Saturday 1st XI v Tilford (Home) 04-05-2013

Result: Blackheath won by 9 wickets

Blackheath - E Smith 32, A Stedman 5-16

Tilford 74 all out off 35.3 overs Blackheath 75 for 1 off 15.3 overs

Tilford 0 points

Blackheath 8 points

Round 2 saw Blackheath Skipper Paul Nash win the toss for the second successive week and decided to bowl first on a good looking Blackheath wicket. After 3 overs the rain came and 24 overs were lost, which left the contest as a 66 over game meaning a result may have been difficult. Aussie Matt Hart and Andy "Dodgeball" Stedman again opened the bowling for The Heath. Hart bowled with a good rhythm and pace and has impressed with how well he has settled in at the club both on and off the field. For someone who is only 19 years of age and never played in England before he bowls a very good line and length and with maturity. As there are no longer restrictions to pace bowlers Down Under when you turn 16, Hart is used to bowling much longer spells, which is evident as he is still full of energy after his 7 over bursts. He finished with figures of 1 for 20 off his 7 overs. At the other end Stedman was wreaking havoc on the Tilford batsmen. He was right on the money from ball 1, which Town-Jones found out to his detriment, being caught behind by Harry "The Styles" Giles of Stedman for a golden duck. Stedman, buoyed by the important wicket of Town-Jones, began to do all sorts with the ball as it appeared to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge all over the wicket. The Average Joes would have been in awe! Stedman finished with the impressive figures of 5 for 16 off 12 overs, earning him his first 5 wicket haul for Blackheath in only his second match. The new jugs behind the bar were stacked up and ready after the match, but apparently Stedders again used the 5 D's to good effect with the emphasis firmly on DODGE! At 38 for 6 Tilford needed to dig in, but a brilliant run out by "Pistol" Pete Melhuish combined with fast hands by Giles saw De Silva out for 1 off only 2 balls. Dallas "JR" McDermott then finished off the lower order with an impressive outswinging spell taking 3 for 3 off 5.3 overs ending Tilford's innings on just 74 off 35.3 overs, which meant Blackheath gave themselves 30 overs to get the runs.

Ed Smith, who has also joined Blackheath from Frensham this year, opened the batting with Ben Lawrence. They quickly took the score to 34 before Lawrence was caught behind for 17 off 19 balls. Smith, who hadn't picked up a bat since July last year, was a little rusty but showed his class with some classy stroke play ending on 32no. Melhuish (24no) and Smith saw Blackheath home for the loss of 1 wicket in just 15.3 overs to ensure Blackheath's good start to the season continued.

Next week Blackheath are away to Headley 1.00pm start - see you there!