With overcast skies predicted captain Couldrey retook the helm as Hayes made the short trip to the Acorns at Bromley Common, groundman Brett Walker recovered the well-prepared wicket pregame after a downpour but there was minimal delay. Colin or Chrissy as he was dubbed on the day, won the toss and elected to bat. Lewis Thistleton having witnessed the toss when asked question like: What are we starting? How many overs? Was found wanting by his teammates in the clubhouse. However, Colin came over and filled in the gaps for the team.
Greenway and Warne opened the batting and the Common started with some short pitched bowling on a bouncy track. Greenway snicked one through to L. Butterworth who took a smart catch behind the stumps. Warne who had raced to 18 (24) snicked off as the Butterworth brothers combined to make it 30-2. Pulkit and Thistleton started a recovery but good bowling from Ned Freeman did for them, Pulkit being struck in front of all 3 lbw and Thistleton being bowled. Hayes were 81-4.
Kian Mahmood on his 3rd XI debut and Rayyan Ali batted well, Mahmood was unlucky to be caught by Common captain Bartolo at 1st slip who took it one handed sharply. Millard fell the same way for 2, admittedly almost a slow-motion replay of the previous catch. This brought Johnny Wilkie to the crease. Wilkie the scourge of Bromly Common joined Ali at the crease and the pair put the pressure back on the bowlers. Ali snicked off giving Butterworth his 3rd catch of the game. Wilkie hit 52 (50) including 1 big 6 before being dismissed. As part of this partnership Captain Couldrey was struck on the glove and battled on with a suspected broken finger. Freeman picked up the wicket of Baker as Hayes finished their 40 over on 195.
After a pleasant tea, Baker and Ali took the new ball for Hayes. The Common got off to a watchful but profitable start. Some clever captaincy from Couldrey manoeuvring the field to draw a poor shot from opener Walker who was bowled for 31 (31). Bromley Common kept ticking over and were 95-1 at drinks. Having survived a tight stumping before drinks a rush of blood from Butterworth, L saw him charge down the track against Wilkie with the quicker ball doing for him and he was not as fortunate, being stumped for 34 (47).
Matt ‘The Burglar’ Warne was brought on by Couldrey and varied his line well. Freeman hit Warne for a big 4 and was shaping up to do it again. After some negotiation between bowler and keeper the line was decided and Freeman missed a big shot being bowled for 6, the Common were now 108-3 and Hayes had the bit between their teeth. Warne struck again with the BCCC number 3 Sathananthan skying one that Couldrey took (bad hand and all). Wilkie drew a false stroke from Rhys Thomas, brother of Hayes CC women’s player Megan, who snicked one into the bucket hands of Verma. With the Common sliding to 116-5. Never one to be out of the game against Bromley Common for long, Wilkie got his 3rd bowling Nageswaran before snicking Gibbs off again to Verma who took a sharp grab at slip to give Wilkie his 4th leaving Common 124-6.
Captain Bartolo was joined at the crease by Khanna and with only a run a ball needed, the Common’s sharp running was keeping the Hayes fielders on their toes. However, Bartolo took one gamble too many to Adam Greenway who threw the ball towards the bowlers end and Johnny Wilkie flicked the ball onto the stump to enact the dismissal. Ewan Butterworth and Khanna kept working the Common towards the total racking up points as they went, but with the run rate climbing higher and higher a well bowled wide slower ball from Baker was enough for Butterworth and Davis finished the innings with the last ball of the game taking a well-deserved wicket.
No ‘pressos’ this week due to the 4th Team social which was a well-run 4th July themed party featuring a visit from Donald Trump and Captain America, so it is left to me to decide Player of the Match. Although, he did bowl 3 front foot no balls which is basically a capital offense for a spinner, for his 52 (50) and 4-27 it must go to Johnny Wilkie who Bromley Common will be happy to see the back of for this season. Next week Hayes 3rd XI are hosting London Knights on the Meadow in a top of the table clash.
Notable performances:
H(K)CC
BCCC
