St Lawrence & Highland Court hosted the 1st XI and following 3 impressive wins, hopes were high for a Hayes win.
However, St Lawrence are a completely different side with former Kent star Darren Stevens and so it proved to be. The home side rely heavily on Stevo and he had already clocked up 2 centuries in 4 appearances before Hayes visited.
As usual, Hayes won the toss and opted to bowl first. Despite a steady opening partnership, Will MacVicar and Connor Byrne struck, leaving St Lawrence 61-2 – Connor struck quickly again and this bought Stevo to the crease and the fireworks began!
Connor was unlucky when he had the St Lawrence star trapped in front – Not Out said the Umpire, alleging there had been a snick onto the pads – something which Stevo confirmed later had not happened. He was on 7 at the time and this decision proved pivotal as Stevo opened up.
Wickets fell at the other end with Alex Blake taking a brace and 3 for Stuart Eddicott, meant Hayes kept the runs down but a blistering 20 off the last over was to prove key – although once again Connor was unlucky as he dismissed Stevo off the first ball of the final over, only for it to be discovered Hayes didn’t have enough fielders in the circle – the free hit was hit for 6!. Stevo finishing on 129 not out – we don’t often mention opposition players in these reports, but we do make exceptions!
Still 273 looked achievable and Hayes got off to a fine start as the opening partnership of Gareth Severin (72) and Finn Baker (55) put on 132. However, once they fell, Alex Blake with 35 and Liam Buttery (42*) were the only bats to offer resistance as the Hayes innings petered out to 254-8 and a frustrating 19 run defeat.
Let’s hope Stevo isn’t available for the return!
Thanks to Kathryn Upton for providing the photographs – she also had a breakdown on the way home and was still on the road at 3am – ouch!
In a quirk of the newly restructured Kent League, our 2’s play some 1st XI’s and so on Saturday our friends from Orpington visited with their 1st XI.
Skipper Grant Sheen had no hesitation in electing to bat.
The visitors opening bowler bowled a great opening spell, removing 4 batsmen with Hayes scoring only 64 – Liam Vallois (20) being the only one to get into double-figures.
Sam Davis and Grant Sheen then set about repairing the damage, taking the score onto 104 before Sam fell for 32. Luxan Sureshan made 13 before Grant was joined at the crease by Joe Cotton and they took the score onto 189 at the close of innings – Grant finishing on 47* and Joe a brisk 40”.
Orpington got off to a steady start, pegged back by Grant Sheen with a brace {finishing with 3-24) and some tight bowling by Dammika Silva and Johnny White (both 10 overs for 22).
At 92-3 the match looked tightly poised but the introduction of Alfie Peck changed the game.
92-3 became 113 all out as Alfie took 5-22 and destroyed the Orpington batting – Alfie bowled well in the 1st XI last week and will be challenging for a regular 1st team spot soon!
The 3’s travelled to Bexley, who had no hesitation in batting first.
Jacob Marlow struck early and some fine bowling by Zoe Hainsworth and skipper Leo Webster kept the score at bay, however a late flurry from the Bexley bats took their score to 162 before they were dismissed in the final over.
Following a typically fine Bexley tea, the Hayes reply got off to a solid start as Jesse Rowson (34) and Keth Jackson (22) put on 50 for the first wicket. However their dismissals saw a flurry of Hayes bats fall as only Sam Millard (11) in the middle order offered any resistance.
The tail wagged as Jacob Marlow notched 31 and Will Hadley 12* but Hayes were dismissed for 141 and a 21 run defeat. Hayes were reduced to 10 men when Simon Flinn had a car accident on the way to the match – thankfully nobody injured.
Chislehurst & West Kent played the 4’s on The Meadow.
Hayes were asked to bat and a young Hayes side were soon in trouble with skipper Rob Taylor (23) the only bat to hot double figures.
Russell Frampton and Woody Holden both scored 15 and Teddy Killick (7) and Joe Kallas (8) chipped in but the innings came to an end on 90.
Samuel Carter tool a wicket but the visitors cruised home in the 16 over with no further loss.
A tough day with only the 2’s offering some respite as they continue their charge up the table.
Sunday saw Surrey Ovalites make the pilgrimage to Hayes, the Ovalites are regular Sunday opposition and usually provide a close game.
Hayes batted first in a 40 over game and Finn Baker, looking to build on his fine performance for the 1st XI on Saturday, opened the batting with Sam Millard. Sam, and Ben Williams, fell early but Finn kept the runs flowing. Jack Belton with 10 chipped in but a partnership of 145 with Sam Alwin (68) was the highlight of the Hayes innings – Finn making a fine century before being out just before the end of innings for 122.
Hayes amassed 238-5 on a hot humid afternoon.
The Ovalites were soon in trouble with Ollie Molsher picking up a couple and a run-out from Jack Belton couples with a wicket for Kade McKienzie, seeing Hayes on top early-on.
However, some strong batting from the middle-order, saw the game turn in favour of the Ovalites. Kade picked up another couple of wickets but despite numerous bowling changes, the Ovalites scraped home with 9 wickets down in the penultimate over. 4 run-outs nearly turning the game back in Hayes favour!
A good day to round off the weekend and we reach the half-way stage of the league season next weekend.
