Match Report

This hottest of summers found Stragglers reconnecting with opposition from the 2018 tour to Amsterdam with an extra fixture, very kindly hosted at Mersham-le-Hatch and Straggler, Jeremy Godden (according to the ACC tour report, a ‘slot machine billionaire’). On a very damp Dutch April day in 2018, Stragglers had dragged victory from the jaws of defeat (23 for 5 in the 7^th over) against the Amsterdamsche Cricket Club, thanks in no small part to a century by Ben Simpson, one of only three Stragglers to reach double figures that day.

In 2026, of rain there was no sign, and this was the first stop on the ACC tour of Kent.  ACC had been reduced to 10 men leaving the Hook of Holland, but on a visit to the Salix factory shortly after arriving in Kent, found a Dutch employee, who took the afternoon off to join his compatriots at the Hatch.  Hugo extracted disconcerting bounce from the track, with most runs coming from balls which leapt over James Boyd Moss behind the stumps. James should have been in Slovenia, but issues with his passport had kept him confined to Kent.  At the other end, Archie Brealy proved very hard to get away and knocked over an opener. With another wicket in the 7th over, ACC seemed to be behind the pace at 38 for 2. However, with Balk and Sandberg at the crease, the rate moved up in a partnership 87 for the third wicket. With an electric outfield and small boundaries, a big total was now on the cards. However, the final (Hatch) bowling pair of Martin Smith (2 for 19 – both Balk for 60 and Sandberg 39) and Maslik Makwana saw a flurry of wickets in the final overs, the innings closing on 149 for 5.

With a football match of consequence in Atlanta due to kick off at 8pm, the chase needed good momentum to ensure that everyone could be settled in front of the large screen, burger and beer in hand. Angus Hay (16) set out to deliver momentum, smacking a couple of boundaries back past the bowler in the opening over.  However, he tried one too many and was undone by the perfect yorker in the 6th. Toby (19) now joined James BM, who was addressing each ball on merit and finding boundaries in a more measured manner, occasionally on to the A20 on the southern boundary.  After a couple of big hits, Toby fell to a very gentle ball, misjudging the pace horribly to loop a gentle catch into the covers. Dave Hatton (Hatch) now joined James and together upped the pace with some brutal hitting.  With five required for victory, James skied one and looked to be a goner, but the fielder dropped the ball and helped it over the boundary, James finishing on 65*. Dave ended undefeated on 35*, their partnership 67 from 42 balls and victory by 8 wickets. We are now trying to plan for a return to Amsterdam in mid-summer, when, one hopes, the weather will be less like Hull in mid-winter.

Many thanks to Jeremy and the Hatch team for hosting the match, arranging the BBQ and laying on the large TV to make sure that we did not miss defeat to Argentina.