Saturday 2nd XI v Badshot Lea 1st XI (Away) 04-05-2013
Result: Blackheath won by 3 runs
Blackheath - J Turner 72, A Hall 4-27
Badshot Lea 1st XI - I Scanlon 58, D Addison 4-45
The start of round 3 of Blackheath 2nd XI's season had a distinctly "village" feel: two of its players went to the wrong ground, one was stuck in traffic and one did not know the start-time of the match. Fortunately, the home side stuck Blackheath into bat on the greenest of green pitches which played like a minefield throughout the afternoon.
Having lost a wicket in the first over, Hall and the newly-promoted Cozens stuck to their task doggedly but were dismissed in quick succession on 23 and 28 apiece. Thereafter, Blackheath batsman came-and-went at regular intervals save for the side's Chris Gayle, one James Turner. In a run-a-ball 72, Turner struck four sixes, numerous fours and lost two balls and, in-so-doing, changed the dynamic of the match in 40 minutes of compelling cricket. Towards the end of his innings, Turner ran slightly out of steam and was eventually caught as he aimed a lofted drive towards the long-on boundary.
Of the bowlers, Bent and Gray each picked up three wickets apiece and caused great difficulties. However, the stand-out performer was Addison who finished with figures of 14 overs, 4 for 45.
At tea, the Heath were all out for 180 off just under 44 overs.
The second half of the match contained great tension and drama as the balance of the match shifted first one way, then another.
Only Badshot Lea's opener, Scanlon, scored significant runs ending up on 58. Around him wickets tumbled as Hall (10 overs, 4 for 27) and Allen (14 overs, 3 for 53) spear-headed the Blackheath attack. However, the penultimate partnership between Addison (20 not out) and Shafi (16 runs) set-up a thrilling last over finish with the batting side requiring 16.
The 14-year-old Cozens held up his hand to try to dislodge the last wicket but had a difficult start to the over which went: no ball, four, four, no ball, two. This left the home side requiring four off three balls. However, Cozens steamed-in with a delivery just back of a length which popped off the bat and Cozens caught it with a finger-tip dive to win the match and secure all ten points.
Well done to both sides in what was an excellent match played in the right spirit.
| Saturday 2nd XI Innings | |||
| C O'Brien | Bowled | D Addison | 0 |
| E Cozens | Bowled | M Bent | 28 |
| A Hall | Bowled | M Bent | 23 |
| R Harrison | Bowled | T Gray | 4 |
| J Turner | Ct - B Gray | D Addison | 72 |
| B Lowe | LBW | T Gray | 1 |
| J Carter | C&B; | M Bent | 16 |
| C Parrott | Ct - M Bent | D Addison | 8 |
| E Allen | Ct - M Bent | T Gray | 5 |
| B Hodges | Bowled | D Addison | 8 |
| T Webb | Not out | 0 | |
| Extras | 15 | ||
| Total | 180 all out | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wkts |
| D Addison | 14 | 3 | 45 | 4 |
| M Bent | 14 | 4 | 63 | 3 |
| T Gray | 12.4 | 3 | 46 | 3 |
| S Shafi | 3 | - | 24 | - |
| Badshot Lea 1st XI Innings | |||
| I Scanlon | Bowled | E Allen | 58 |
| S Acres | Bowled | E Allen | 2 |
| C Minassian | Ct - B Lowe | B Hodges | 19 |
| T Bull | Bowled | T Webb | 4 |
| T Gray | Ct - B Hodges | A Hall | 9 |
| B Graham | Ct - R Harrison | E Allen | 0 |
| M Bent | Ct - E Allen | A Hall | 16 |
| B Gray | Ct - J Turner | A Hall | 0 |
| D Addison | Not out | 20 | |
| S Shafi | Bowled | A Hall | 16 |
| N Nasir | C&B; | E Cozens | 6 |
| Extras | 21 | ||
| Total | 177 all out | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wkts |
| E Allen | 14 | 3 | 53 | 3 |
| E Cozens | 6.3 | 1 | 41 | 1 |
| T Webb | 6 | 2 | 23 | 1 |
| B Hodges | 9 | 3 | 24 | 1 |
| A Hall | 10 | 2 | 27 | 4 |