Mersham le Hatch Cricket Club
Mersham Le Hatch CC
What can we say about Mersham Le Hatch cricket club.......
They have recently ripped through the Kent Village League, winning promotion for the last 3 years on the trot, and have a road running through the outfield. Despite being a different colour to the rest of the outfield, our very own Mark Howland decided to do a sliding stop on it with predictable results. A couple of pints of blood later and he was ok.
They don't have a shop on Club Share yet, but if they want one, please say that you were recommended by Saltwood CC!
Match reports
April 30th 2006 - Saltwood beat Mersham Le Hatch by 1 wicket.
At 140-3 Saltwood looked set to record a surprisingly comfortable first win of the season, but as has often been the case at the Wood one wicket brings six. The Wood eventually found themselves needing three runs off the final over, with the last wicket pair of Pritchard and Rice snr at the crease. In fading light, the two exchanged singles, leaving one needed off the final four balls. Three dot balls followed, during which Jayasuriya Jo attempted to explain the rules of the game to his junior partner. Joe jnr was having none of it, and smacked the last ball through midwicket. Wild celebrations followed as Jo jnr celebrated in his own inimitable way (a handstand on the wicket- it was pretty impressive), while Jayasuriya resisted the temptation to perform any gymnastics (anyone that saw the ill fated pitch inspection at the six-a side in 1999 will know why) and instead raised his bat aloft to the cheering pavilion.
It had all begun in predictable fashion with Winston losing the toss. Bowling first, Dan Cowell struggled for line (and length), while at the other end Winston bowled a tidy, if slightly unlucky first spell. The two left handed openers looked fairly comfortable, and it was a slight surprise when one of them skied an attempted slog off Dan Cowell into the air. It was an even bigger surprise when a Saltwood player caught it. Step forward Trevor II, one of two new players on the team, and a man who within an hour of his debut had already contributed more than many Wood players do in a lifetime. As the ball went in the air, the skipper asked for ‘a name on it’. Incredibly, the name was not ‘yours’, but rather ‘Trevor’. After a brief moment of panic from Trevor the first (Mallard), Trevor II, baring a passing resemblance to a leaner Darren Lehman, took an expertly judged catch over his shoulder. The reaction from his team mates probably suggested that well judged catches over the shoulder were a rarity at this ground (certainly when we are fielding), but the Wood had quite a good day in the field throughout. Crumbie took an excellent catch in the deep, and even the drops were entertaining. After dropping one down at Cow, Joe jnr stormed off dejected. As the next ball came in, Joe was seen headbutting the net frame and lashing out at the net with his feet (like a sort of cricketing Basil Fawlty). Fortunately the batsman played a defensive shot, but it kept the slip cordon entertained.
It was a day of injuries in the field as well. First to go was Dan Cowell, who was unlucky to be trodden on by Trevor the first. Trevor I, ever the opportunist was obviously hoping to move up the batting order, but there was concern throughout the team when Dan revealed that he had been spiked in the ‘upper thigh’. As blood dripped from his trousers, ten other players crossed their legs. Fortunately for Dan, it was only thigh and he was soon able to resume (much to Trevor’s annoyance). Other injuries soon followed. Trevor II (Darren Lehman) felt his groin, something the skipper does quite a lot when no-one is looking, while Ben Osbourne was involved in another painful/very funny incident. Running eagerly to collect a ball, ‘Richie’ (Ben O) ran headfirst into Jaysuriya Jo’s elbow. As Ben lay sprawled across the ground, teammates gathered round (well all except the Rice brothers who were trying to establish at what stage it was OK to laugh). Ben ever the team man shouted out ‘get it in, get it in.’ Even when bleeding from the nose after receiving an elbow to the face, Richie was still thinking of his team.
Both sides would have been fairly happy going in at tea. Mersham Le Hatch had edged out some useful late runs, while the Wood had fought back well to contain the vistors to a score of 157. The most impressive bowler undoubtedly was the other debutant, Steve, who displayed a useful talent for picking up wickets with his final ball of the over. He also displayed a genuine slower ball. Unlike the standard Wood slower ball (getting a bit tired, mess up run-up), this was intentional and repeatedly fooled the batsmen. He came away with three excellent wickets. At the other end Duckboy claimed three, opening his account with a full toss, which the batsman contrived to play on. Rice maintains that the ball ‘reversed’ but Barbara’s notes in the scorebook told a different story- ‘bowled- how?’ Duckboy’s slow beamer to the nine-year old kid was another low point, although on this occasion the skipper didn’t tell him to ‘follow it with the bouncer.
In reply the Wood were struggling at 30-3 after fifteen overs, but Duckboy and Dan profited after the opening bowlers finished their spells and soon cut the run rate down. Dan collected his (surprisingly) first fifty for the Wood, but fell with the finishing line in sight for 52. Duckboy, who had kicked on to 77 (admittedly with a few early lives), then chipped one back to the bowler and when Trevor I after a few nice shots was cruelly run out by his skipper, a hint of panic began to creep into the side. The panic escalated as Dan Moxham, after a tidy game behind the stumps, skied one straight in the air, and Steve was unlucky to fall to an excellent slip catch. When the skipper lost his leg stump, all looked lost, but then the two heroes met to ensure that Saltwood preserved their 100% winning record in April.
Address
Mersham le Hatch CC
Hatch Park
A20 Hythe Road
Smeeth
Ashford
www.screenselect.co.uk/sun - www.screenselect.co.uk/times8
www.screenselect.co.uk/comeback1 - www.screenselect.co.uk/comeback2
www.screenselect.co.uk/comeback3 - www.screenselect.co.uk/comebacka
www.screenselect.co.uk/comebackb - www.screenselect.co.uk/comebackc