Benenden

Match Report

The Straggler innings at Benenden suffered a first over blow with Jasper falling without a run on the board. However, Jonathan Neame (76) and Angus Ward (41) set about the attack, Jonathan reaching 48 before deigning to run a single. The inevitable collapse occurred at 138 with 4 wickets falling in 4 successive maidens, but Finn Hulbert (50) and Harry Pattinson (31) restored momentum. A hugely controversial decision by Jonty, now standing as a short sighted umpire, and a brief flash by Blair brought the innings to a close leaving Benny Smallwood undefeated for his second successive season, and having scored almost as many runs as three other Smallwoods combined.

The Benenden batsmen then faced the furious pace of Finn (5-3-2-1), inducing a run out and a miscue to set the tone for the innings. Al and Jasper picked up a couple apiece, good catches were held, and the only brief delay was with the last wicket pair, who put on 47. Time was against them, and at 160 resistance came to an end.