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Sheldwich 1st XI v Horton Kirby 1st XI Invicta League
Saturday 28th June 2003

Sheldwich put in another solid batting performance on a wicket that became harder to bat on as the innings progressed due to the ball occasionally going through the top. James Creed although not as dominating as last week with the help of Darren Halls gave Sheldwich a good start by putting on 32 against the pace and height of Titler and the steady Pooley in only 7 overs before Halls (14) played on. Danny Ray who was desperately short of League runs immediately showed that it was only a matter of time before his class would shine through and with Creed pushed the score to 88 when James (48) played over a well pitched up ball from Abernethy who had settled into a good line and length. Hammond (9) and Prior (6) both looked ill at ease in their short stays at the wicket but Ray continued to play well, and after losing Mills (11) lbw, found a good partner in Smith. Ray completed an excellent 50, but at 194 played onto Abernethy. Steady Smith (40*) continued to pick up the singles and the odd boundary including a big 6, and with Hill (18) and Perrett (14*) pushed the final score to a respectable 236-7.

Horton Kirby made a very poor start to their innings against the pace of Gareth Hill and the more steady Brown (2-17) on a wearing pitch. By the 8th over they were 28-4 with 2 wickets apiece for the opening bowlers. Only Bull with 29 showed any resistance as Hill (5-35) continued to rip through them. Having duly completed his 5 wickets, Hill was then replaced by Perrett and Smith, and then Prior and Creed to mop up the tail and bowl Horton Kirby out for 88 in the 29th over and so result in a overwhelming victory by 148 runs. Scorecard

Sheldwich bounced back from their narrow defeat at Mersham, with a resounding 178 run win over Rumwood. Sheldwich, fielding only 10 men, including debutant Danny Bland, looking for league cricket after several seasons with Stowting.

Having lost the toss, and having been invited to bat on what looked like a fairly dodgy track, Sheldwich were given an excellent start by Skipper Stanford (58) and Marcus Hodges (39) who put on 78 for the first wicket at five an over. After a middle order slump to 126 for 5, the 'tail' contributed with David Knight (24), Ian Hulks (31), and Simon Brissenden (23) helping us to use up the 46 overs productively. Hulks had clearly listened to advice from his skipper and mixed unexpected caution with some vigorous hitting.

The consensus view was that Rumwood would be lucky to get 80, but they made a cautious start, and we thought we were in for a late and pretty tedious finish. John Taylor made a breakthrough whereupon Bland produced a devastating spell of 5 for 7 in six overs, bowling an excellent length combined with late inswing to clean up some inexperienced middle order youngsters. The last three wickets fell in nine balls, when Skipper Stanford turned to the guile of Knight and Creed. Stanford was thrilled by the fact that his 58 won the match in its own right - Rumwood mustered only 56.

The next league match is in a fortnight, away to Meopham.  D Knight  Scorecard