I'd like to volunteer as a witty sledger and another opening bowling option..in my heyday I'd run in with all the aggression of Dennis Lillee but the end result was a cross between Mike Gatting and the phantom flan flinger...decent in the field and in the bar
I’m on the money slow right arm bowler (when fit ) and can thrash the ball if required but specialise in getting out cheaply . can’t bend over or field in slips but probably one of the best catchers in the world back in the day but still up there … no one should drop a catch if they get their hands to it at pro level !
@Addick Addict hope Krishna is okay - my vice skip ran into him in A&E. Rory split his webbing but sounds like your man got a toe cruncher and also wore one in the face while fielding! Ah no.
Thanks @PaddyP17. I haven't had an update but he did, bravely, finish the game. The second incident was the worst as he split his lip as a result of a drive rearing off the edge of the artificial strip and hitting him in the mouth. Hopefully he will be able to play next week.
As for the game, I can only say that it was an occasion where, at several points, we were all over Minster - only to lose it and that was without our two strike bowlers too (Max Luckett and Dan Magin), a hobbling Elliot Hooper as a result of an injury sustained while batting and the aforementioned Krish having to deal with blood pouring from his mouth. That's four of Bickley's normal bowling attack.
Bickley won the toss and batted. At the half way stage we were 122-2 with a platform to get us to 250 and quite possibly substantially more. Then the usual collapse with three LBWS, all from players sweeping on a deck of inconsistent bounce - none could have any complaints - and we limped to 203. A par score for Bickley but one that was always going to be difficult to defend against Minster on a ground with short boundaries and a fast outfield.
Imagine having Minster 8-3 then and those three being Ed Moore (S Africa A), Sean Irvine (Zimbabwe) and James Thompson (one of the best all time all rounders in the Kent League). Unfortunately Joe Parry and Nijjar (Essex) steadied the ship but when I say "steady" that is what I do mean to the extent that Minster crawled to 42-3 off 21 overs. Bit by bit, however, those two took a stranglehold on the game and they started to become immovable objects. Parry isn't a spectacular batsman but a stubborn accumulator and was eventually out for 70 off 120 balls (just four boundaries) and Nijjar was there at the end for 97 not out off 140 balls. Minster won by 6 wickets with 4 balls to spare. The one that got away for Bickley!
Hayes won too (thanks partially to a ton from Blake) and one point separates them from Minster with a 25 point gap to Blackheath. Beckenham look likely candidates for the drop but there is going to be a real dogfight for that other relegation spot with just 20 points separating the next five teams - so much so that there could be an precedented situation where a team goes down with as many as seven wins to their name.
I'm doing the Beckenham vs BP game next week which is a real six pointer for both teams IMO.
An incident free game on what was at times a spicy wicket at Foxgrove which was eventually won by Bickley by 5 wickets. Seb contributed a few stops in the field but failed to get in despite Bickley being 61-5 at one point in chasing just 108 to win. Sam Smith's younger brother, Charlie, opened and stood firm against the fast bowling of David Moody (nephew of Tom), ending up 33 not out off 99 balls. Just what the Dr Bickley ordered!
That win probably consigns Beckenham to Div 1 next season but there is another big "clash" this weekend for Bickley - against Lordswood. Hopefully I won't get into any trouble unlike what happened at their place earlier in the season.
We visit Beckenham's astro wicket at Forster Memorial Park tomorrow.
Can't say it's one I've had pencilled in since the fixtures came out, but... well. Let's get it done. We need 37 points to guarantee the championship and I have every intention of getting another 20 of them tomorrow.
We beat Blackheath by nine wickets last week. 131 all out was never enough on a road of a pitch, and our opener followed up his 118 with 62*. Our slow loopy spinner got three; I managed to run someone out (they were backing up and it was basically a dropped catch); easy peasy.
Our one wicket was... I mean, incredible doesn't begin to justify it.
On 122-0, our bat on 45 pats one down into the ground from an off spinner. It bobbles a bit in the crease, bouncing and looping back toward the stumps. Time stands still. The ball caresses the leg stump with all the delicacy of a feather coming gently to rest on the forest floor. The bails are not dislodged.
The ball then bounces away from the stumps - at which point the batsman realises he's sort-of in trouble. He decides the best course of action is to volley, as hard as he can, what is basically a near-still ball into the stumps, taking out leg stump, and thus being "bowled". We think.
@Addick Addict hope Krishna is okay - my vice skip ran into him in A&E. Rory split his webbing but sounds like your man got a toe cruncher and also wore one in the face while fielding! Ah no.
Thanks @PaddyP17. I haven't had an update but he did, bravely, finish the game. The second incident was the worst as he split his lip as a result of a drive rearing off the edge of the artificial strip and hitting him in the mouth. Hopefully he will be able to play next week.
As for the game, I can only say that it was an occasion where, at several points, we were all over Minster - only to lose it and that was without our two strike bowlers too (Max Luckett and Dan Magin), a hobbling Elliot Hooper as a result of an injury sustained while batting and the aforementioned Krish having to deal with blood pouring from his mouth. That's four of Bickley's normal bowling attack.
Bickley won the toss and batted. At the half way stage we were 122-2 with a platform to get us to 250 and quite possibly substantially more. Then the usual collapse with three LBWS, all from players sweeping on a deck of inconsistent bounce - none could have any complaints - and we limped to 203. A par score for Bickley but one that was always going to be difficult to defend against Minster on a ground with short boundaries and a fast outfield.
Imagine having Minster 8-3 then and those three being Ed Moore (S Africa A), Sean Irvine (Zimbabwe) and James Thompson (one of the best all time all rounders in the Kent League). Unfortunately Joe Parry and Nijjar (Essex) steadied the ship but when I say "steady" that is what I do mean to the extent that Minster crawled to 42-3 off 21 overs. Bit by bit, however, those two took a stranglehold on the game and they started to become immovable objects. Parry isn't a spectacular batsman but a stubborn accumulator and was eventually out for 70 off 120 balls (just four boundaries) and Nijjar was there at the end for 97 not out off 140 balls. Minster won by 6 wickets with 4 balls to spare. The one that got away for Bickley!
Hayes won too (thanks partially to a ton from Blake) and one point separates them from Minster with a 25 point gap to Blackheath. Beckenham look likely candidates for the drop but there is going to be a real dogfight for that other relegation spot with just 20 points separating the next five teams - so much so that there could be an precedented situation where a team goes down with as many as seven wins to their name.
I'm doing the Beckenham vs BP game next week which is a real six pointer for both teams IMO.
An incident free game on what was at times a spicy wicket at Foxgrove which was eventually won by Bickley by 5 wickets. Seb contributed a few stops in the field but failed to get in despite Bickley being 61-5 at one point in chasing just 108 to win. Sam Smith's younger brother, Charlie, opened and stood firm against the fast bowling of David Moody (nephew of Tom), ending up 33 not out off 99 balls. Just what the Dr Bickley ordered!
That win probably consigns Beckenham to Div 1 next season but there is another big "clash" this weekend for Bickley - against Lordswood. Hopefully I won't get into any trouble unlike what happened at their place earlier in the season.
Bad news for beckeham ! Have Bickley found themselves a new opener ?
@Addick Addict hope Krishna is okay - my vice skip ran into him in A&E. Rory split his webbing but sounds like your man got a toe cruncher and also wore one in the face while fielding! Ah no.
Thanks @PaddyP17. I haven't had an update but he did, bravely, finish the game. The second incident was the worst as he split his lip as a result of a drive rearing off the edge of the artificial strip and hitting him in the mouth. Hopefully he will be able to play next week.
As for the game, I can only say that it was an occasion where, at several points, we were all over Minster - only to lose it and that was without our two strike bowlers too (Max Luckett and Dan Magin), a hobbling Elliot Hooper as a result of an injury sustained while batting and the aforementioned Krish having to deal with blood pouring from his mouth. That's four of Bickley's normal bowling attack.
Bickley won the toss and batted. At the half way stage we were 122-2 with a platform to get us to 250 and quite possibly substantially more. Then the usual collapse with three LBWS, all from players sweeping on a deck of inconsistent bounce - none could have any complaints - and we limped to 203. A par score for Bickley but one that was always going to be difficult to defend against Minster on a ground with short boundaries and a fast outfield.
Imagine having Minster 8-3 then and those three being Ed Moore (S Africa A), Sean Irvine (Zimbabwe) and James Thompson (one of the best all time all rounders in the Kent League). Unfortunately Joe Parry and Nijjar (Essex) steadied the ship but when I say "steady" that is what I do mean to the extent that Minster crawled to 42-3 off 21 overs. Bit by bit, however, those two took a stranglehold on the game and they started to become immovable objects. Parry isn't a spectacular batsman but a stubborn accumulator and was eventually out for 70 off 120 balls (just four boundaries) and Nijjar was there at the end for 97 not out off 140 balls. Minster won by 6 wickets with 4 balls to spare. The one that got away for Bickley!
Hayes won too (thanks partially to a ton from Blake) and one point separates them from Minster with a 25 point gap to Blackheath. Beckenham look likely candidates for the drop but there is going to be a real dogfight for that other relegation spot with just 20 points separating the next five teams - so much so that there could be an precedented situation where a team goes down with as many as seven wins to their name.
I'm doing the Beckenham vs BP game next week which is a real six pointer for both teams IMO.
An incident free game on what was at times a spicy wicket at Foxgrove which was eventually won by Bickley by 5 wickets. Seb contributed a few stops in the field but failed to get in despite Bickley being 61-5 at one point in chasing just 108 to win. Sam Smith's younger brother, Charlie, opened and stood firm against the fast bowling of David Moody (nephew of Tom), ending up 33 not out off 99 balls. Just what the Dr Bickley ordered!
That win probably consigns Beckenham to Div 1 next season but there is another big "clash" this weekend for Bickley - against Lordswood. Hopefully I won't get into any trouble unlike what happened at their place earlier in the season.
Bad news for beckeham ! Have Bickley found themselves a new opener ?
Quite possibly. Early days but Charlie did really well although the situation allowed him not to have to worry about scoreboard pressure. Unfortunately, he's unavailable this week so someone else will have to take the job. As with a lot of established batting orders the choice is, very often, opening or batting at 8!
We visit Beckenham's astro wicket at Forster Memorial Park tomorrow.
Can't say it's one I've had pencilled in since the fixtures came out, but... well. Let's get it done. We need 37 points to guarantee the championship and I have every intention of getting another 20 of them tomorrow.
We beat Blackheath by nine wickets last week. 131 all out was never enough on a road of a pitch, and our opener followed up his 118 with 62*. Our slow loopy spinner got three; I managed to run someone out (they were backing up and it was basically a dropped catch); easy peasy.
Our one wicket was... I mean, incredible doesn't begin to justify it.
On 122-0, our bat on 45 pats one down into the ground from an off spinner. It bobbles a bit in the crease, bouncing and looping back toward the stumps. Time stands still. The ball caresses the leg stump with all the delicacy of a feather coming gently to rest on the forest floor. The bails are not dislodged.
The ball then bounces away from the stumps - at which point the batsman realises he's sort-of in trouble. He decides the best course of action is to volley, as hard as he can, what is basically a near-still ball into the stumps, taking out leg stump, and thus being "bowled". We think.
There is also an all weather strip at mounts field park now .The original square was in the remains of the Catford Southend/ erstwhile Cafc pitch
Back to forster Park...its good to see it being used as a cricketing venue, there was a square in the middle at one time with the cricketers changing in a sort of arbour construction closer to the longhill road entrance.
I played imaginary test matches and cup finals in my childhood days there hence a soft spot ...
I can see you are on a roll @PaddyP17@PaddyP17 so hope you wrap up the league soonest
Our 4s don't have that problem yet, though. Go up this season and the 3s will still be at least 2 divisions ahead (I don't think they can mathematically go down this season).
What happens if a teams 4’s get promoted and the 3’s are in the league above ? Do you just have two teams in the same division ?
I don't believe that you can have two teams from the same club in the same division so the one that should have been promoted would have to stay where they are. This will become even more relevant from next season in the KCL when I understand that there will be one Kent League (and below that regionalised) with no 2nd XI League so a club like Bexley, for example, who have teams in KL Prem Div, KL Div 5 and the KL Prem 2nd XI Div will, potentially, have three teams in the KL
We chased down 252, winning by two wickets. Our Saffa, Deano, got his maiden club ton and given he was contemplating giving it up entirely two weeks ago, we are over the moon for him. He's a brilliantly destructive bat on his day (indeed, the ton came off about 75 balls) and it was lovely seeing it come off.
Weird chase, though. 65-3 became 215-4 became 240-5 became 250-8, or something. Nearly threw it away!
Hayes lost, which is great news for us. Fifteen points and we are mathematically up, and it is also completely ridiculous that it'll take fourteen games for us to be assured of the championship, given we've won 12 and lost 1, while every other team pretty much is even on wins and losses.
Another disappointing day for Bickley with the batting, once again, proving to be their Achilles' heel.
Lordswood won the toss and elected to bat. They amassed 217 thanks almost entirely to a well crafted and unbeaten ton from Joe Gordon (his third of the season) and 45 from Michael French. In reply, Bickley started with their usual collapse and at 48-5 all looked pretty much lost but their overseas 45 got them to 99-6 at which point Seb joined the skipper, Magin. These two looked to be giving Bickley a chance before Magin departed for 43 with the score on 149 and then Seb was adjudged LBW for 41 at which point Bickley were 176-9. Two runs later and with still half a dozen overs to go, the game was all over with Lordswood winning by a comfortable 39 runs.
Bickley's batting is a real head scratcher. Individually, from one to nine, they can all bat at the highest level but, week in week out, poor shot selection and their reliance on "someone else" to get them out of trouble has been their undoing. Massive game next weekend, away to Sandwich who are second bottom but only nine points behind Bickley and who had a big win against top of the table Minster. And that really sums up the KPL this season - 30 points separates 3rd from 9th and any of those sides are capable of stringing a few wins together. With Beckenham all but down, the other relegated side will possibly do so with seven wins to their name and will, undoubtedly, be a lot better than the two sides coming up from the division below. Which couldn't be said about Hayes and Minster who were promoted last season and are comfortably the top two in the KPL.
We chased down 252, winning by two wickets. Our Saffa, Deano, got his maiden club ton and given he was contemplating giving it up entirely two weeks ago, we are over the moon for him. He's a brilliantly destructive bat on his day (indeed, the ton came off about 75 balls) and it was lovely seeing it come off.
Weird chase, though. 65-3 became 215-4 became 240-5 became 250-8, or something. Nearly threw it away!
Hayes lost, which is great news for us. Fifteen points and we are mathematically up, and it is also completely ridiculous that it'll take fourteen games for us to be assured of the championship, given we've won 12 and lost 1, while every other team pretty much is even on wins and losses.
Up the 4s!
We were 251-5 chasing 253 and contrived to lose three in an over. Two having massively stupid across-the-line heaves, then the third marching in, announcing he 'wasn't going to play a shot like THAT', blocking two resolutely and then edging a wild cut to slip via the keeper's helmet. Plank
Luckily I'd already done my bit, 9-0-40-2 on a non-turning astroturf wicket with 40-yard boundaries on all sides. As good as a 75-ball ton, really
Another disappointing day for Bickley with the batting, once again, proving to be their Achilles' heel.
Lordswood won the toss and elected to bat. They amassed 217 thanks almost entirely to a well crafted and unbeaten ton from Joe Gordon (his third of the season) and 45 from Michael French. In reply, Bickley started with their usual collapse and at 48-5 all looked pretty much lost but their overseas 45 got them to 99-6 at which point Seb joined the skipper, Magin. These two looked to be giving Bickley a chance before Magin departed for 43 with the score on 149 and then Seb was adjudged LBW for 41 at which point Bickley were 176-9. Two runs later and with still half a dozen overs to go, the game was all over with Lordswood winning by a comfortable 39 runs.
Bickley's batting is a real head scratcher. Individually, from one to nine, they can all bat at the highest level but, week in week out, poor shot selection and their reliance on "someone else" to get them out of trouble has been their undoing. Massive game next weekend, away to Sandwich who are second bottom but only nine points behind Bickley and who had a big win against top of the table Minster. And that really sums up the KPL this season - 30 points separates 3rd from 9th and any of those sides are capable of stringing a few wins together. With Beckenham all but down, the other relegated side will possibly do so with seven wins to their name and will, undoubtedly, be a lot better than the two sides coming up from the division below. Which couldn't be said about Hayes and Minster who were promoted last season and are comfortably the top two in the KPL.
IMO Seb was unlucky, but there was some later discussion that the ball may have struck pad first? It's LBW in the book whatever... It was good to see him regain some confidence from Thursday's old boys knock-about game at Sidcup and carry that through to the KCL Prem. The end of season is going to be massive for several clubs, and Minster cannot afford any more slip ups...(Who have I got next week? Minster! ;-))
Bexley, won their ECB National Cup quarter final on Sunday. They play Potterne a Wiltshire village team at Bexley in the semi on the 21st August at 12:00. Winners go to Lords for the Final.
Bexley also host the Vitality Club T20 Cup Group 7 Area final this weekend on Sunday 7th.
10:00 Bexley play Cuckfield on completion Wimbledon play Havant
An then obviously the two winning semi finalist will play each other. So 3 T20,s in one day.
Seven wicket win, job done! I couldn't be prouder. It has been a years-long slog for me personally. If I'm allowed to pat myself on the back, we've gone from scrabbling around for players to having loads of committed guys playing for each other, and I've tried to ensure that it's been a really welcoming atmosphere. It's all manifest this year and long may this spirit continue!
Stood in an amazing game at Sevenoaks Vine today. Top of the league Minster batted and got 313, with James Thompson getting a decent ton. The Vine went for it from the off and won by 8 wkts with a couple of overs to spare. Captain Luke Schlemmer got 140 not out, and is still the highest run scorer in the prem. We lost six balls in total and really struggled with like for like replacements.
Comments
I think our man Pelling is a useful bat; Leuth will also spin it; and we can surely co-opt AA Jnr as a keeper batsman?!
can’t bend over or field in slips but probably one of the best catchers in the world back in the day but still up there …
no one should drop a catch if they get their hands to it at pro level !
That win probably consigns Beckenham to Div 1 next season but there is another big "clash" this weekend for Bickley - against Lordswood. Hopefully I won't get into any trouble unlike what happened at their place earlier in the season.
Can't say it's one I've had pencilled in since the fixtures came out, but... well. Let's get it done. We need 37 points to guarantee the championship and I have every intention of getting another 20 of them tomorrow.
We beat Blackheath by nine wickets last week. 131 all out was never enough on a road of a pitch, and our opener followed up his 118 with 62*. Our slow loopy spinner got three; I managed to run someone out (they were backing up and it was basically a dropped catch); easy peasy.
Our one wicket was... I mean, incredible doesn't begin to justify it.
On 122-0, our bat on 45 pats one down into the ground from an off spinner. It bobbles a bit in the crease, bouncing and looping back toward the stumps. Time stands still. The ball caresses the leg stump with all the delicacy of a feather coming gently to rest on the forest floor. The bails are not dislodged.
The ball then bounces away from the stumps - at which point the batsman realises he's sort-of in trouble. He decides the best course of action is to volley, as hard as he can, what is basically a near-still ball into the stumps, taking out leg stump, and thus being "bowled". We think.
Back to forster Park...its good to see it being used as a cricketing venue, there was a square in the middle at one time with the cricketers changing in a sort of arbour construction closer to the longhill road entrance.
I played imaginary test matches and cup finals in my childhood days there hence a soft spot ...
I can see you are on a roll @PaddyP17 @PaddyP17 so hope you wrap up the league soonest
Do you just have two teams in the same division ?
Weird chase, though. 65-3 became 215-4 became 240-5 became 250-8, or something. Nearly threw it away!
Hayes lost, which is great news for us. Fifteen points and we are mathematically up, and it is also completely ridiculous that it'll take fourteen games for us to be assured of the championship, given we've won 12 and lost 1, while every other team pretty much is even on wins and losses.
Up the 4s!
Lordswood won the toss and elected to bat. They amassed 217 thanks almost entirely to a well crafted and unbeaten ton from Joe Gordon (his third of the season) and 45 from Michael French. In reply, Bickley started with their usual collapse and at 48-5 all looked pretty much lost but their overseas 45 got them to 99-6 at which point Seb joined the skipper, Magin. These two looked to be giving Bickley a chance before Magin departed for 43 with the score on 149 and then Seb was adjudged LBW for 41 at which point Bickley were 176-9. Two runs later and with still half a dozen overs to go, the game was all over with Lordswood winning by a comfortable 39 runs.
Bickley's batting is a real head scratcher. Individually, from one to nine, they can all bat at the highest level but, week in week out, poor shot selection and their reliance on "someone else" to get them out of trouble has been their undoing. Massive game next weekend, away to Sandwich who are second bottom but only nine points behind Bickley and who had a big win against top of the table Minster. And that really sums up the KPL this season - 30 points separates 3rd from 9th and any of those sides are capable of stringing a few wins together. With Beckenham all but down, the other relegated side will possibly do so with seven wins to their name and will, undoubtedly, be a lot better than the two sides coming up from the division below. Which couldn't be said about Hayes and Minster who were promoted last season and are comfortably the top two in the KPL.
Luckily I'd already done my bit, 9-0-40-2 on a non-turning astroturf wicket with 40-yard boundaries on all sides. As good as a 75-ball ton, really
Latest quote: "need to stop seeing it because its making the trigger look earlier and earlier"
Bexley also host the Vitality Club T20 Cup Group 7 Area final this weekend on Sunday 7th.
10:00 Bexley play Cuckfield
on completion
Wimbledon play Havant
An then obviously the two winning semi finalist will play each other. So 3 T20,s in one day.
THE 4S ARE GOING UP
Seven wicket win, job done! I couldn't be prouder. It has been a years-long slog for me personally. If I'm allowed to pat myself on the back, we've gone from scrabbling around for players to having loads of committed guys playing for each other, and I've tried to ensure that it's been a really welcoming atmosphere. It's all manifest this year and long may this spirit continue!
The Vine went for it from the off and won by 8 wkts with a couple of overs to spare. Captain Luke Schlemmer got 140 not out, and is still the highest run scorer in the prem. We lost six balls in total and really struggled with like for like replacements.