with 2 hatrick chance in successive overs. Kim looked dangerous with every ball and Jp going for just 2 runs off his 1st 5 over spell and should have had a 2nd wickets after a blatant outside edge not given by the home umpire. Giving the 2 openers a rest in the early afternoon sun Sid controversially took off his 2 openers for a short breather and replaced them with Mark Homewood and Skidders. It was at this time that the Symene fight back continued. Skidders kept things tight taking 1-15 off his 4 overs while the Symene middle order put away the few short balls mark offered. Kim returned and took his well deserved 5 for and when Jp took his 2nd which could not have been more plum the home side were 8 down and not yet reached a 100. This is however where the old adage of catches win matches. Symenes no 9 was dropped in Kims last over whilst on 7 and this proved to be very costly. The young feller blasted his way to 48 before Ben's slow right arm did for him and the final home bat with 2 great deep catches by Zim but not before Symene had posted an improbable 173 off 33 overs.
            After a do it yourself tea Nick and Jp took over Opening duties from absent Phil and (Im knackered after keeping) Doylie and both loked solid. Then disaster. Zim triggers JP LBW off an inside edge and Nick chips a C&B back to the Symene skipper. Nick is now officially this guys bitch as he has him in his pocket game after game. Ben Golledge and Doylie looked to steady things before Ben chipped softly to mid wicket and Doylie fell to a "Great Ball". Sid went for a Golden Duck. and we were at 50-5. Could Zim , Kim and Mark repeat last weeks heroics by stoically drag us toward the target. Well no. Kim edged , Mark Bowled and Zim hoisted to long on all making double figures but Zim high scoring in our innings on 24. Matt Lowther was also cleaned up and Skidders ended the game out for 1 leaving Ze German Not Out on 0 not having faced a ball. His quote of "0 not out, Still better than Sid" summed up the game perfectly.
         In a game where both sides top 6 only made 104 combined batting was much harder than it looked and seems that although catches don't always win matches they can seriously assist you in losing them.

Junior Cricket Correspondant