1stXI Match Report: Beckenham v Folkestone
Heavy showers predicted and the likelihood of having to use the dreaded DLS for the first time in ages clouded the mood of the Beckenham scorer as he skipped the light fandango across to the scorebox. Still mindful of the awful batting display at the Mote last week, he looked forward to the visit of Folkestone and colleague Lynette.
As the two scorers settled in the box to the sound of squash balls from the tournament going on behind, the news that visiting skipper Chris Jay had won the toss and elected to field. Oh dear, mused the Beckenham scorer, is it “here we go again time”? Not quite, as it turned out, as the opening partnership began to develop steadily until, for the umpteenth time this season, Gethin Roberts flicked at a ball outside off stump and was gone. James Fear settled in immediately and was soon showing signs of his undoubted class with some elegant drives while skipper Alex Senn dropped into his anchorman role. The fifty partnership came up in good time through good running and sensible shot-selection with Senn reaching a well-earned fifty in 82 balls. Having passed the hundred partnership, Fear was desperately unlucky not to go on to what would have been a deserved fifty as Shaheer Malik held on to a sharp return catch and he departed for 37. The came a wobble as Saad Khan was stranded well down the track to give keeper Haratbar an easy stumping and the normally reliable Mahfuzul Mahi was castled by Nick Ward without scoring. Senn and Rithik Hari then steadied the ship with a useful stand before Senn was trapped in front by his opposite number for a splendid 80. Sadly it was the familiar story which followed as Jay and Ward worked their way through the lower Beckenham order aided by a silly run out and it looked like the 200 would not be achieved until Mudit Dayal and Ishan Sabharwal stopped the rot with an excellent little stand that brought up the 200 with Dayal being run out in the last over going for a third run. For the visitors, skipper Chris Jay took the bowling award with 4-44.
After a sharp shower during the tea interval, Beckenham took to the field in bright sunshine with the stiff breeze sending clouds scudding across the sky. It was a good start too as Junaid Nadir had Shaheer Malik well held by Rithik Hari before the chugging, miserly Mahi bowled Matt Jay to make the score 16-2. With Beckenham missing Messrs. Malcolm and Fanning, the attack was going to be carried by a three-pronged spin attack and it was Saad Khan and young Ishan Sabharwal who put the skids under Folkestone. The former disposed of Bhindi to a well-judged boundary catch by James Fear before Sabharwal bowled Sheikh to make the score an encouraging 56-4 which soon became 67-6 as ‘Barney’ Balmforth accepted two chances off Khan. With colleague Lynette ruefully talking about getting home early, the Folkestone recovery began to take shape led by skipper Chris Jay and Lynette’s ‘little boy’ Emile. Excellent batting brought up a crucial fifty partnership with the target getting ever closer before Mudit Dayal struck to have Jay well-held by Hari for 31. Sabharwal then removed Sam Ireland on 139 but there were still 10 overs to go with Haratbar batting extremely well and finding a handy partner in Ryan Botley. It has to be said that Beckenham’s fielding was splendid for the first time in a few weeks as the match built up to a nerve-shredding climax as the Folkestone pair looked hell-bent on bringing their side an unlikely victory. Enter Mudit Dayal again to remove Botley to a good catch by Roberts and then having Haratbar smartly stumped by Balmforth having completed a fine fifty in 77 balls to give Beckenham victory by 20 runs. It had been an excellent game of cricket which was much-enjoyed by players and officials alike and ………..no DLS – praise the Lord! On the bowling front, Khan with 3-36 and Dayal 3-48 took the honours with a brace for Sabharwal and mention must go to Mahfuzul Mahi for 10-2-18-1!
Scorecard: https://beckenham.play-cricket.com/website/results/5619379 (external site)