1stXI Match Report: Beckenham v. Minster (Sheppey)

Cometh the last game of the half and the crucial question, can Beckenham beat second-placed Minster after last week’s humbling by the League leaders and rely on other results to pull away from the dreaded ‘drop zone’?

Beckenham’s team was somewhat weakened by the unavailability of Nick Rigg and Harri Aravinthan and, with Adam Senn still unable to bowl and Johan Malcolm still recovering from his knee operation, it was quite an ask.  Making his debut was Nick Botha who was selected a few weeks ago but succumbed to the ‘lurgy’.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat on a firm, decent-looking track.  Junaid Nadir, who is having a great season with the ball, moved in smoothly and got matters off to a great start by sending one of Greg Lamb’s stumps cartwheeling and then removed skipper Ed Moore who touched an outswinger to ‘Barney’ Balmforth to raise Beckenham spirits with the score 16-2.  Joe Parry settled in immediately and, together with James Thompson, began to push the score along steadily although Parry survived a confident shout for a catch behind when on 9.  With the home side bowling much better than the previous week and the fielding sharp, the runs were having to be earned.  With a double bowling change now in operation, it was Kamran Khan who made the next breakthrough when Thompson edged to Balmforth for 27.  Parry, meanwhile, was batting well and in no trouble as he and Kai Appleby kept the score moving, Parry passing an excellent fifty in the process.  Khan’s bowling partner, Rob Clements, then ended this dangerous partnership by trapping Appleby in front for 30.  As Parry began to open up, Harry Mawson kept the score ticking over at the other end before Khan ended the former’s fine knock by accepting a return catch to send Parry on his way for 77.  This had been a fine display from Beckenham in the field and with the ball and Jason Bilimoria joined the proceedings with another brace of wickets and Nadir adding another to cap a splendid bowling return of 3-28 as Minster closed on 206-8.  One factor that stands out is the 20 wides conceded by the home bowlers which might prove crucial.

The Beckenham reply started brightly enough with both Clements and skipper Senn batting confidently against Dan Masters and Harry Mawson.  Clements was first to go, losing a stump to Masters pushing forward and then an excellent stand started on the arrival of James Fear who immediately began to up the tempo while Senn played sensibly in support.  A fine stand was ended sadly when Senn, on 44, played a ball around to leg and was mortified to see Masters take off to make a brilliant one-handed catch.  Worse was to follow when Masters himself returned to have Fear edging behind for a fine 41 and the score 99-3 from 29 overs with the match finely poised.  Ross Piller now found a willing partner in Nick Botha as the pair set about keeping Beckenham in the game.  Having got off the mark with a crunching boundary, Piller began to use his reach and power to fine effect to put Beckenham in with a good chance of victory with plenty of wickets in hand.  He reached an well-deserved and excellent fifty in 48 balls before top-edging Mawson for a return catch.  Botha’s vigil ended shortly afterwards and the it was absolute chaos as Parry took five wickets in two overs to send the home side plummeting to 182-9.  The partnership of Jason Bilimoria and keeper Balmforth raised slight hopes but Balmforth was out in the final over to leave Beckenham rock-bottom again.  It had been a much better performance but the lack of runs from the lower order is becoming a worry.  For Minster, Parry’s 5-32 was the best return.

Score card: https://beckenham.play-cricket.com/website/results/5093731 (external site)