Hayes 3’s Keep On Winning!

Fresh from his cruise 3s captain Colin Couldrey returns as Hayes 3s took on Beckenham 4s in a top of the table clash on a sunny Meadows. Colin won the toss, (no blazer) and elected to bat on a very warm day, which cooled as it went on. Regular opener Adam Greenway was still away on holiday, so Matt Warne took to the field with Joe Bradshaw. The Beckenham openers kept it very tight to start. Ryan Mahoney-Houghton and Ben Ames were parsimonious, and the first 6 overs went for 7 runs. As they began to tire in the heat they bowled a few loose balls and having done the hard work Warne and Bradshaw looked to accelerate. Unfortunately, for Warne he slapped one straight to a fielder and was dismissed for 7. Pulkit Verma having been forced last week to be watchful enjoyed the slightly flatter Hayes track and cut loose using his feet well and taking the attack to the Beckenham bowling.

Verma and Bradshaw were scoring nicely until Verma mistimed one and was caught for 41, giving Will Dyer his only wicket of the game. Fresh off his runs last week Thistleton also came to the crease with positive intent and he and Bradshaw kept the score ticking, with Bradshaw passing 50 on the way. However, Beckenham brought on their leading wicket taker so far in the season Ozan Saridogan. He was very profitable in his early spell dismissing Thistleton and Bradshaw in the same over.

Hayes’ youth were then on show in the middle and Buddin and Kumar balanced aggression and patience building a 50 partnership before Saridogan struck again dismissing Kumar for 21. With 4 balls left in the innings the Hayes batsman were instructed to show maximum intent and Saridogan profited from this aggression. Millard came and went for 0 caught at cover and Marlow completed Saridogan’s hat trick and 5fer trying to clear the rugby post, missing and being bowled, Johnny Wilkie, originally carded at 8 but not ready to go (which Marlow blamed for his dismissal) then joined Buddin at the crease and hit 3 off his only delivery before Ronnie closed the innings with a 4. Hayes had set Beckenham 218 to win. Which was chasable but would require a good batting effort.

Hayes opted for youth to take the new ball with Raghav Kumar and Ronnie Buddin opening the bowling. Buddin coming in from the Petts Wood FC and he was the first to generate a chance when he drew a top edge from Shah, the Beckenham opener could scarcely believe his luck when he was dropped by the Hayes keeper. However, having been given a life Buddin again drew a false shot with a low full toss which looped up to the same place. On this occasion, the Hayes keeper was able to snaffle the catch, and Ronnie got his first wicket. Raghav shortly after joined the party forcing the Beckenham opener and captain Woodhead to chop on, leaving Beckenham 28-2.

Replacing Raghav at the Barnet Wood Road end was Jacob ‘The Yak’ Marlow. Marlow was fruitful in his first over a ‘well placed’ bouncer drawing a false shot down the legside grateful snaffled by Millard leaving Beckenham 38-3. A sharp piece of fielding from Johnny Wilkie created a run out and Beckenham were 40-4. Tom Davis was unlucky to not get a wicket, but he bowled another miserly spell his 8 overs going for 10 runs including 1 maiden all the runs being singles.

Hayes’ 3^rd XI leading wicket taker Wilkie joined the fray and he took the 5^th wicket. Which ultimately, killed the game as a contest. In his spell Wilkie took a second wicket and was unlucky to not get more.

For Beckenham, having played the night previous in the 100-ball game Rehan Malik on the front square he completed his tour of Hayes today. He came out and delivered some fireworks. In his innings he ramped The Yak for 4 and was also quick down the track to use his feet to try and hit Yak off his line, especially as Yak was having to bowl up the hill. Recognising the batter intent, Buddin on for his second spell used his variety of variations and delivered a cutter to Malik who looked to take Ronnie downtown and was instead calm caught at long on by 13-year-old Raghav who, frankly, made it look easier, which it wasn’t, dismissing him for Beckenham’s top score of 40. Hat trick hero Saridogan came out to bat and Marlow, who was somewhat annoyed with the sendoff he had received, resisted the urge to dish out some chin music and instead speared in a yorker which knocked him over for 0. The Beckenham innings ended at 129-9 off their 40 overs and Hayes took 20 points elevating them to top of the table, thanks to a win from Blue Star against league leaders London Knights. Shoutout to Robert Mills who took a 5fer in that game.

No pressos or huddle this game, but there was some internal team chatter about the Player of the Match for this game. Buddin was a strong candidate for his 31* and 2 wickets, but for his measured innings and skill in seeing off Beckenham’s opening bowlers Joe Bradshaw with his 70 earned the accolade. Next week, the 3s travel Catford way to take on OD CUACO before the Hawaiian themed Summer Party back at Hayes (tickets still available).

Notable Performances:

H(K)CC:

1. Bradshaw 70 (92)
2. Buddin 31* (23)

BCC:

1. Saridogan 5-32

R.Malik 40 (42)